Preview: Coyotes Set to Play Final Game at Gila River Arena
Yotes to face Predators on Fan Appreciation Night
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Arizona Coyotes
Arizona Coyotes
Winners of two straight, the Arizona Coyotes look to conclude the 2021-22 season on a high note when they host the Nashville Predators on Friday night (April 29). The game is the final contest the Coyotes will play in Gila River Arena, closing the book on a 19-year tenure. Puck drop with the Preds is set for 7:30 p.m.
PACK FACTS
Friday is the first 'Game 82' the Coyotes will contest in since April 6, 2019 vs. Winnipeg (4-2 L). Arizona beat San Jose in the 2020-21 regular-season finale 5-4 behind Phil Kessel's overtime goal, a part of his three-point night.
The Coyotes franchise is 20-15-4-2 all-time in regular-season finales. The only other time they've played the Predators in a season's final game was April 14, 2002 (6-4 W).
The Coyotes are coincidentally playing Nashville in their final game at Gila River Arena, the same opponent they opened the venue against on Dec. 27, 2003. The only other active NHL franchises to play their first and final NHL game (regular or postseason) in what was their primary arena against the same franchise are the Canadiens with Mount Royal Arena (vs. St. Patrick's), the Maple Leafs with Maple Leaf Gardens (vs. Black Hawks), the Lightning with Expo Hall (vs. Blackhawks) the Blues with St. Louis Arena (vs. North Stars/Stars) and the Penguins with Mellon Arena (vs. Canadiens).
Friday's game is the third of three meetings Arizona has with Nashville on the campaign. The Predators took the first two, winning 4-1 at Bridgestone Arena on Nov. 13 and 4-2 on Jan. 8 in Arizona.
The Coyotes overcame a 3-0 third-period deficit last time out in Dallas (April 27) to win 4-3 in overtime capped by Travis Boyd's goal in the extra session. It was the eighth time in Coyotes/Jets franchise history that the team won a game after training by three-plus goals in the third period. In Arizona's last three games, the team is outscoring its opponents 10-2 in the third period.
Shayne Gostisbehere and Barrett Hayton have each tallied five points (1-4-5) over the Coyotes last two outings. They're one of seven NHL players to have that many points since Tuesday. Gostisbehere enters Friday with 49 points (12-37-49) on the season and looks to become the first Coyotes defenseman to reach 50 points in a campaign since Oliver Ekman-Larsson (55) in 2015-16.
Gostisbehere's defensive partner Anton Stralman has collected five points (2-3-5) in his last three games, including goals in back-to-back showings. The Tibro, Sweden native is one goal from tying his single-season career-high of nine set in both the 2014-16 seasons. Stralman has never scored in three straight games at the NHL level and has registered a four-game point streak three times, most recently in 2019-20 with Florida.
The Coyotes franchise is 35-29-2-11 all-time against the Predators.
A LOOK AT THE PREDATORS
Nashville (45-29-7, 97 pts) is playoff bound and would secure the first Wild Card spot and draw Calgary with one standings point tonight or a Stars loss of any kind. Former Norris Trophy winner Roman Josi paces the Predators with 95 points (23-72-95) and ranks 12th among all NHL skaters. He's the first NHL defenseman since Phil Housley in 1992-93 to reach 95 points in a season. Nashville also boasts two 40-goal scorers in Matt Duchene (43) and Filip Forsberg (42), the first two the organization has ever had. The Predators are without star goalie Juuse Saros due to a lower-body injury.
MILESTONES TO WATCH
Shayne Gostisbehere: Four assists from 200 career NHL assists.
Phil Kessel: One goal from 400 career NHL goals.
Antoine Roussel: Four points from 200 career NHL points.
KEY CONNECTIONS
Ex-Coyotes
• Nick Cousins (2017-19)
Ex-Predators
• Phil Housley (Assistant Coach, 2013-17)
Mario Duhamel coached Yakov Trenin on the QMJHL's Gatineau Olympiques in 2016-17.
Alex Galchenyuk played with Luke Kunin in Minnesota for part of the 2019-20 season…Teammates with Michael McCarron in Montreal over parts of the 2015-18 seasons.
Phil Kessel had David Poile as his GM when representing Team USA at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games.
J.J. Moser represented Team Switzerland with Roman Josi at the 2019 World Championship.
Liam O'Brien played with Jeremy Lauzon on the QMJHL's Rouyn-Noranda Huskies in 2013-14.
Anton Stralman had Todd Richards as an assistant coach in Tampa Bay from 2016-19.
André Tourigny was an assistant coach on the Colorado Avalanche when Matt Duchene played for them from 2013-15…Also an assistant coach in Ottawa in 2015-16 when Mark Borowiecki and Ben Harpur were on the team…Won a silver medal coaching Philip Tomasino on Team Canada at the 2021 World Junior Championship.
