Bridgestone Arena is the site for a Western Conference showdown as the Arizona Coyotes face off against the Nashville Predators. Fox Sports Arizona will showcase the action, which gets underway at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, January 18.
Arizona Coyotes vs. Nashville Predators Odds
Nashville (-210) is currently favored over Arizona (+175), and the oddsmakers have put the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-145 for the under, +125 for the over).
Nashville is 26-17 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 6.0 units this year. That winning percentage, ranked fourth in the NHL in this young season, is an improvement over the 41-41 record from the 2016-17 season campaign. Through 43 regular season contests, 22 of its games have gone under the total, while 21 have gone over and none have pushed. The team is 14-6 SU at home this season.
The Predators have connected on 23.9 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s good enough for fifth-best in the league. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated 10th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 82.6 percent of all penalties.
As a collective unit, the Predators have been penalized 5.1 times per game overall this season, and 3.6 per game over their past ten match ups. The team has been forced to kill penalties for just 8.6 minutes per game over their last 10 matchups, overall.
Averaging 29.1 saves per game with a .925 save percentage, Pekka Rinne (21-11-3) has been the top option in goal for the Preds this year. If head coach Peter Laviolette decides to give him the evening off, however, the team might turn to Juuse Saros (5-7-7 record, .930 save percentage, 2.22 goals against average).
Filip Forsberg and P.K. Subban will both lead the charge for the Predators. Forsberg (34 points) has put up 15 goals and 19 assists and has recorded multiple points in eight different games this year. Subban has nine goals and 24 assists to his name and has notched at least one point in 23 games.
On the other side of the ice, Arizona is 10-36 straight up (SU) and has lost 23.4 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. Through 46 regular season contests, 25 of its games have gone under the total, while 20 have gone over and just one has pushed. The Coyotes are 5-19 SU as the visiting team this season.
The Coyotes have converted on just 16.3 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s ranked 25th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 22nd overall and it’s successfully defended 79.8 percent of all penalties.
Arizona’s skaters have been called for penalties only 3.0 times per game in total this season, and 1.6 per game over their last five on the road. The team’s had to kill penalties just 7.0 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Antti Raanta (2.68 goals against average and .915 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for Arizona. Raanta is averaging 25.2 saves per game and owns a 6-18-4 record.
Leading the offensive attack for the visiting Coyotes will be Clayton Keller (14 goals, 20 assists) and Derek Stepan (nine goals, 19 assists).
Arizona Coyotes at Nashville Predators Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Predators, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Trends
Two of Arizona’s last ten games have gone to a shootout. The team is 0-2 in those games and 1-3 overall in shootouts this season.
The under has hit in four of Nashville’s last five outings.
Nashville has allowed 2.7 goals per game overall this season, but is allowing just 1.3 per match up across its three-game win streak.
Five of Arizona’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 1-4 in those games.
Arizona skaters have accounted for the fifth-most hits in the league (24.2 per game).
