NHL Betting Odds, Picks and Predictions: Coyotes vs. Predators Game 2 Preview (Tuesday, August 4)
Frederick Breedon/Getty Images. Pictured: Roman Josi (No. 59), Nick Bonino (No. 13), Rocco Grimaldi (No. 23).
- The Predators are once again favored over the Coyotes after dropping Game 1 of this qualifying round series, with the total at 5 and juiced to the under.
- Michael Leboff is going back to the well with Arizona -- he liked the Yotes at +120 or better on Sunday, so he'll ride again at the same price on Tuesday.
- Get his full breakdown and analysis for Coyotes vs. Preds below.
Coyotes vs. Predators Odds
| Coyotes Odds | +117 [BET NOW] |
| Predators Odds | -136 [BET NOW] |
| Over/Under | 5.5 (+114/-139) [BET NOW] |
| Time | Tuesday, 2:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | NHL Network |
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A three-goal outburst by the Arizona Coyotes in the first period flipped the script in Game 1 on Sunday. The Yotes are not an offense to be feared, so spotting them three goals in the first 20 minutes doomed the Predators to a game of catch-up, needing to score at least four times against Darcy Kuemper, one of the NHL's best goaltenders over the past two seasons.
Nashville came close to drawing even a few times, but Kuemper made the big saves Arizona relies on him to make to keep the game from going to overtime.
The expected goals report from the game shows that Arizona was a bit fortunate to get the win and that Nashville was the better 5-on-5 team. The Preds created 1.54 xG at 5-on-5 while the Coyotes only generated 0.92.
The Predators played a better overall game than the Coyotes but Kuemper played better than Juuse Saros, and in hockey that's all you need sometimes.
Expected goals (also known as xG) is a predictive statistic that gives an indication of whether results are based on sustainable factors like a steady creation of scoring chances, or whether it is down to aspects such as shooting luck or outstanding goaltending.
Simply put, an expected goals rate (xGF%) above 50% is considered good because it means a team is creating the majority of the scoring chances. Anything below 50% is usually a sign that a team is struggling to control play.
Kuemper is Arizona's ace in the hole and the Coyotes were always going to need a big performance from him to have a chance in this series, but relying on goaltending is a dangerous game to play. Goalie play is incredibly fickle and just because Kuemper looked good in Game 1 doesn't mean he'll play well in Game 2. Vice versa for Saros.
The Coyotes closed between +115 and +120 in Game 1 and by the looks of it will close a bit higher in Game 2. I thought Arizona was the value-side in Game 1, so I'll take the bump in price for Tuesday's matinee.
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