Game Preview
The Arizona Coyotes’ homestand continues after a solid start. The Desert Dogs will have another shot at facing a Central Division team today as the Nashville Predators come to town.
Tuesday saw the Coyotes’ most impressive win of their homestand so far, a 6-2 trouncing of the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Blue Jackets may have scored first, but the Coyotes responded with two unanswered goals late in the second period. While Columbus was able to tie things up before the period ended, Arizona scored four unanswered goals in the final frame, giving the Yotes a commanding 6-2 win.
Rookie Josh Doan was the star of Tuesday’s game, with two goals in his NHL debut. Both goals gave the Coyotes the lead, with the second being the eventual game-winner. The Coyotes recalled Doan after a successful season in the AHL with the Roadrunners, and if Tuesday was any indication, he should be a full-time NHLer to start next season.
The Coyotes and Nashville Predators last met in early February. The game ended with the Predators winning 5-4 in overtime, giving them their first win of the series.
Since that win, the Predators seem to have solidified their place. They have 90 points in 72 games and are on track to make the postseason. The next team back (Vegas Golden Knights) has 86 points, while the Blues have 80 points.
The Predators currently have three 20+ goal scorers and will finish with four if Roman Josi nets another one in the next ten games. While that may not sound like much, Filip Forsberg has 40 goals on the season and 81 points in 72 games, so he basically counts for two.
Nashville has also been getting solid goaltending from Juuse Saros. Sarson is a game-breaker, and this season is actually one of his worst, but he still has a .909 save percentage and a 2.75 goals-against average. It’s worse than his career average of .918 and 2.60, but still good enough to grab a playoff spot.
The Predators come into tonight’s game riding an 18-game point streak after beating the Golden Knights 5-4 in regulation. That is certainly impressive, and after dropping their first two games against the Coyotes, it is doubtful that the Predators will underestimate them. The Coyotes may still have a chance to play spoilers, but they will need to play close to perfect.
Players to Watch
Arizona: Nick Bjugstad – Bjugstad’s goal gave the Coyotes a 4-2 lead, and he comes into tonight’s game riding a two-game goal streak and a four-game point streak. He has one goal in three games against the Predators this season.
Nashville: Ryan O’Reilly – O’Reilly had a goal and two assists in his last game and comes into tonight’s match with 61 points in 72 games. He has two goals and an assist against the Coyotes this season.
Injuries
Arizona: Travis Boyd (pectoral), Barrett Hayton (lower body)
Nashville: Alexandre Carrier (upper body), Dante Fabbro (upper body), Spencer Stastney (upper body)
Puck Drop
Tonight’s game will be at Mullett Arena and will start at 7:00 p.m. Arizona time.