2020 Stanley Cup Playoff Preview & Odds: Coyotes vs. Predators

The NHL is set to return with three days of exhibition games, a qualifying round and then four rounds of Stanley Cup playoff action. The 2020 NHL playoff field was expanded from 16 to 24 teams. Colorado, Tampa Bay, St. Louis and Dallas are the top four seeds in the West. Nashville is the No. 6 seed and Arizona is No 11 seed in Western Conference.

Nashville and Arizona will play each other in a five-game series starting on Sunday, August 2. The games will be played at Rogers Place arena in Edmonton.

Arizona Coyotes are in the playoffs for the first time since 2012. Nashville earned the No. 6 seed by having one more regulation time win than Vancouver. The teams met twice during the regular season and the home team won both games. Nashville averaged 3.12 goals per game on offense and allowed 3:14 on defense. Arizona struggled on the offense but their 2.67 goals against average tied for third overall. Oliver Ekman-Larsson is the lone player from the Coyotes 2012 playoff season.

FanDuel has posted early Game 1 betting odds and Nashville is a slight favorite on the moneyline. The Predators are also puck line chalk and the game total is 5.5. Nashville needs to stay out of the penalty box as they allowed 51 power play goals last season.

DraftKings offers a prop with odds on the final score of the 2020 Stanley Cup playoff matchup between the Coyotes and the Nashville Predators. Nashville has won three of their last four first round playoff series.