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Predators open February by visiting Coyotes

Feb 1, 2007 - 4:58 PM Nashville (36-13-3) at Phoenix (23-26-2) 9:00 pm EST

GLENDALE, Arizona (Ticker) -- Before heading home for Saturday's key Western Conference showdown against the Anaheim Ducks, the Nashville Predators have some business to attend to.

The Predators look to extend the league's best record and win for the fifth time in six games when they conclude a four-game road trip Thursday against the Phoenix Coyotes.

The league leader in victories, road wins (18) and points (75), Nashville went 10-3-0 in January and has a three-point advantage over the Ducks for the top spot in the West.

The Predators are coming off Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Colorado Avalanche. Jason Arnott scored his 18th goal in the first period and Paul Kariya added his 17th in the second.

Phoenix has lost six of its last nine after a seven-game winning streak and is second in the West in goals allowed (177).

The Coyotes dropped their second straight game with Wednesday's 2-1 loss to Anaheim. Fredrik Sjostrom scored his sixth goal of the campaign and netminder Curtis Joseph made 38 saves for Phoenix.

After Nashville won the first encounter against Phoenix on October 14, the Coyotes evened the season series with a 3-2 triumph December 4. Yanic Perreault netted a power-play goal and Oleg Saprykin and Patrick Fischer added tallies for Phoenix.