Logan Cooley nets first NHL hat trick, Coyotes crush Predators 8-4

Continuing to be a threat in his revenge game, Zucker would then score glove side once again a couple of minutes later at 5:11 of the first. Just before this season’s NHL Trade Deadline, Arizona sent Zucker to Nashville in exchange for a 2024 sixth-round draft pick.

Having their number this season, the ‘Yotes were 2-0-1 against the Predators prior to this fourth and final contest of the regular season against each other.

Knowing those numbers, Arizona responded emphatically.

Out on the left, Josh Doan swung a pass to McBain who spun around quickly and found enough room past Saros to score, 2-1.

Tying it 2-2, Cooley was able to squeeze the puck between Saros’ pads from a tight angle with 3:00 left in the initial 20 minutes.

The Coyotes’ momentum shifted over two the second frame as Keller, Dylan Guenther and Alex Kerfoot connected multiple, one-touch passes before Keller rang a shot off the post for a 3-2 ‘Yotes lead at 7:11.

Exactly a minute after Keller’s tally, Cooley grabbed his second goal.

Turning on the jets, Cooley corraled the puck around Saros and scored, enlarging the margin to 4-2.

Receiving a pass from Filip Forsberg, Nyqvist fired a shot bardown from the slot as the Preds trailed 4-3.

Bjugstad and Schmaltz both scored for the Coyotes to go up 6-3. At the end of the chaos, the second period brought five goals in total.

Down by three, the Predators pulled the goalie for an extra attacker, but Maccelli capitalized with an empty-netter. Doan assisted again for his second of the game and has four points in hist first two NHL games (2 goals, 2 assists).

Forsberg buried a backhand goal before Cooley iced the game with an empty net tally, making it 8-4.

Next Games

Coyotes: Home vs. New York Rangers (48-20-4) on March 30 at 3 p.m. PT

Predators: Away vs. Colorado Avalanche (46-21-5) on March 3o at 3 p.m. PT