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Coyotes close homestand against Preds

Jan 18, 2011 - 4:09 PM (Sports Network) - Coming off their first regulation loss of the month, the Phoenix Coyotes close out a four-game homestand this evening versus the Nashville Predators at Jobing.com Arena.

Phoenix went 6-0-2 over its first eight games in January and carried a four- game win streak into last night's meeting with San Jose. The Coyotes got goals from Derek Morris and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, the first of his NHL career, but dropped a 4-2 decision to the Sharks.

Ilya Bryzgalov allowed three goals on 35 shots in defeat.

"We had some opportunities. I didn't think we were sharp around the net," said Phoenix head coach Dave Tippett.

Already minus Michal Rozsival (ribs) and Ed Jovanovski (lower body) at the blue line, fellow defenseman David Schlemko suffered an undisclosed injury in the third period.

Also, forward Vernon Fiddler missed his first game with an upper-body injury that has him week-to-week.

Phoenix is six points back of first-place Dallas in the Pacific Division and sits a point ahead of Nashville in the overall Western Conference standings. The Predators will try to jump past the Coyotes tonight, but have lost two of three since a five-game win streak.

Nashville was last in action on Sunday, when it was dealt a 6-3 setback in Chicago. The Predators led by a goal early in the third period, but allowed back-to-back goals to the Blackhawks' Troy Brouwer just 40 seconds apart and never recovered.

J.P. Dumont registered two goals and Martin Erat scored in the setback, while Anders Lindback gave up six goals on 34 shots. Defenseman Shea Weber notched an assist to give him three goals and 10 helpers over a career-best nine-game point streak.

"We stopped playing our game. They came at us pretty hard," Dumont said. "We have to make sure we learn from it."

Forward Marek Svatos missed his second straight game with a lower-body injury and defenseman Francis Bouillon suffered an upper-body ailment during the first period and did not return. His status for this game is unknown, but fellow blueliner Shane O'Brien did serve the final contest of his two-game suspension for a high stick last Thursday and is eligible to return tonight.

Nashville, which lost the opener of a six-game road trip, is likely to go back to Pekka Rinne in net tonight and he has excellent career numbers against the Coyotes. He is 5-2-1 with a 1.60 goals-against average in eight starts and notched his third career shutout versus them in the last meeting on Nov. 30. Rinne stopped 33 shots in a 3-0 home victory.

That triumph was just the Preds' second in the last six meetings and they have still lost three straight in Phoenix.

It is unknown if the Coyotes will start Bryzgalov on back-to-back nights or give backup Jason LaBarbera the start tonight. Bryzgalov is 7-4-3 with a 2.48 GAA when facing Nashville, while LaBarbera is 3-3-0 with a 3.19 GAA.