Nashville Predators vs. Arizona Coyotes Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 4/29/2022

by Chuck Sommers

Friday, Apr 29, 2022
Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Gila River Arena, Glendale, AZ
Where to watch: Bally Sports Arizona Extra, Bally Sports South

Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks


DraftKings: Predators -280, Coyotes +225
BetMGM: Predators -275, Coyotes +225
Caesars: Predators -278, Coyotes +230

Season record
Predators: 45-29-7
Coyotes: 24-50-7

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Predators - Coyotes preview and analysis


It only seems fitting that the final game of mostly the NHL season comes down to deciding if the Nashville Predators want to play the Calgary Flames or Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

And how fitting that the team that put the Dallas Stars in a predicament is now tasked with putting Nashville in said predicament, when the Arizona Coyotes host their final home game of the season – and last ever hockey game at Gila River Arena – on Friday in Glendale.

The Coyotes were so close to doing the Vegas Golden Knights a solid on Wednesday. Vegas needed a win in Chicago and an Arizona win in regulation over Dallas to keep their playoff hopes alive to the final day. Of course, Vegas went on to lose to Chicago so it ultimately didn’t matter.

But Arizona rallied from three goals down in the third to tie it 3-3 halfway through the third, but couldn’t find that fourth goal until overtime when Travis Boyd scored 1:43 into the extra frame to beat the Stars and make this final day for Nashville and Dallas seem more important than it should’ve been.

"You put a lot of pressure on yourself as a coach or professional athletes to perform at your highest level," Arizona coach Andre Tourigny said. "At some point, we kind of lost our mojo and were not as tough to play against. You don't wake up in the morning with the same feeling and pride and happy about yourself. That was really important for us to get back at it, and I think we've finished really strong."

The Coyotes are going to have a long offseason that will culminate into them playing next season in a 5,000-seat college hockey rink. There’s not a lot to get excited, especially the fact that Arizona’s win knocked them out of the No. 1 top odds for the NHL Draft Lottery in a couple of weeks. Shane Wright to Arizona is likely not happening, as it would cause chaos if Montreal doesn’t get the No. 1 pick with Montreal hosting the draft.

Buit this is more about the Predators than anything, because that Arizona win the other night and Nashville’s 5-4 shootout victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday has set the stage for a rather interesting time in the Central time zone.

If Nashville wins, the Preds will clinch the first wild card and have a first-round series with the Calgary Flames. If they lose in regulation and Dallas defeats the Anaheim Ducks, Nashville will get a seven-game date with the top-seeded Avalanche. And I guarantee this would not have the same outcome as Thursday’s game considering the Avs have coasted with no desire to win the Presidents Trophy from the Florida Panthers.

That doesn’t discount the type of offensive firepower that they have, and it’s going to be crucial to have that now considering Jusse Saros is going to miss this game and could potential miss the beginning of whoever they play in Round 1.

Roman Josi continued his stellar Norris Trophy-caliber season with a goal and an assist, as did Mattias Ekholm, as the Preds rallied from down two twice in order to win. Nashville has the regulation wins tiebreaker over Dallas so even if Nashville gets a point, it will cement the Calgary-Nashville matchup.

"We dug ourselves a hole early, obviously with some penalty trouble, we gave up a couple there. These are big points, there's a difference between playing these guys or Calgary." Ekholm said. "They had some shifts in that second period where they got momentum, but we stood tall."

Meaningful hockey in Glendale. Who would’ve ever thought it.

Prediction


As much as I would want chaos for the Coyotes to come out and win one more for the gipper, there’s no way I could expect Connor Ingram to completely throw this one away in Saros’ absence. David Rittich was strong in Colorado and will book the travel to Calgary. Predators win 4-1

Betting trends


Predators are 15-9 against division opponents this season.

Coyotes are 9-15 following a division game this season.

Projected lines


Predators:

Filip Forsberg -- Mikael Granlund -- Matt Duchene

Luke Kunin -- Ryan Johansen -- Philip Tomasino

Yakov Trenin -- Colton Sissons -- Tanner Jeannot

Nick Cousins -- Michael McCarron -- Eeli Tolvanen

Roman Josi -- Dante Fabbro

Mattias Ekholm -- Alexandre Carrier

Mark Borowiecki -- Matt Benning

Connor Ingram

Coyotes:

Nick Schmaltz -- Barrett Hayton -- Travis Boyd

Michael Carcone -- Nathan Smith -- Phil Kessel

Antoine Roussel -- Jack McBain -- Loui Eriksson

Bokondji Imama -- Alex Galchenyuk -- Jan Jenik

Shayne Gostisbehere -- Anton Stralman

Kyle Capobianco -- J.J. Moser

Cam Dineen -- Victor Soderstrom

Karel Vejmelka

Statistical leaders


Predators:
Points: Roman Josi -- 95
Goals: Matt Duchene -- 43
Assists: Roman Josi -- 72
Goalie: Jusse Saros -- 38-25-3, 2.64 GAA, .918 SV%

Coyotes:
Points: Clayton Keller -- 63
Goals: Clayton Keller -- 28
Assists: Phil Kessel -- 44
Goalie: Karel Vejmelka -- 13-32-3, 3.60 GAA, .900 SV%

Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert hockey picks today. And if you enjoyed this Nashville Predators - Arizona Coyotes prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our daily NHL projections and previews.

Chuck Sommers

About the Author:

Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.

All photographic images used for editorial content have been licensed from the Associated Press.

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