GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Hey, a 4-2 lead in a game involving the Phoenix Coyotes is cause to celebrate a potential blowout, and that's what we have here at Jobing.com Arena after two periods.
There's still 20 minutes to play in Game 2 of the playoff series against the Nashville Predators, but so far, this is not Preds goaltender Pekka Rinne's night, nor his defense's. Martin Hanzal, Radim Vrbata and Taylor Pyatt scored goals in the second period for the Coyotes, who are on the cusp of taking a 2-0 series lead.
Vrbata got an assist when he faked a wraparound shot that got Rinne out of position. The puck went out to Hanzal for an easy finish to give Phoenix a 2-1 lead at 16:13 of the period.
Vrbata made it 3-1 at the 7:05 mark, but a slashing penalty on Ray Whitney allowed the Predators to go on the power play. Ryan Suter's shot from the point deflected off teammate Patric Hornqvist for a goal to make a 3-2.
Hornqvist was just lucky to be position for the redirect. It was hard to tell with the naked eye that he actually touched the puck.
It took the Coyotes 30 seconds to answer. Shane Doan -- how can you not be happy for him after so many years of early playoff exits, if his teams even make them -- tried a shot that bounced out to Taylor Pyatt, who beat Rinne at 11:50 of the period to make it 4-2.
Rostislav Klesla returned to action in the second period for Phoenix. The Predators (name of a movie starring Adrien Brody and and a pretty solid Ice Cube album featuring the track "Check Yo' Self -- perfect for hockey!) killed a penalty late in the half, but the two teams will start the final period one man down each after dual two-minute penalties incurred with 9.8 seconds left in the second.