While the Phoenix Coyotes forge into the uncharted waters of the Western Conference final and potential new ownership, the Nashville Predators face a different type of uncertainty.

Mike Smith stopped 32 shots and the Phoenix Coyotes beat the Nashville Predators 2-1 on Monday night to earn their first trip to the Western Conference final.

The Phoenix Coyotes ownership woes have apparently come to an end. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has announced that the league has struck a tentative agreement with a new ownership group led by Greg Jamison.

The Phoenix Coyotes will be without defenceman Rostislav Klesla for Game 5 of their series with Nashville after he was suspended one game for boarding Predators forward Matt Halischuk on Friday.

Shane Doan scored in the first period, Mike Smith made 25 saves and the Phoenix Coyotes beat the Nashville Predators 1-0 on Friday night to grab a 3-1 lead in the Western Conference semifinal series.

Phoenix Coyotes forward Raffi Torres is appealing the length of his 25-game suspension. Torres was penalized last month after landing a late blindside hit to the head of Chicago Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa.

Pekka Rinne made 32 saves as he returned to his dominating form, Mike Fisher scored his first goal of these playoffs, and the Nashville Predators found their rhythm with a 2-0 win over the Phoenix Coyotes on Wednesday night in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinal series.

The Nashville Predators face an even tougher battle down two games to none to Phoenix in their second-round NHL playoff series with forwards Alexander Radulov and Andrei Kostitsyn out for Wednesday's Game 3 after violating team rules.

Shane Doan, Radim Vrbata and Antoine Vermette each had a goal and an assist, and the Phoenix Coyotes avoided their usual overtime theatrics, beating the Nashville Predators 5-3 on Sunday night to take a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference semifinal series.

Ray Whitney scored 14:04 into overtime and the Phoenix Coyotes survived another late goal in regulation to open the Western Conference semifinals with a 4-3 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night.