The Arizona Coyotes are back at home tonight against the Nashville Predators, a team that is playing great so far this season. It is going to take a lot of work to beat the Preds but we have the plan to do it!
The Nashville Predators have a record of 4-2, including a big ”statement win” over the Vegas Golden Knights two nights ago. Nashville is led by Matt Duchene and Filip Forsberg. Duchene has 9 points through the first 6 games, including 2 goals and 7 assists. While Forsberg has 5 goals, and 3 assists. Nashville is a great team offensively, and defensively.
Led by players like Roman Josi and Ryan Ellis on the back-end. Arizona prides themselves on their defensive play, and the same is true for Nashville. Last season they were 3rd in the NHL, only giving up 213 goals. Nashville is a great team defensively, but they have struggled on the PK. The Predators have a PK percentage of 72.22%, not that great considering the league average is around 79%.
Last game against Winnipeg the Coyotes won the special teams battle, they will need to do that again against a very skilled Nashville team with a better defensive group. It looks like the Predators might be without Filip Forsberg, who left the game against Vegas in the third period. That would be a big blow for Nashville, and could make the difference for Arizona.
Without further ado, here our are 3 keys to a victory against Nashville tonight in Arizona!
Key 3 : Win the special teams battle
The Arizona Coyotes power play was activated against Winnipeg, and it needs to stay on. We already talked about the ways the Coyotes power play can succeed, and they need to continue to fulfill those goals. Whether it be shooting and attacking, or just having a net front presence the Coyotes can succeed on the power play. Just check out the Coyotes power play goals from the game in Winnipeg.
Key 2 : Kessel needs to be Kessel
Kessel has done a good job offensively through the first few games. He has generated 17 shots and 2 assists, but he needs to do more.
The puck needs to go in the net off of Phil Kessel’s stick – HE NEEDS TO SCORE – it is that simple. I think every Coyotes fan will have a big sigh of relief once Kessel scores a goal, and what better team to score against then the team Kessel won the Stanley Cup against in 2017
Key 1 : Continue the charge defensively
Loosing Niklas Hjalmarsson seems to have woken up the team. In Hjalmarsson’s absence the team blocked 14 shots against Winnipeg. Not bad, but it needs to be even better against Nashville, a very offensive team.
Nashville has the most goals scored in the league now. They are a juggernaut offensively, and the only way the Coyotes can combat that is not out scoring them, but out playing them in their own zone.
Arizona needs to get pucks out of their own zone every time they touch the puck, no turn overs in their own zone. Plus the Coyotes need to continue to block shots and have a fast attack after getting the puck out.
If the Coyotes do all this, then they will win. Arizona is currently 1-0-1 against Central Division opponents, and the pressure is on to keep that goose egg in the losses category!