Free NHL Picks Today: Arizona Coyotes vs Nashville Predators 3/9/23

The Nashville Predators (31-23-7) are on the road to face the Arizona Coyotes (22-32-10) at Mullett Arena on Thursday. Nashville is coming off a 4-3 shootout loss against the Canucks on Monday. The Predators committed four penalties in the game, though they held Vancouver without a power play goal.

Luke Evangelista was the top goalscorer for the Predators with two goals. Juuse Saros saved only 26 of 29 shots against (.896%) in the loss.

Arizona is wrapping up a four-game homestand after an exciting 6-2 win over the Blues on Tuesday, breaking a streak of three defeats in a row.

Travis Boyd scored twice to lead the Coyotes. Clayton Keller had a goal and two assists to lead the team in scoring. Karel Vejmelka saved 40 of 42 shots in the win (.952%).

HEAD TO HEAD

The Predators have won two of the three games between the teams this season, including a 6-2 victory in their most recent meeting in February.

Roman Josi (2G 1A), Matt Duchene (1G 2A), and Tommy Novak (1G 2A) each had three points to lead Nashville. Nick Schmaltz led Arizona with two points (1G 1A). Saros got the win, saving 25 of 27 shots (.925%).

FACING OFF

Nashville is averaging 2.87 goals per game for the season, 25th in the NHL, and they are taking on a Coyotes team that is allowing 3.53 goals a game (24th).

Meanwhile, Arizona has found the net 2.72 times a game on average, 27th in the league, and the Predators are allowing opponents to score 2.92 goals per game (12th).

Arizona averages fewer shots (25.6) than any other team in the league, though the team’s 10.8% shooting percentage ranks seventh. Nashville has proven up to the task of stopping shots, ranking No. 5 with a team save percentage of .918%.

Power play opportunities ought to be plentiful for the Predators, as the Coyotes have been penalized 4.44 times a game, fifth-most in the NHL, for an average of 10.69 minutes (seventh-highest). The visitors are averaging 4.11 penalties (10th) and 10.05 penalty minutes a game (10th).

The Predators’ 18.95% power play percentage ranks 24th in the league, while the Coyotes are 25th with a conversion rate of 18.75%. Arizona has been less successful at penalty killing, as the hosts own the league’s fifth-lowest PK% at 74.48%. Nashville’s 81.46% ranks 13th in the NHL.

TOP PERFORMERS:

With 56 points this season, Josi is the top skater for the Predators. He has 17 goals and 39 assists in 61 games. In the net, Saros (24-17-6) is Nashville’s top goaltender. He has a 2.75 GAA and a .917% save percentage.

Keller leads the Coyotes in scoring with 63 points. He has 26 goals and 37 assists in 64 games. Vejmelka (16-19-5) has the best goals against average for Arizona at 3.39. He has a save percentage of .902%.