GLENDALE, Ariz., March 13 (UPI) -- Andrei Kostitsyn scored the only goal in a shootout Monday and the Nashville Predators began a road trip with a 5-4 win over Phoenix.
Kostitsyn, the Preds' first shooter in the tiebreaker, came in on Coyotes goalie Mike Smith with a series of fakes before sliding the puck between his legs for a score.
Nashville's Pekka Rinne made stops on Ray Whitney, and Radim Vrbata and Mikkel Boedker hit the post on the Coyotes' final shootout try, ensuring a victory for playoff-bound Nashville as it embarked on a stretch of four road games over seven days.
Martin Erat scored and added two assists while Mike Fisher, Francis Bouillon and Craig Smith each scored a goal for Nashville.
Rinne turned aside 31-of-34 shots to earn the victory.
Daymond Langkow, Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Raffi Torres each provided a goal and a helper for the Coyotes, who hold the seventh playoff seed in the Western Conference.
Smith finished with 31 saves for Phoenix.
