Doan goal lifts Coyotes over Predators in NHL playoffs

Phoenix goalie Mike Smith made 25 saves to earn his second shutout of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs as the Coyotes edged the Nashville Predators 1-0 in a Western Conference second-round contest. Shane Doan scored the only goal of the game to give Phoenix a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. The Coyotes will have a chance to finish off the series when they host game five on Monday. Pekka Rinne made 23 saves for Nashville in defeat. Both teams failed to take advantage of power plays within the first 10 minutes. Phoenix seized the lead at 14:25 of the first thanks to Doan's backhander that deflected off the stick of Nashville defenseman Roman Josi and over Rinne's stick. The Predators had several opportunities in the second, including Patric Hornqvist's wrist shot that hit the post, but they could not find a way past Smith. Still pressing in the third period, the Predators put the puck into the net on a power play but the goal was waved off as referee Dan O'Halloran ruled he had blown the whistle before the puck crossed the line.