Nashville Predators vs Phoenix Coyotes Preview: Appreciate Tonight
The Stats
| Phoenix Coyotes | Nashville Predators | |||
| Record | 36-28-15 | 18th | 35-32-12 | 20th |
| GF/Game | 2.61 | 19th | 2.51 | 21st |
| GA/Game | 2.76 | 19th | 2.85 | 22nd |
| 5-on-5 Close SF/60 | 30.1 | 9th | 29.5 | 15th |
| 5-on-5 Close SA/60 | 30.6 | 23rd | 26.8 | 4th |
| Fenwick Close | 49.70 | 17th | 50.80 | 14th |
| 5-on-5 Close Save % | .930 | 6th | .909 | 28th |
| 5-on-4 GF/60 | 7.4 | 4th | 5.9 | 17th |
| # of PP's/Gm | 3.47 | 5th | 2.91 | 29th |
| 4-on-5 GA/60 | 7.2 | 28th | 7.0 | 26th |
| # of PK's/Gm | 3.35 | 19th | 2.91 | 4th |
Phoenix Coyotes
More on tonight's opponent
More on tonight's opponent
The Yotes are in a down-to-the-wire chase for the final Western Conference playoff spot, and with a victory tonight they would pull alongside Dallas with two games left to play. While the Stars have played decently of late the Coyotes have struggled, coming into tonight's contest with a 5-game losing streak.
Hardly the way to make a charge to the postseason, eh?
It doesn't help that they're fairly dinged up presently, with both goaltender Mike Smith and giant center Martin Hanzal doubtful for this game.
Nashville Predators
Yes, the mood in Smashville is dour these days, thanks to the finality of Tuesday's elimination from playoff contention and the talk of major change either behind the bench or in the front office.
Tonight is Fan Appreciation Night, however, an opportunity to celebrate the fun part of hockey fandom, and also recognize that despite the disappointing results we've seen this season, the guys on the ice have given their best, I don't think anybody would disagree with that. So enjoy the extra giveaways tonight and savor the atmosphere, as we won't have it again until the curtain rises on the 2014-15 NHL season. We all know what's coming on Saturday, so why not treat tonight like the home finale instead?
And as noted at the Tennessean this morning, with a victory tonight Pekka Rinne can claim the franchise's all-time win record for himself, so that's something worth pulling for.
Note: Congratulations go out to Matthew Meadows, who won the #OTFTickets contest and receives 4 seats to tonight's game.