Predators Vs. Coyotes, Game 4: Nashville Falls Into 3-1 Series Hole

Predators Vs. Coyotes, NHL Playoffs 2012: Rostislav Klesla Suspended One Game

The NHL has suspended Phoenix Coyotes defenseman Rostislav Klesla for Game 5 of the Coyotes Western Conference semifinals against the Nashville Predators for a hit he put on Predators forward Matt Halischuk in Game 4.

After the hit, Halischuk left the game for a short while while Klesla was given a 2:00 minute penalty.

The NHL's Department of Player Safety released a video explaining his suspension:

In 10 games this post-season, the 6'3 220 defenseman has two goals and four assists.

For more coverage of this series, check out the exclusive SB Nation StoryStream. For more on the Predators, check in with On the Forecheck, and for more on the Coyotes, check in with Five For Howling.

Predators Vs. Coyotes, NHL Playoffs 2012 Game 4: Final Score, Phoenix Hangs On For 1-0 Win

In front of their home crowd, down 2-1 in the series, the Nashville Predators did not look very much like a team in a virtual must-win situation. The Phoenix Coyotes scored in the first period of Game 4, then proceeded to turn slightly defensive and put the onus on the Preds to score and force them to change their game. They weren't able to do it, and the Coyotes are headed home with a 3-1 series lead after pulling off a 1-0 win Friday night.

Shane Doan scored the game's only goal in a lucky fashion, and it was far from Pekka Rinne's finest moment. Doan flipped a slow backhanded shot toward the net, perhaps hoping for a rebound and a teammate in an advantageous position. What he got instead was Rinne making a mess of a shot he should have saved easily, as the puck somehow went over Rinne's pad, off the post and in.

Nashville managed only 25 shots on goal, with 20 of those coming in the final two periods. They were very poor in the first period, and weren't exactly spectacular in the following two. Mike Smith put in a very solid performance to record a shutout but, with their backs against the wall at home, Nashville will be very disappointed that they didn't make him work harder.

We have full coverage of Game 4 between the Predators and Coyotes in our StoryStream. For more on the Predators, check in with On the Forecheck, and for more on the Coyotes, check in with Five For Howling.

Predators Vs. Coyotes Score Update: Phoenix Still Leads After 2nd Period, 1-0

For most of the second period, it appeared the Nashville Predators were poised to score an equalizing goal, trailing the Phoenix Coyotes following a first-period goal by Shane Doan. The Predators made a few quick adjustments during the first intermission that paid dividends in terms of controlling play, though not on the scoreboard. After 20 minutes of pushing toward a goal, though, Nashville found themselves stymied by Mike Smith.

Smith has been the Coyotes' saving grace, making multiple superb stops and keeping the Predators off the boards through two periods. Multiple times in the second period, the Preds hit the post, narrowly missing evening up the score. Smith was also there to throw himself in front of the puck, keeping his clean sheet intact.

On the other end of the ice, Phoenix was held relatively in check, unable to mount any kind of charge in the offensive zone. When the Coyotes did, Nashville was quick to send a long pass the other way, allowing for solid, albeit fruitless, counters.

We have full coverage of Game 4 between the Predators and Coyotes in our StoryStream. For more on the Predators, check in with On the Forecheck, and for more on the Coyotes, check in with Five For Howling.

Coyotes-Predators First Period Update: Phoenix Takes 1-0 Lead On Shane Doan Goal

The Phoenix Coyotes lead 1-0 after Shane Doan's shot trickled past Pekka Rinne to give Phoenix an advantage in a game that could put them up 3-1.

The Coyotes' captain lazily slapped a backhander toward the net. Nashville's Roman Josi appeared to have an opportunity to swat the puck away but, between him and Rinne, nobody got enough on the shot to keep it out, and Phoenix took the lead on a less-than-spectacular score.

The second-most interesting occurrence of the first period was a fight between Kyle Chipchura and Paul Gaustad. The pair dropped gloves pretty immediately after a faceoff and got rowdy, going to the ground and eventually grappling for a pretty extensive period of time.

Mike Smith stopped a flurry of shots in the period's final seconds to allow the Coyotes to maintain their advantage.

Predators Vs. Coyotes, Game 4 Lineup: Nashville To Keep Alex Radulov, Andrei Kostitsyn Off Ice

The Predators will go with the same lineup in Game 4 as the one it employed in its Game 3 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes, and that means Alex Radulov and Andrei Kostitsyn will remain sidelined following their one game team-imposed suspension for staying out too late after Game 2 in Arizona.

Head coach Barry Trotz announced the news before Game 4, opting not to fix what isn't broken. Radulov told reporters in his post-practice press availability that he thinks the coach made the right call.

A plurality of readers at Predators blog On the Forecheck voted Thursday in favor of keeping the same lineup for Game 4, a decision that means Matt Halischuk and Jordin Tootoo will remain in the lineup for the huge game at Bridgestone Arena on Friday evening. A Nashville win evens the series at 2-2, while a Phoenix win gives the Coyotes a commanding 3-1 series lead heading into Game 5 on home ice.

We have full coverage of Game 4 between the Predators and Coyotes in our StoryStream. For more on the Predators, check in with On the Forecheck, and for more on the Coyotes, check in with Five For Howling.

NHL Playoffs 2012, Predators Vs. Coyotes Game 4: Game Time, TV Coverage And More

The Nashville Predators and Pekka Rinne look to build off their Game 3 shutout win and even up their series with the Phoenix Coyotes on Friday night.