Arizona Coyotes vs Nashville Predators: preview, predictions, live stream info

Arizona Coyotes vs Nashville Predators

The team’s first game to keep an eye on was the Coyotes vs Oilers, as it was a homecoming for both Sam Gagner and Devan Dubnyk. This game will be a key matchup, as well: the team will get their first encounter with Mike Ribeiro, who left the desert on not-so-friendly terms with the team.

The Predators are surprisingly strong coming out of the gate on the 2014-2015 season, while the Coyotes are looking somewhat inconsistent. This game should be a battle to the bitter end, though- don’t expect either team to go down without a fight.

Game Info:

DATE: Monday, Oct. 21st
TIME: 7:00pm (CST)
LOCATION: Nashville, Tennessee
ARENA: Bridgestone Arena
TV INFO: Fox Sports AZ, FSTN (Broadcast in both cities! HOCKEY LIFE)
STREAMING INFO: NHL GameCenter Live (if you haven’t bought this yet, it’s pretty great)

Keys to Victory:

The Nashville Predators could come out on top in this game, as Pekka Rinne is actually playing the way everyone has been expecting him to for seasons. There’s no guarantee that he can continue to be consistent, but if he is, look for this to be a tough game in the Yotes’ world.

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Puck Prose

Luckily, the Coyotes are giving Mike Smith a night to clear his head, and starting Devan Dubnyk- against another team he’s played for. Dubnyk only spent a few weeks with the Predators, but he backed up Rinne for the final bits of the 2013-2014 season before heading to Arizona this summer. Hopefully, Dubnyk will continue on his quest to establish himself more within the league, and can hold off the Nashville squad.

In order for the Coyotes to win, they need to continue to play the kind of offense we’ve seen from them every night but Saturday, against the St. Louis Blues. The Coyotes have almost a goal per game more than Nashville, and if they can lock down their defense a bit more, this game could be theirs for the taking.

This game will go to the Central Division franchise, though, if the desert dogs cannot keep the pace going for more than twenty minutes. Saturday night saw the team disintegrate at the end of the first period, after a stupid goal slipped by Smith on the power play. These kinds of mind games can’t be played by the Arizona squad if they expect to be competitive in the West… especially since Edmonton now has a win under their belts. The team will need to see Mikkel Boedker continue to play a strong game, and the team’s defense- particularly Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Keith Yandle– need to step up their game.

Oct 17, 2014; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Nashville Predators forward Mike Ribeiro (63) during the second period against the Winnipeg Jets at the MTS Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports

Five Crazy Predictions:

1. Mike Ribeiro will get his first hat trick of the season. The guy got publicly shamed by his former team, when they bought him out and openly admitted that his behavioral issues were the motivating factor. Expect him to return the favor by playing the game of his career.
2. James Neal will fight Shane Doan. While I would LOVE to see Doan go a game without losing his head, this would make my entire night. I’ll post a reactionary video if this happens.
3. Dubnyk establishes himself as a competitor for Smith. Cause every team needs a controversy, right?
4. Pekka Rinne will get injured. I’m going to predict this for every Nashville game until it happens. Guy’s made of glass.
5. Sam Gagner will score on the power play. This guy needs a goal soon, before Arizona fans start to throw things at him. (And by Arizona fans, I mean me.) During this miraculous game in which Rinne gets hurt, Doan gets into a goon fight, and Ribeiro scores three goals, I think that Gagner will finally arrive. ABOUT TIME, GAGS.