Predators defeat Coyotes in Game 2 of Cup Qualifiers, even series

Juuse Saros made 24 saves for his first NHL postseason win, and the Nashville Predators defeated the Arizona Coyotes 4-2 in Game 2 to even the Stanley Cup Qualifiers series at Rogers Place in Edmonton on Tuesday.

Ryan Johansen had a goal and an assist, and Nick Bonino, Calle Jarnkrok and Viktor Arvidsson scored for the Predators, the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference.

"I felt good and the team played really well in front of me," Saros said. "[My first postseason win] is a big thing. Growing up you always dream about that, but it's nice to get that one out of the way. I still have a lot of work to do, so I enjoy these games and [hope to] get us more wins."

WATCH: [All Coyotes vs. Predators highlights]

Game 3 of the best-of-5 series is in Edmonton, the Western Conference hub city, on Wednesday (2:30 p.m. ET; NHLN, NHL.TV, SN360, FS-A, FS-A PLUS, FS-TN). The series winner advances to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Teams that win Game 3 after a series is tied 1-1 are 21-7 (75 percent) winning a best-of-5 NHL series (14-2 when last used from 1980-86).

Clayton Keller and Lawson Crouse scored, and Darcy Kuemper made 24 saves for the Coyotes, the No. 11 seed in the West.

Arizona backup goalie Antti Raanta (unfit to play) was replaced on the bench by Adin Hill at 14:03 of the second period. As part of the NHL Return to Play Plan, a team is not permitted to disclose player injury or illness information.

"Something happened (to Raanta) in warmup," Coyotes coach Rick Tocchet said. "We'll talk about [our goalie situation] tonight for tomorrow."

Nashville had 21 blocked shots, including a game-high five by Bonino.

"They have skilled players getting pucks through to the net, so we need to bear down and block," the forward said. "As long as I've been here, that's never been an issue. Forwards and defensemen, guys are ready to sacrifice and make blocks."

Bonino gave the Predators a 1-0 lead on a wrist shot from the right face-off circle at 7:50 of the first period.

Johansen made it 2-0 on a wrist shot from low in the right face-off circle at 10:27. The line of Johansen, left wing Filip Forsberg and right wing Arvidsson combined for two goals, three points and 10 shots.

"I thought the three of them were drivers, playing at a commitment level you need to have when you don't have the puck," Predators coach John Hynes said. "Their decision-making has been good and their intensity level in the offensive zone has been strong, whether it's been puck battles or getting over pucks and into scoring areas."

Saros, who made 33 saves in a 4-3 loss in Game 1 on Sunday, stopped Derek Stepan's wrist shot at 9:12, Keller's backhand at 9:14, and Jakob Chychrun's slap shot at 9:23 prior to Johansen's goal.

"There were a couple rebounds, and I just tried to stay with it, and was happy to make those saves and keep it a one-goal game," Saros said. "At the time it was big for us. We got another goal after that, so I was happy to have an impact on the game."

After Pekka Rinne struggled this season, Saros took over as Nashville's No. 1 goalie, going 12-5-1 with a 2.22 goals-against average and a .934 save percentage in his last 20 regular-games (18 starts). Rinne, whose streak of 89 consecutive postseason starts ended Sunday, was 4-6-1 with a 3.59 GAA and a .895 save percentage (.904 at even strength) in 11 games (all starts) in that span.

"It was nice for [Saros] to get his first win," Hynes said. "I think he's certainly earned the opportunity, and I think he and Pekka have a great relationship. They've always supported each other. They always have each other's back, and from a coach's perspective they push each other and neither concedes anything, so it forces them to be on the top of their game."

Hynes said he would make a decision on the Game 3 starter Tuesday night. Saros said he would be ready if needed.

"It's fine, especially since we're playing this early," Saros said. "You have the whole day and time to recover, so I like it. I got no issues with that, and I think all the guys are ready for tomorrow."

Jarnkrok scored on a wrist shot from the slot to give Nashville a 3-0 lead at 6:02 of the second period. Arvidsson scored a power-play goal on a slap shot from the right face-off circle to make it 4-0 at 13:49 of the third period.

Keller and Crouse scored in a span of nine seconds, at 19:03 and 19:12 of the third, to pull Arizona within 4-2.

"I like us getting those two goals at the end," Tocchet said. "That helps confidence. This game is over for me. Things change so much. You win, everything's great, you lose, everything stinks. That's the way the playoffs are. The teams that are even-keel are the teams that are successful."