Coyotes goalie Mike Smith makes 3rd period save on Predators center Mike Fisher during Game 2 of the NHL Western Conference semi-final hockey playoffs.
Coyotes goalie Mike Smith makes 3rd period save on Predators center Mike Fisher during Game 2 of the NHL Western Conference semi-final hockey playoffs. Reuters

The old adage says a playoff series doesn't start until one of the teams loses a home game. If that's the case, the Predators are hoping that their series doesn't begin tonight.

Nashville takes on Phoenix in Game 3 of their second round playoff series Wednesday night. The Coyotes lead the series 2-0 after winning the first two games on their home ice.

Game 3 gets underway at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville at 9 p.m. ET. It will be broadcast on CNBC. If you can't get to a television, you can watch a live stream of the game online here.

The Coyotes escaped Game 1 with an overtime victory, and won Game 2 5-3.

The Predators will be undermanned in their return home. Forwards Alexander Radulov and Andrei Kostitsyn have been suspended for Game 3. Both received suspensions for violating unspecified team rules. Kostitsyn's two goals put him in a tie for the team lead this postseason. He was acquired in a deal at the trade deadline from Montreal.

The Predators and Coyotes are very evenly matched teams. Phoenix finished as the third seed in the West, while Nashville came in at fourth in the conference. The two teams split the four games they played in the regular season.

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