The Nashville Predators and Arizona Coyotes meet in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference qualifying round series, looking for the upper hand on Wednesday at Rogers Place in Edmonton. The puck is scheduled to drop at 2:30 p.m. ET. We analyze the Coyotes-Predators NHL betting odds and lines, with picks and best bets.
Series: Tied 1-1.
Coyotes vs. Predators: Projected starting goalies
Darcy Kuemper vs. Pekka Rinne
Kuemper helped the Coyotes to a slight upset in Game 1, stopping 40 of 43 shots in the 4-3 victory. He wasn’t as crisp in Tuesday’s Game 2, getting dinged for four goals on 28 shots in a 4-2 loss. While it’s a quick turnaround, the Coyotes will likely ride of die with Kuemper. The Coyotes posted on Twitter that Antti Raanta was unfit to play, so Adin Hill served as the backup in Game 2. In a pivotal Game 3, the Coyotes are unlikely to pin their hopes on Hill despite a lack of rest for their starter.
Juuse Saros coughed up four goals on 37 shots in Game 1, but the Predators stuck with him and he paid off with a 24-save victory in Game 2. During practice, Rinne and Saros pushed each other for the starting job, and it sounded like a tight battle. Expect Rinne to start in Game 3, giving Saros a chance to recharge his battery in the back-to-back situation.
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Coyotes vs. Predators: Odds, picks and betting tips
Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated Wednesday at 6:40 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Predators 4, Coyotes 2
Moneyline (ML)
The PREDATORS (-129) were stunned in Game 1. It will be the last game they lose in this series, as the Coyotes (+110) aren’t ready for prime time just yet. The back-to-back situation might favor the younger Arizona legs, but the experience of Nashville in the playoffs will help it through the adversity with a quick turnaround.
New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Predators to win returns a profit of $7.75, while a $10 wager on the Coyotes would net a profit of $11.
Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
The PREDATORS -1.5 (+220) are a fabulous value in this one. While they’re just 4-9 in their past 13 when playing on no rest, the Coyotes are even worse at 15-40 in their past 55 in the second end of a back-to-back. Arizona surprised in Game 1, but this is the game where Nashville takes charge of this series. Look for the Preds to cover the puck line here, and you can double up and then some.
Over/Under (O/U)
There were two high-scoring games in this series, with seven total goals in Game 1, and six in Game 2. Expect another higher scoring affair in Game 3. The Over has cashed in four of the previous five meetings in this series, and OVER 5.5 (+125) is the play in Game 3, too, and at a nice value.
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