Conference Semifinals: #3 Phoenix Coyotes vs. #4 Nashville Predators

[JKidd]

Records:
Phoenix: 42-27-13 (97 points) Home: 22-13-6 Away: 20-14-7
Nashville: 48-26-8 (104 points) Home: 26-10-5 Away: 22-16-3

How They Got Here:
Coyotes eliminated the #6 seed Chicago Blackhawks, 4-2
Predators eliminated the #5 seed Detroit Red Wings, 4-1

Head to Head:
Oct 13th: Coyotes 5 / Predators 2
Nov 3rd: Predators 3 / Coyotes 0
Dec 6th: Coyotes 3 / Predators 2
Mar 12th: Predators 5 / Coyotes 4 OT

Season series tied, 2-2.

Fights:
None

Lineup:
Goaltending: Draw
Scoring: Edge Nashville
Defense: Edge Phoenix
Coaching: Edge Phoenix
Grit: Draw

Schedule:
Fri, Apr 27th in Phoenix 9PM ET
Sun, Apr 29th in Phoenix 8PM ET
Wed, May 2nd in Nashville 9PM ET
Fri, May 4th in Nashville 7:30PM ET
*Mon, May 7th in Phoenix 10PM ET
*Wed, May 9th in Nashville
*Fri, May 11th in Phoenix

Prediction:
If this isn't a goaltending matchup to drool over, I don't know what is. Pekke Rinne vs. Mike Smith. Smith was unbelievable in turning away 229 of 241 shots faced, including a shutout in game 6, in Chicago to eliminate the Blackhawks. Rinne wasn't as busy, but we know what kind of offense the Red Wings can bring to the table, and he sent them home in 5. Rinne will hold the Preds in this series, but a futile power play and lack of shots lend me to think they don't have enough to beat Mike Smith. Plus, I like the playoff experience the Yotes picked up in having to fight tooth and nail to get through their series with the Hawks, so I'll take the desert dogs in 7.

[smashem]

Should be a longer series I'll take the Preds in 6 maybe 7

[mikebflorida]

Hate to pick against Smith again but I think the Predators are the better team.

[Ciccarelli]

I don't care much about this matchup. Guess it's going to be a boring affair with the Preds having the better end.

[BrianTheAdsFan]

Would hardly say the Preds powerplay is futile.

Against the Wings, it was a tough row to hoe, but the boys led the entire league over the course of the regular season in PP%.

I also don't see the lack of shots continuing as puck possesion is Detroit's version of defense.

Also playing with a lead tends to keep the shots down for Nashville.

Solid defense and legitimate offense from all 4 lines should be too much for the Yotes. Smith will steal a couple.

Preds is 6.

[FrontLineAdmirals]

*The Preds beat the Wings in 5

I would rate the coaches and defenses as a 'draw'. Preds have better offense and that will be the difference.

Preds in 6, at most.

[canuck2]

Preds are deeper and the coyotes dont have the luxery of shooting on a Crawford type goalie.

Preds in 5 or 6. I hope I'm wrong though.

Got tickets for game two. The Yotes increased ticket prices by 20 percent for the second round. Plenty of tickets available as of now but should sell out.

[Hagstrom]

I think the Preds will win, but this'll be a low scoring series with these two stellar goalies and defensive teams.

[thepolishkid88]

I'm cheering for the Yotes but I think the Preds win this series in 6. Should be interesting to see the goal total once this series is over both goalies have been pretty good all year.

[bupz91]

Nasty Nashville in 7

[OLLBLUEEYZ]

this series might set records for fewest goals allowed in total.
either way, Nashville should win, but not by much.
N-Ville in 6

[Cat Smasher]

Hard to bet against Smith, could still be hot, but even harder to bet against Rinne. Preds in 6.

[FrontLineAdmirals]

I am going to go out on a limb and predict that this will be a surprisingly high-scoring series...at least on the Preds side...and potentially both.

[Isles4life]

I really don't see a lot of goals here. 2 unbelievable goaltenders and neither team is particularly loaded with high-octane offensive talent. I'm guessing a lot of 2-1 and 1-0 victories with Smith and Rinne playing unbelievably well more often than not.

I think the Preds are deeper and did more to gear themselves up for a playoff run, I'll take them in 7.

[HordiBrusk29]

Predators in five. This will easily be the most boring series of the playoffs.