Whitney's OT goal lifts Coyotes over Preds

Ray Whitney's over-time goal lifted Phoenix to a 4-3 victory over Nashville in the opening game of their Western Conference second-round series in the NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs. Whitney slotted a backhander past Predators goalie Pekka Rinne at 14:04 of over-time after teammate Martin Hanzal gained control of the puck on a faceoff. Phoenix have gone to over-time in six of their first seven games in this post-season and won four of the six. Rostislav Klesla had a goal and an assist and Radim Vrbata and Mikkel Boedker had a goal apiece for the Coyotes, who were pushed to over-time when they conceded Martin Erat's power-play goal with 4:42 remaining in regulation. Brandon Yip and Andrei Kostitsyn also scored for the Predators, who out-shot Phoenix 16-1 in the final minutes of regulation. Coyotes goalie Mike Smith, who finished with 39 saves, stopped Francis Bouillon on a key rebound opportunity in over-time as the Coyotes held on for the win. Phoenix host game two of the best-of-seven series on Sunday. On Saturday the second Western Conference second-round series gets under way as St. Louis host Los Angeles and the New York Rangers host Washington in their Eastern Conference opener. The second Eastern conference series, between New Jersey and Philadelphia, will get under way on Sunday at Philadelphia.