The Arizona Coyotes and the Nashville Predators are tied in a 1-1 series of the Stanley Cup Qualifiers. The Coyotes won Game 1 and the Predators won Game 2. Both teams played at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta. Here’s a recap of both games between the Coyotes and Predators.

1st Periods

Nashville started the game dominating the first five minutes of the game going on an early power play and getting scoring chances. But, the Coyotes answered back and took the game in their hands for most of the period. Arizona outshot Nashville 13-7 after Nashville got the game’s first three shots on goal. Coyotes players Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Christian Dvorak and Clayton Keller scored three unanswered goals for the team within 10 minutes of the period. However, Nashville was able to get some momentum going in the late stages of the period. Preds forward Filip Forsberg scored on a power play to get the Preds’ first goal just before the period ended.

Arizona went into the second period with a 3-1 lead.

Game 2: Arizona was able to hold onto their momentum from Game 1. They absolutely dominated this period on both sides of the ice. However, Nashville scored two goals despite being outplayed and outshot by the Coyotes 14-5. Predators forwards Nick Bonino and Ryan Johansen scored the game’s first two goals. Predators goaltender Juuse Saros also kept making saves to hold on to the two-goal lead.

Nashville went into the second period with a 2-0 lead.

2nd Periods

Game 1: It was a more balanced game during this period with both teams getting scoring chances on both ends of the ice. However, Nashville got called for three penalties which allowed Arizona to sustain offensive pressure by moving the puck effectively and getting to the puck quicker. Arizona was also called for a penalty but Yotes forward Michael Grabner scored a shorthanded goal extending their lead to three. Grabner’s goal would be the only goal of this period.

Arizona went into the third period with a 4-1 lead.

Game 2: Nashville kept control of this game coming out of the intermission. Preds forward Calle Jarnkrok scores his first playoff goal to extend the Nashville lead to three. The score would’ve been worse for the Coyotes if it wasn’t for their goaltender Darcy Kuemper. The Coyotes were also able to build some kind of momentum but it wasn’t enough to score on Saros.

Nashville went into the third period with a 3-0 lead.

3rd Periods

Game 1: The Predators were on a mission to make a comeback from three goals down. Preds defenseman Ryan Ellis scored in the first 30 seconds of the period cutting the lead down to two. The Coyotes had spurts of gaining momentum for about five minutes until Forsberg scored his second goal of the game on a power play. However, Arizona was able to maintain their lead in the last five minutes of the game though Nashville kept pushing back. Nashville also outshot Arizona 20-11 during the period. In the end, the Coyotes secured the win to lead the series 1-0 going into Game 2.

Arizona won the game 4-3.

Game 2: Again, it was all Nashville. They were able to sustain offensive pressure on the Coyotes defensive zone. There was a time when the Coyotes were able to gain momentum and do something with it. They were able to get cleaner shots on goal than the previous two periods. However, the Predators kept their ground and forward Viktor Arvidsson scored to extend the lead to four. But, the No. 11 seed Coyotes wouldn’t leave the game without putting up a fight of their own. They again built up momentum and were able to finally score two goals on Saros. Keller and Coyotes forward Lawson Crouse scored nine seconds apart from each other. However, it wasn’t enough to beat the Predators to take a 2-0 series lead.

Nashville held their ground and won the game 4-2. They also tied the series 1-1.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfaQ3FEOrM8]

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mI5Uhe8oFN8]

Both teams are fairly matched when it comes to both sides of the ice. The key factor of this series is going to be who can get to their game faster offensively.

Three Stars of the Game

Game 1:

Third Star: Filip Forsberg (2 goals)

Second Star: Darcy Kuemper (40 saves)

First Star: Christian Dvorak (1 goal, 1 assist)

Game 2:

Third Star: Nick Bonino (1 goal)

Second Star: Ryan Johansen (1 goal, 1 assist)

First Star: Juuse Saros (24 saves)

Game 3 of the Coyotes-Predators series is on Aug. 5 at 2:30 pm EST.