Predators beat Coyotes, 4-3, in shootout

NASHVILLE — David Legwand scored the shootout winner in the Nashville Predators’ 4-3 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes on Thursday night.

Steve Sullivan, Patric Hornqvist and Dan Hamhuis scored for Nashville in regulation, and Lee Stempniak, Wojtek Wolski and Keith Yandle countered for Phoenix.

Nashville has won seven of its last eight. After winning nine consecutive games, the Coyotes have lost their last two.

After each team scored once and missed once in the shootout, Phoenix’s third shooter, Radim Vrbata, had Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne beaten, but the backhander rang off of the crossbar and bounced away.

Legwand won the game with a wrist shot between Ilya Bryzgalov’s pads.

Phoenix entered the third period trailing by two, but goals by Wolski and Yandle 2 1/2 minutes apart late in the third drew them even.

Yandle also had two assists in the game.

Rinne earned his 29th victory of the season.

— Associated Press