Phoenix Coyotes looking to surge as Nashville Predators visit – NHL Preview
Phoenix Coyotes needed good luck and the unfortunate San Jose Sharks provided them just that.
Now the question here is simple: Can Coyotes capitalise on it?
After struggling throughout this month, Coyotes have finally got something to cheer about, but they still cannot take a sigh of relief as the pressure is surmounting with many other teams of National Hockey League (NHL) Western Conference desperately trying
to gain a playoff spot.
Nashville Predators are going to start their four-game road trip with the game against Coyotes.
Predators are already in the comfort zone and might easily qualify for the playoffs and hence will not feel as much pressure as Coyotes during the game that will take place at Jobing.com Arena, Glendale, Arizona on Monday, March 12, 2012.
Here is a look at both teams.
Coyotes
After displaying such a remarkable performance last month in which Coyotes only lost one game, they trembled at the beginning of this month and went on to lose five straight games.
However, they managed to snap that skid after defeating the slumping Sharks in their last game.
Coyotes scored two goals in the second period and one in the final while their goaltender, Mike Smith, earned his fifth shutout of the season.
Smith, who had returned on the rink after taking a few days off, said after the victory:
"I did not played my best in the last week, and it's a tough time of the year not to play up to your potential. This was a gusty win for the team, and showed why we can be a good hockey team."
Coyotes are placed at seventh spot in the Western Conference with 78 points after 69 games and are not too far away from Calgary Flames, Los Angeles Kings and Colorado Avalanche that are ranked at eighth, ninth and 10th spot respectively with
76 points each.
Predators
Predators have won three of their last four games and are currently on a two-game winning streak with the victories coming against Colorado Avalanche (4-2) and Detroit Red Wings (3-2).
They are ranked at fifth spot in the Western Conference with 87 points after 68 games and apparently there is no threat to their playoff chances.
However, they will be on road and have to be slightly cautious as Coyotes will certainly look to surge after snapping their skid.
Predators’ defenseman is hopeful of continuing the winning run on road as well. He said:
"Whenever you're at home you want to come out and win. We wanted to get the two points and hopefully now we can take that momentum on the road with us."
Predictions
Since Coyotes have snapped their skid, it is expected that the game would be quite tough, but Predators still have an edge.
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