The Los Angeles Kings have already punched their ticket to the Western Conference Finals when they swept the St. Louis Blues on Sunday afternoon. Monday night, the Phoenix Coyotes will try to join the Kings when they look to close out their series against the Nashville Predators.

Phoenix Coyotes Goalie Mike Smith (41) Stops

At practice on Sunday, Wilson practiced on the top line with Mike Fisher and Martin Erat.

After winning both games at home to open the series, the Coyotes traveled to Nashville and earned a split in Music City.

Now, the Predators find themselves on the brink of elimination heading into Monday night’s Game 5.

During their tenure in the desert, the Coyotes have never won a game at home when they could win the series, sporting an 0-5 record in those contests.

If Phoenix is going to take out the Predators in five games, the Coyotes will need to do so without defenseman Rostislav Klesla. After grabbing Matt Halischuk’s jersey and throwing him into the boards during Game 4, Klesla has been suspended by the League for Game 5.

“I didn’t really see it in real life, because I was blocked out with the TV crews between the benches and people standing up, but when I looked at it on film, I thought it was a very dangerous hit,” Predators Head Coach Barry Trotz said. (more…)