Facing each other for the second and final time this year, the Arizona Coyotes and the Florida Panthers collide at the BB&T Center in a cross-country showdown. The opening face-off is at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 24, and it can be seen live on Fox Sports Arizona.
Arizona Coyotes at Florida Panthers Odds
Florida (-205) is currently favored over Arizona (+175) and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals (-110 for the over, -110 for the under).
Earning 0.4 units for moneyline bettors, Florida is 37-35 straight up (SU) overall this year. That early-season winning percentage is a welcome improvement compared to what the team managed during last year’s regular season (35-47). Through 72 regular season matches, 36 of its games have gone over the total, while 35 have gone under and just one has pushed. The team’s 22-14 SU at home this year.
The Panthers have converted on 19.0 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated 15th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 81.0 percent of all penalties.
The Panthers, as a collective unit, have been penalized 4.3 times per game overall this season, 4.8 per game over their last five contests total, and 3.8 per game over their last five home outings. The team’s had to kill penalties for a whopping 13.6 minutes per game over their last five matchups, overall.
With a .911 save percentage and 28.4 saves per game, James Reimer (18 wins, 20 losses, and five OT losses) has been the best option in goal for Florida this year. If the Panthers, however, choose to rest him, Florida could go with Roberto Luongo (15-14-14 record, .927 save percentage, 2.55 goals against average).
The Panthers will continue looking for offensive production out of Aleksander Barkov and Vincent Trocheck. Barkov (73 points) has tallied 26 goals and 47 assists and has recorded multiple points on 21 separate occasions this year. Trocheck has 28 goals and 38 assists to his name and has recorded a point in 47 contests.
Arizona is 25-49 straight up (SU) and has lost 17.6 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. Through 74 regular season outings, 39 of its games have gone under the total, while 34 have gone over and just one has pushed. The Coyotes are 10-25 SU as a road team this season.
The Coyotes have converted on just 16.6 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s ranked 27th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 15th overall and it’s successfully killed off 80.6 percent of all penalties.
Arizona’s players have been called for penalties only 3.4 times per game in total this season, and 4.2 per game over their last five road outings. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 8.4 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Antti Raanta (27.3 saves per game) has been the primary choice in goal for Arizona. Raanta owns an 18-24-6 record, while registering a .926 save percentage and 2.37 goals against average this year.
For the visiting Coyotes, the offense will be coordinated by Clayton Keller (21 goals, 36 assists) and Derek Stepan (13 goals, 38 assists).
Arizona Coyotes at Florida Panthers Free Picks
Pick: SU Winner – Panthers, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Trends
Florida is 3-3 in games decided by a shootout this season while Arizona is 2-5 in shootouts.
The under has hit in three of Florida’s last five outings.
The Panthers have averaged the league’s second-most shots on goal (34.6) while the Coyotes have attempted just the 27th-most (34.6).
Eight of Florida’s last ten games have been decided by two or more goals, and the club is 5-3 overall in those games.
Arizona skaters have accounted for the fifth-most hits in the league (24.3 per game), but the team’s recorded just 21.0 hits over their last five away games.
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