Nashville Predators-Phoenix Coyotes Semi-Final Series Preview –NHL Playoffs Special
Nashville and Phoenix are geared up to go head to head in one of the most anticipated series of the 2012 National Hockey League (NHL) Stanley Cup Playoffs as the stakes are high and the fans are going wild.
Predators and Coyotes may be the most identical teams in the semi-finals as they both carry a wide array of defensive and goaltending qualities that will make this series definitely drastic in every sense.
"We really are mirror images of each other, quite frankly, when it comes to style, commitment and work ethic. You don't get a free night when you play Nashville, and we feel the same is true with the Coyotes. This should be a very interesting series," Phoenix
Coyotes general manager, Don Maloney, said.
Both teams are yearning for a Stanley Cup as Nashville has gotten through to the second round for just the second time in franchise history, with the last time being in 2011. Phoenix on the other hand is through for the first time and is prepared to take
on the challenge.
"They have hard-working talent, they are four lines deep, they have two of the best defensemen in the League on the blue line and they have a world-class goaltender,” Maloney added. "I think it will be a quick [paced} series, I think it will be a hard-played
series and it will be a test of will."
How Nashville Predators will win the Series
Nashville Predators have amazing defensive depth with captain Shea Weber, already well known to be the best in his department, while Pekka Rinne has vast experience in playing in pressure moments in front of the net.
Predators have a great defensive line-up no doubt, but their getting to that offensive level as well with rookie Gabriel Bourque coming out as a surprise player as he scored three goals in five games against Detroit Red Wings.
Nashville has had a tough time on capitalising on power play advantages as they failed on 20 of 22 power play advantages but on the other hand, Predators also kept Detroit out of the net on 19 of 23 penalties given to the opposition.
In order to take the series from Phoenix, Nashville will need to boost their chances of scoring and taking an early lead in the series and in every matchup.
How Phoenix Coyotes will win the Series
Phoenix has definitely emerged as one of the best teams in the league as they got their first ever divisional title in franchise history after the 2011-2012 NHL regular season came to an end.
With the help of young goalie, Mike Smith, who has been hot throughout, Phoenix will need to break through the Pekka Rinne barrier and if they can manage to do so, winning will not be as hard.
Phoenix played extremely physical hockey against Chicago Blackhawks, giving their player, Raffi Torres, a 25-game suspension for knocking out Marian Hossa. They will need to continue playing hard and keep Nashville stuck in the middle.
On the plus side, Phoenix has some great forwards as well like Mikkel Boedker, who had two game-winning shots, along with Antoine Vermette, Ray Whitney, Shane Doan and Radim Vrbata.
Prediction
Phoenix Coyotes will take the series and eliminate Nashville Predators in seven games.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
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