NHL betting is back on the board as the Nashville Predators take on the Arizona Coyotes in a Qualifying Round matchup to determine which team will advance to the NHL playoffs.
These Coyotes are pups with odds of +110 to win this series, while the Predators are installed at -130 to get into the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the sixth year in a row.
While neither side is known for wide-open, high-scoring hockey, if you like excellent defensive play and sharp goaltending then this series should provide plenty of entertainment. We break down NHL odds as we bring you picks and predictions for the play-in series between the Nashville Predators and the Arizona Coyotes.
Predators vs Coyotes Qualifying Round Odds
| Team | Odds to win the series |
|---|---|
| Nashville Predators | -130 |
| Arizona Coyotes | +110 |
Nashville Predators
Nashville Predators Stanley Cup Odds +4,000
The Predators had an up-and-down season, but did manage to head into the COVID-19 shutdown going 9-4-1 over their last 14 games. The Preds don't have much punch up front, with Filip Forsberg and Matt Duchene the only forwards to hit the 40-point plateau, but they have a terrific group of blueliners anchored by Roman Josi and Ryan Ellis.
It feels bizarre to say, but for the first time in a decade, the Predators look shaky between the pipes. Pekka Rinne is one of three former elite goalies (along with Sergei Bobrovsky and Henrik Lundqvist) to fall off the cliff this season. The 37-year-old, who hadn't finished a healthy regular season with a GAA above 2.50 since 2010, had a 3.17 GAA and a save percentage of .895 in 35 starts this year. The Preds will likely be better off with Juuse Saros starting.
Nashville Predators betting trends
- The Predators are fourth in the league in faceoff win percentage at 52.3.
- The Predators have the third-worst penalty kill unit in the league.
- The Predators have the 25th-ranked powerplay in the league.
Arizona Coyotes
Arizona Coyotes Stanley Cup Odds +4,500
Despite trading for Taylor Hall, Arizona continues to have a hard time putting the puck in the net, ranking just 23rd in the league in goals scored. Although Hall has produced, he hasn't lifted the play of his linemates, while offseason acquisition Phil Kessel has been an abject disappointment with just 38 points after tallying 82 for the Penguins last season.
On the flipside, the Coyotes have a strong group of defensemen anchored by Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Alex Goligoski and Jakob Chychrun, who should be fully recovered from a hip injury.
In nets, Arizona will be stoked to have a healthy Darcy Kuemper. Kuemper followed up on an excellent 2018-19 campaign by looking like a Vezina Trophy candidate earlier this season until a lower-body injury knocked him out of the lineup. He returned at the end of February and didn't miss a beat, posting a 2.55 GAA and a .924 save percentage in four games before the COVID-19 shutdown.
Arizona Coyotes betting trends
- The Coyotes allow the third-fewest first period goals in the league with 53.
- The Coyotes are 26th in the league in Fenwick Rating.
- The Coyotes have the worst win percentage in the league in one-goal games.
Predators vs Coyotes Head-to-Head Comparison
| Nashville Predators | Tale of the Tape | Arizona Coyotes |
|---|---|---|
| 35-26-8 | Record | 33-29-8 |
| 37-30 | O/U | 30-38 |
| 3.07 | Goals Per Game | 2.71 |
| 3.10 | Goals Allowed Per Game | 2.61 |
| 17.3 | Power Play Percentage | 19.2 |
| 76.1 | Penalty Kill Percentage | 82.7 |
Predators vs Coyotes Picks and Predictions
Series Prediction: Arizona +110 - Although Nashville is the No. 6 seed and Arizona the No. 11, only four points separate them in the standings and the Coyotes have the edge in a few key categories.
The Preds have been absolutely brutal on special teams, ranking near the bottom of the league on both the powerplay and the penalty kill, while the Coyotes have the fifth-best penalty kill unit in the NHL. And while neither group of forwards is impressive, the Coyotes are more talented thanks to Hall, Kessel, Clayton Keller and Conor Garland.
Keep in mind that Arizona also plays like a completely different team with their No. 1 netminder backing, going 15-8-2 in Kuemper's starts prior to his injury in December. Back the underdogs with the better goalie in this best-of-five series.
More NHL Qualifying Round picks and predictions
Under the NHL's special return to play format, there are eight best-of-five Qualifying Round matchups preceding the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Check out our best picks and predictions for all the other series that are scheduled to take place when NHL action resumes:
Western Conference
- Edmonton Oilers vs. Chicago Blackhawks
- Vancouver Canucks vs. Minnesota Wild
- Calgary Flames vs. Winnipeg Jets
Eastern Conference
- Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Montreal Canadiens
- Carolina Hurricanes vs. New York Rangers
- New York Islanders vs. Florida Panthers
- Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
Where can I bet on NHL Playoffs odds?
Most online books and casinos offer bets on the Stanley Cup Playoffs and should offer odds on this special Qualifying Round. Check out the best sportsbooks available where you live and see what they are offering for NHL Playoffs odds.
