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National Hockey League
Preview
Nashville at Arizona
When: 10:00 PM ET, Thursday, March 28, 2024
Where: Mullett Arena, Tempe, Arizona

Riding the best regular-season spell in their history, the Nashville Predators will look to continue climbing the Western Conference and Central Division standings on Thursday when they face the Arizona Coyotes in Tempe, Ariz.

On Tuesday, the Predators (43-25-4, 90 points) extended their point streak to 18 games, storming back from a 4-1, third-period deficit to defeat the Vegas Golden Knights 5-4 in overtime. Roman Josi netted the winning goal 40 seconds into the extra frame as Nashville extended its run to 16-0-2.

The Predators' top line led the way on Tuesday, with Filip Forsberg and Ryan O'Reilly each recording a goal and two assists and linemate Gustav Nyquist adding a goal and an assist. Mark Jankowski also had a goal and an assist, aiding the rally that was buoyed by Jusse Saros' 31 saves.

"It's so fun playing with those two, my Swedish meatballs," O'Reilly said of his linemates. "They're quite exciting out there. They're so smart the way they handle the puck and I think working together is so much fun. With the plays we're making, we're making a difference whenever we can, and it's exciting."

Nashville continued its rapid rise, vaulting four points clear of Vegas for the top spot in the Western Conference wild-card race with 10 games remaining for both teams.

The Predators, who have not lost in regulation since Feb. 15, have been dominant during their run. The Vegas game marked just the third time in the streak that Nashville conceded the first goal.

The dominant spell has Nashville in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race. The Predators enter play Thursday four points behind the third-place Winnipeg Jets in the Central.

Coming up against Arizona (30-37-5, 65 points), the Predators will glance at the other side of the Western Conference standings and hope to keep points from slipping against a Coyotes team already eliminated from playoff contention.

Still, the Coyotes are riding some decent form, and they got a morale boost on Tuesday in a 6-2 home victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Headlining the win was a two-goal rookie debut from Josh Doan, son of franchise legend Shane Doan.

"It's something special to receive your NHL goal puck from your dad and to share a moment with him and everything that he's done for me to help guide me through this game and the ins and outs of the battles off the ice that comes with the game," Josh Doan said. "To have him give me that first puck is something I'm never going to forget."

With critical points on the line, the Predators will need to shut down Arizona's Clayton Keller, who has eight goals and three assists over his past 10 games. Meanwhile, the Predators will hope to regain their stingy defense, which produced back-to-back shutouts prior to the win over Vegas.

In three head-to-head matchups this season, the Coyotes have two wins: a 7-5 road win on Nov. 11, and a 3-2 home victory on Jan. 20. The Predators took the latest matchup 5-4 in overtime at home on Feb. 10. Nashville lost its next two games before starting the current point streak.

--Field Level Media

Stats and Records
Team Comparison
  W/L Strk Home Away Day Night Div
Nashville 43-25-4-0 W6 21-15-1-0 22-10-3-0 8-6-1-0 35-19-3-0 14-6-1-0
Arizona 30-37-5-0 W1 19-17-0-0 11-20-5-0 4-7-1-0 26-30-4-0 8-14-3-0
Last Meeting
Nashville Arizona
Date Away Home Shots Saves PP Shots Saves PP
2/10/24 ARI 4 NAS 5 (OT) 37 27 2-6 31 32 2-4
Player Stats
Previous Matchup
Total Points Player  
Nashville F. Forsberg 2
Arizona J. Zucker 3
Goals Player  
Nashville F. Forsberg 1
Arizona T. Dermott 1
Assists Player  
Nashville G. Nyquist 2
Arizona J. Zucker 3
Saves Player  
Nashville J. Saros 27
Arizona C. Ingram 32
Season
Total Points Player  
Nashville F. Forsberg 84
Arizona C. Keller 66
Goals Player  
Nashville F. Forsberg 41
Arizona C. Keller 31
Assists Player  
Nashville R. Josi 58
Arizona M. Maccelli 37
Saves Player  
Nashville J. Saros 1548
Arizona C. Ingram 1218
Quickchart Matchup
Nashville Off vs  Arizona Def
3.25 GF
3.28 GA
31.6 Shots
31.8 Shots
48 PP
56 PK
Arizona Off vs  Nashville Def
2.93 GF
2.92 GA
27.4 Shots
30.1 Shots
47 PP
49 PK