In their third and final head-to-head meeting of the regular season, the Nashville Predators and the Arizona Coyotes meet at Gila River Arena for a Western Conference matchup. The puck drops at 10 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 15, and you’ll be able to view it live on Fox Arizona Plus.
Nashville Predators vs. Arizona Coyotes Odds
Nashville is 45-24 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 14.2 units this season. Through 69 regular season contests, 34 of its games have gone over the total, while another 34 have gone under and just one has pushed. As a road team this season, the Preds are 20-13 SU.
Nashville has converted on 21.6 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s good enough for ninth-best in the NHL. Its penalty kill is ranked 12th overall, and it has successfully killed off 82.2 percent of its penalties.
Nashville, as a collective unit, has been penalized 4.5 times per game during the 2017-18 season, and 3.6 per game over its last five on the road. The team has been forced to defend opponent power plays 11.0 minutes per contest over their last five road games.
With a .929 save percentage and 29.3 saves per game, Pekka Rinne (38-13-4) has been the primary option in goal for Nashville this season. If it decides to rest him, however, head coach Peter Laviolette might go with Juuse Saros (7-12-6 record, .924 save percentage, 2.39 goals against average).
Viktor Arvidsson and P.K. Subban will both be relied on to facilitate things for the visiting Predators. Arvidsson (52 points) is up to 26 goals and 26 assists, and has recorded multiple points in 15 different games. Subban has 15 goals and 35 assists to his nameand has registered a point in 37 games.
Arizona is 23-46 straight up (SU) and has lost 16.7 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 69 regular season outings, 36 of its games have gone under the total, while 32 have gone over and just one has pushed. It’s 14-22 SU as the home team this year.
Arizona has converted on just 16.3 percent of its power play chances this year, a mark that’s ranked 27th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 21st overall, and it’s successfully killed off 79.5 percent of all penalties.
Arizona skaters have been sent to the penalty box only 3.3 times per game in total this season, and 3.9 per game over their last ten outings. The team’s had to stave off opponent power plays just 6.4 minutes per contest over their last five home games.
Antti Raanta has stopped 26.8 shots per game as the top selection in goal for Arizona. Raanta has 16 wins, 23 losses, and six OT losses to his credit and has maintained a 2.43 goals against average and a .924 save percentage this year.
The home team offense will be led by Clayton Keller (19 goals, 31 assists).
Nashville Predators vs. Arizona Coyotes Betting Predictions
Prediction: SU Winner – Coyotes, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Trends
Arizona is 2-5 in games decided by a shootout this season while Nashville is 5-6 in shootouts.
The over has hit in three of Arizona’s last five games.
Six of Nashville’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 6-0 in those games.
The Coyotes this season have registered the fourth-most hits per game (24.4), but the team’s averaged 27.2 over their past five games as the home team.
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