Gila River Arena will be the site for a Western Conference clash as the Nashville Predators pay a visit to the Arizona Coyotes. It’s the third and final time that the two clubs will meet in the regular season. The match gets underway at 10 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 15, and fans at home are able to view the game live on Fox Arizona Plus.
Nashville Predators at Arizona Coyotes Odds
Nashville is 45-24 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 14.2 units this season. Through 69 regular season matches, 34 of its games have gone over the total, while another 34 have gone under and just one has pushed. This 2017-18 Predators team is 20-13 SU on the road.
Nashville has converted on 21.6 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. Additionally, its penalty kill is ranked 12th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 82.2 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Preds have been sent to the penalty box 4.5 times per game this season, and 3.6 per game over its last five on the road. The team’s had to kill penalties 11.0 minutes per game over their last five road outings.
Averaging 29.3 saves per game with a .929 save percentage, Pekka Rinne (38-13-4) has been the best option in goal for Nashville this year. If Nashville decides to rest him, however, head coach Peter Laviolette could roll with Juuse Saros (7-12-6 record, .924 save percentage, 2.39 goals against average).
Viktor Arvidsson and P.K. Subban will both spearhead the attack for the visiting Predators. Arvidsson has 52 points on 26 goals and 26 assists, and has recorded multiple points in 15 different games. Subban has 15 goals and 35 assists to his creditand has notched a point in 37 games.
On the other side of the ice, Arizona is 23-46 straight up (SU) and has lost 16.7 units for moneyline bettors this year. 36 of its games have gone under the total, while 32 have gone over and just one has pushed. The team’s 14-22 SU at home this year.
The Coyotes have converted on just 16.3 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that places them in the bottom 5 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 21st overall, and it’s successfully killed off 79.5 percent of all opponent power plays.
Coyotes skaters have been penalized only 3.3 times per game in total this season, and 3.9 per game over their past ten games. The team’s had to kill penalties just 6.4 minutes per game over their last five home outings.
Antti Raanta (26.8 saves per game) has been the top option in goal for the Coyotes. Raanta has 16 wins, 23 losses, and six OT losses to his name and has registered a 2.43 goals against average and a .924 save percentage this season.
The home team will be led on offense by Clayton Keller (19 goals, 31 assists).
Nashville Predators vs. Arizona Coyotes Free Picks
Pick: SU Winner – Coyotes, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- Nashville is 5-6 in games decided by a shootout this season while Arizona is 2-5 in shootouts.
- The total has gone over in three of Arizona’s last five outings.
- 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 tallied the fourth-most hits per game (24.4), but the team’s averaged 27.2 over their last five games as the home team.
