Two teams facing each other for the first time this season, the Nashville Predators and the Arizona Coyotes take the ice at Gila River Arena. The match will get going at 9 p.m. ET on Thursday, November 15, and you will be able to view this Western Conference matchup live on Fox Sports Arizona.
Nashville Predators vs. Arizona Coyotes Odds
Playing the role of underdog will be Nashville (-140), while Arizona is favored showing moneyline odds of +120, and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The line for betting the total stands at -120 money on the over and even money (+100) on the under.
Nashville is 13-5 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 5.4 units this season. Through 18 regular season contests, nine of its games have gone under the total, while eight have gone over and just one has pushed. As an away team this season, the Preds are 8-2 SU.
Nashville has converted on just 13.0 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a figure that places them in the bottom- overall among NHL teams. Its penalty kill is ranked 21st in the league, and the team’s successfully killed off 78.0 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, Nashville has been whistled for penalties just 3.7 times per game in the 2018-19 season, 3.6 per game over its past five games total, and 3.2 per game over its last five on the road. The team’s had to kill penalties just 7.9 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 28.0 saves per game with a .951 save percentage, Pekka Rinne (7-2-1) has been the best option in goal for Nashville this year. If it chooses to rest him, however, the team might go with Juuse Saros (7-3), who has a .903 save percentage and 2.94 goals against average this year.
Ryan Johansen and Filip Forsberg will both look to continue their strong seasons for the visiting Predators. Johansen has 18 points on three goals and 15 assists, and has recorded multiple points six times. Forsberg has 12 goals and six assists to his creditand has notched at least one point in 10 games.
Arizona is 8-9 straight up (SU) and has earned 0.1 units for moneyline bettors this year. Nine of its outings have gone under the total, while seven have gone over and just one has pushed. This season, the team’s 4-3 SU as the home team.
Arizona has converted on just 16.4 percent of its power play chances this year, a mark that places it in the bottom 10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked second overall, and it’s successfully killed off 90.6 percent of all opponent power plays.
The Coyotes have been penalized 4.1 times per game this season, and 5.6 per game over their last five home outings. The team has had to kill penalties 8.8 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Darcy Kuemper (27.6 saves per game) has been the primary selection in goal for Arizona. Kuemper has three wins, five losses, and one OT loss to his credit and has recorded a mediocre 3.00 goals against average and a poor .906 save percentage this season.
The Coyotes offense will be led by Clayton Keller (five goals, seven assists).
Nashville Predators vs. Arizona Coyotes Free Picks
Free Pick: SU Winner – Coyotes, O/U – Over
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Notes
Betting Trends
For both of these clubs, the game went over the total in three of their last five matchups.
Penalties and power plays may have a critical role in this matchup. The Predators are 6-1 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 10-3 when they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes. The Coyotes are 1-5 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 3-7 when they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
Arizona has created 7.0 takeaways per game over its last five home games, a slight drop from its season average of 6.5 takeaways per game (ranked 24th in the NHL).
Nashville skaters have averaged 7.0 takeaways per game over its last five road games, a drop-off from its season average of 7.8 takeaways per game (ranked 12th in the NHL).
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