Game 2 Coyotes vs. Predators Prediction: Stanley Cup Qualifier Odds
The Predators are -130 favourites on the NHL odds to even things up at one. The over-under is a scant 5 goals.
Predators vs. Coyotes NHL Playoff Odds
West No. 6 seed Nashville had been the -150 favourite to win this series but that changed in the wake of Sunday’s 4-3 loss to No. 11 Arizona. The Preds are now +2200 to win the Western Conference and the Coyotes +2000. Teams that take a 2-0 lead in a best-of-five series own an all-time series record of 55-1.
The lone team to win was the 1985 New York Islanders after trailing the Washington Capitals 2-0 in the division semi-finals.
Nashville Predators
Former Vezina Trophy winner Pekka Rinne’s streak of 89 consecutive postseason starts ended Sunday when the Preds went with Juuse Saros in net, his first-ever playoff start. Rinne’s streak was the fourth-longest by a goalie in NHL history (Martin Brodeur holds the mark with 194). He probably will get the call Tuesday, especially with the teams playing again Wednesday. Rinne is 45-44-0 with a .914 save percentage and 2.49 goals-against average in his postseason career.
Filip Forsberg had two goals for the Preds, both on the power play, and Ryan Ellis the other. Roman Josi, a finalist for the Norris Trophy, had two assists. Nashville did largely dominate possession, controlling 69 percent of the shot attempts at 5-on-5. However, the Preds were undisciplined as they gave the Coyotes six power plays.
Arizona Coyotes
The Coyotes raced to a 3-0 first-period lead in Sunday’s series opener and held on for dear life. Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Christian Dvorak and Clayton Keller (on power play) all scored in the first, and Michael Grabner netted the eventual game-winner at 16:25 of the second period while Arizona was short-handed. It was Grabner’s second career postseason short-handed goal. Only three active players have more. Dvorak would be named the game’s No. 1 star, also adding an assist. Phil Kessel and Taylor Hall each had two assists. Kessel now has 21 multi-point playoff games, third-most among active U.S. players. Chicago’s Patrick Kane leads with 34. Darcy Kuemper stopped 40 of 43 shots.
It was the Coyotes’ first playoff win since Game 4 of the 2012 conference finals at the Los Angeles Kings. Center Nick Schmaltz was out with a stiff neck. Schmaltz led the Coyotes in scoring with 45 points (11 goals, 34 assists) during the regular season.
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