The Nashville Predators host the Phoenix Coyotes, Thursday Mar 25, as both teams continue to burn up the standings. The teams are meeting for the third time this season, with Nashville still looking for its first victory. NHL oddsmakers at BETUS.com have the Predators as -125 moneyline favs over the Coyotes (+105) with the over/under set at 5 goals . Be sure to get your Phoenix Coyotes vs Nashville Predators NHL Picks in early at SPORTSBETTING.com
The Coyotes (46-23-1-4) have won nine of their last ten and four of their last five on the road. They are 20-13-1-2 on the road where they average 2.22 GAG and allow 2.33 GAG. They recently got shutout in Chicago 0-2. Goalie Ilya Bryzgalov stopped 30 of 32 shots, but his squad couldn’t get any goals to help him out. Bryzgalov is 7-3 in his last ten with a 2.20 GAA. Overall he’s 39-19-4 with a 2.28 GAA and a .921 SVPCT. The Coyotes fell one point behind San Jose for the Pacific Division lead. "Teams like Chicago and San Jose were out of reach for us a month ago, so we know that we've played some good hockey ," Aucoin said. Aucoin, who had never taken a shootout try before the Coyotes' last trip to Nashville, is 5-for-5 — and all five goals have been game-deciders. Phoenix has just five losses in its last 22 games, but three of those defeats were shutouts. The Coyotes are all but assured of making the playoffs for the first time since '02; they're playing for the top spot in the Pacific Division and a higher seed in the West.
The Predators (42-27-2-3) have won seven of ten and three of their last five at home. They are 21-13-1-1 at home where they average 2.64 GAG and allow 2.53 GAG. They recently lost to Dallas 1-3 at home. Shea Weber was their lone scorer. Goalie Pekka Rinne stopped a low 11 of 14 shots and is 7-3 in his last ten with a 2.40 GAA. Overall he’s 28-14-4 with a 2.60 GAA and a .907 SVPCT. The Predators have little wiggle room as they try to avoid being the odd man out in a five-way scramble for the last four spots in the Western Conference playoff race. "You have to have a short-term memory, and the biggest game of the year is coming up now," said coach Barry Trotz. Despite Tuesday's loss, Goalie Pekka Rinne is 6-1-0 with three shutouts in his last seven games . He is 8-2-0 with a 1.88 goals-against average, .927 save percentage in 10 games this month. Nashville captain Jason Arnott may miss a third consecutive game with an upper-body injury. That would be a loss for the Predators as Arnott has 54 points in 54 career games against the Coyotes. Nashville is 0-for-11 on the power play in its last three games and has scored just once goal in each of its last two
Recent Trends to Consider:
- Under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in Nashville.
- Under is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings.
- Favorite is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings.
- Home team is 13-4 in the last 17 meetings.
- Coyotes are 2-9-1 in the last 12 meetings in Nashville.
Phoenix Coyotes vs Nashville Predators
When: Thursday Mar 25, 2009 8:00 PM ET
Line: SPORTSBETTING.com
Pick: Coyotes +105
Point-Spreads.com Phoenix Coyotes vs Nashville Predators NHL Picks
The Bottom Line: The Coyotes have lost two in a row only six times and they haven’t had two in a row in March. Be sure to get your Phoenix Coyotes vs Nashville Predators NHL Picks in early at SPORTSBETTING.com Cash in with sign-up bonuses, weekly reload bonuses and free payouts at SPORTSBETTING.com, where betting is safe, secure and easy.
