COYOTES 2, PREDATORS 1: Mike Smith capped a sensational series with a 32-save performance as host Phoenix advanced to the Western Conference finals for the first time in franchise history.

On the same day the league announced a deal had been reached in principle to sell the club to a group led by former San Jose Sharks CEO Greg Jamison, the Coyotes posted their most significant win in front of a sellout crowd at Jobing.com Arena.

Smith was the catalyst once again, extending his shutout streak to 162 minutes, 36 seconds before surrendering a Colin Wilson goal with 5:59 remaining in the third period. He made the lead stand up from there as Phoenix finished off Nashville in five games.

The Coyotes will face the Los Angeles Kings in the best-of-seven conference finals. Los Angeles advanced with a series sweep of the St. Louis Blues.

The Coyotes opened the scoring just before the four-minute mark of the second period. Moments after Shane Doan missed the net on a breakaway chance, the puck wound up on the stick of defenseman Derek Morris, who fired a shot from the point that beat Predators netminder Pekka Rinne between the pads.

Nashville had a chance to tie the game on a power play later in the frame, but Predators defenseman Shea Weber rang a slapshot off the post.

Martin Hanzal made it 2-0 with 4:51 remaining in the period. Kyle Chipchura gained the Nashville zone along the left side boards and fed a perfect pass to a trailing Hanzal, who wristed a shot from the high slot past a screened Rinne for his third goal of the postseason.

Rinne turned aside 15 shots in defeat.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Phoenix improved to 6-1 in the postseason when scoring first. ... Smith stopped 57 of 58 shots over the final two games of the series. ... Predators Fs Andrei Kostitsyn and Alexander Radulov returned to the lineup after missing the previous two games due to an unspecified violation of team rules. Both men finished scoreless while combining for just three shots on goal.