The Phoenix Coyotes are now one win away from the Western Conference finals after a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators in Tennessee on Friday.
Coyotes captain Shane Doan scored the game's lone goal in the first period, and goalie Mike Smith was phenomenal yet again.
Smith doesn't quite get all the credit for the zero on the Predators' half of the scoreboard, as the Coyotes' defense kept things under control.
Now, if the Coyotes can win one of the next three games -- tonight's game in Glendale would be nice for Coyotes fans -- the team would advance to its first conference finals, and face off against the Los Angeles Kings.
Off the ice, there's news that might be just as good as advancing one step closer to the Stanley Cup: the Phoenix Business Journal is reporting that the NHL is going to announce that a deal has been finalized to sell the Coyotes.
Yes, the Coyotes, the orphans of the NHL, might have an owner soon. He's former San Jose Sharks owner Gary Jamison, and you can read about the business details at the Phoenix Business Journal.
As for Friday's game, though, the play was more physical than the Coyotes' norm for the playoffs but consistent with the team's regular-season play.
Kyle Chipchura ended up in a fight with Nashville's Paul Gaustad in the middle of the first period, and before that, the Coyotes' Rusty Klesla was sent to the penalty box for boarding Matt Halischuk.
Klesla's suspended for tonight's game, probably because his last name isn't Ovechkin.
Still, the physical play worked. There were just minutes between Chipchura's fight, Klesla's hit, and Doan's goal.
The stingy defense continued for the rest of the game, save a few tense moments.
Tonight's game starts at 7, so there's no reason not to grab a ticket or tune in.
