The Nashville Predators return to Bridgestone Arena tonight for the first contest in a three game home stand. Their opponent tonight, the Arizona Coyotes, are completing a three game road trip, coming into Nashville cold off a 3-0 loss to the St. Louis Blues.
While they have a couple of talented young players, the Coyotes are the last team in the much improved Pacific Division. Most pundits quickly considered them as being unable to compete for the playoffs this season, and they have been right. Mike Smith has continued his regression and is a shell of the goaltender that shut down the Predators in the 2012 playoffs.