In their first of three head-to-head meetings this season, the Nashville Predators and the Arizona Coyotes face off at Gila River Arena for a Western Conference tilt. Fox Sports Arizona will showcase the matchup, and the action gets going at 9 p.m. ET on Thursday, January 4.
Nashville Predators at Arizona Coyotes Odds
Nashville (-180) is currently favored over Arizona (+160), and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals. The line for betting the total stands at -110 money on the over and -110 on the under.
Nashville is 23-16 straight up (SU) and has netted 4.5 units for moneyline bettors this year. 20 of its contests have gone over the total, while 19 have gone under and none have pushed. This 2017-18 Predators team is 11-10 SU on the road.
Nashville has converted on 24.5 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s good enough for fourth-best in the league. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 11th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 82.6 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Preds have been whistled for penalties 5.3 times per game this season, and 4.2 per game over its last five on the road. The team has been forced to defend opponent power plays just 14.0 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 29.3 saves per game with a .924 save percentage, Pekka Rinne (19-11-3) has been the top option in goal for Nashville this year. If it decides to give him a rest, however, head coach Peter Laviolette could turn to Juuse Saros (4-6-2 record, .925 save percentage, 2.38 goals against average).
Filip Forsberg and P.K. Subban will both be relied on to facilitate things for the visiting Predators. Forsberg (34 points) has tallied 15 goals and 19 assists, and has recorded two or more points in eight different games. Subban has nine goals and 20 assists to his name (and has logged at least one point in 21 games).
Arizona is 9-32 straight up (SU) and has lost 20.7 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 41 regular season contests, 22 of its games have gone under the total, while 18 have gone over and just one has pushed. It’s 4-14 SU at home this season.
The Coyotes have converted on just 15.8 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that places them in the bottom 10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 21st overall, and it’s successfully killed off 80.4 percent of all penalties.
Coyotes skaters have been called for penalties only 3.2 times per game in total this season, and 4.0 per game over their last five at home. The team’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays 12.8 minutes per contest over their last five home games.
Antti Raanta has denied 25.0 shots per game as the top netminder in goal for the Coyotes. Raanta has five wins, 15 losses, and two overtime losses and has registered a .912 save percentage and 2.87 goals against average this season.
The Coyotes offense will be led by Clayton Keller (14 goals, 18 assists).
Nashville Predators vs. Arizona Coyotes Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Coyotes, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Notes
Nashville (3-4 in shootouts) has more shootout experience coming into this one. Arizona has only participated in two shootouts this year, winning one and losing the other.
The over has hit in three of Arizona’s last five games.
Seven of Arizona’s last ten contests have been decided by two or more goals, and the team is 1-6 overall in those games.
The Coyotes this season have handed the fifth-most hits per game (24.0), but that average has risen to 29.0 over their past five games as the home team.
