Predators-Coyotes series debated by Mason, Nash

The Stanley Cup Qualifiers will use eight best-of-5 series and two four-team round-robins to determine the field and seeding for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

NHL.com will preview every series with an alumni roundtable, featuring a former player from each team debating key points.

Today, former Nashville Predators goalie Chris Mason and former Arizona Coyotes forward Tyson Nash take a look at the series between Nashville and Arizona, to be played at Rogers Place in Edmonton beginning Sunday (2 p.m. ET; USA, NHL.TV, SN360, FS-TN, FS-A).

RELATED: [Stanley Cup Qualifiers preview: Predators vs. Coyotes]

Mason played 317 NHL regular-season games (11 seasons), including 146 during seven seasons for the Predators. He was the last Nashville goalie to score a goal (April 15, 2006) before Pekka Rinne accomplished the same feat Jan. 9. He's a television color commentator for the Predators and will be calling the series with play-by-play announcer Willy Daunic from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.

Nash played seven NHL seasons (374 games), including two with the Phoenix Coyotes. He is a Coyotes television analyst and will be calling the series with play-by-play announcer Matt McConnell from Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona.

GOALTENDING

Nash:"I guess if you're into winning goaltenders who are up there as best in the League, Darcy Kuemper, who I've got to believe is going to be the guy who starts for the Arizona Coyotes, is the guy. He was fourth (among goalies who played at least 25 games) in goals-against average (2.22) and third in save percentage (.928). If he doesn't (start) or wavers in a five-game series, Antti Raanta, who was also great this year and finished eighth in save percentage (.921), is right there. They are two solid goaltenders. I think the Coyotes might have the edge in this one."

Mason: "One of the biggest parallels of this series is that the one-two punch in goal (for each club) is the best in the League. They each have two guys capable of being the No. 1 goalie ... there's no doubt. With regard to the Nashville Predators, this is probably the biggest decision coach John Hynes has to make. Pekka Rinne was the unheralded No. 1 and he obviously has the pedigree since he's taken them to a Stanley Cup Final (in 2017). That playoff experience alone sets his apart from the other three goalies in the series. But then you look at Juuse Saros. Had the [Stanley Cup Playoffs] started normally, he would have been the goalie. I spoke with (goaltending coach) Ben Vanderklok because as a goalie it always took me a while to get back into it, needing those exhibition games. (Vanderklok) said the goalies came back in good shape after being able to do some stuff during the break. They had a couple of scrimmages, and going off that, Saros had the better scrimmage, I guess. A lot of this decision will be based on what they do this training camp, because last season was a long time ago. Both guys have had their moments and looked good."

DEPTH SCORING

Mason: "Nashville has always been a team that has come at you in waves; they never had a point-a-game guy or big superstar who fills the net on a nightly basis. They've kind of always been a really deep team that has four lines able to contribute. That's what I think makes them hard to play against.

Nash:"I think these teams are built very similar as far as depth goes. But it's not just one line, it's not just one guy. It's all four lines, and I give the nod to the Coyotes in that area. There were moves that (coach) Rick Tocchet and (former general manager) John Chayka made that were for this (time in the season). Bringing in Phil Kessel; he's had a full season and we know he wasn't healthy but wanted to keep that ironman streak alive and played through injuries. I think that really hurt him, points-wise and confidence-wise. But he's back, he's healthy and he's flying around the ice. Nobody on either team can score bigger goals than Phil Kessel in the postseason. The other guy is Taylor Hall. He's an unrestricted free agent (after this season), looking for that big contract and hopefully it happens here in Arizona. But this guy is an elite superstar. I see the speed, the pace he plays. He's fearless when he takes the puck to the net and he's a top-10 player in the League when he's on his game. He's champing at the bit because I don't think a player's career is defined until you see how he performs in the playoffs. He wants to show that he's a playoff performer."

Mason: "Ryan Johansen, Filip Forsberg, Matt Duchene, Kyle Turris ... all guys who were expected to do a lot better offensively, weren't. But they started to come around at the end of the season and it felt like, timing-wise, those guys were getting their game in order at the right time. After a three-month break, it's like starting over again and I think for those players, the weight and stress of a tough season have been lifted. This is a fresh start. You can see it in training camp ... the energy, the confidence. I think Nashville's depth and scoring gives them an advantage and on the back end too. They got a lot of offense from their defense. Roman Josi was the best defenseman in the League this year -- not only because of his offensive play, but also his defensive play. If I'm looking at the overall scoring throughout the lineup, I'd give Nashville the edge."

DEFENSEMEN

Nash: "I think when you consider the overall aspect of defense, the Coyotes cleaned things up this year. They have a complete buy-in mentality because for so many years they've had to do it by committee. That's no different this year -- whether its offense or defense, everyone needed to get involved. Even the forwards, the way they track back, the way they protect the house, the way they block shots, that's all a commitment to defense and that's playoff hockey."

Mason:"When I look at Predators and their defensive numbers this season, the first half wasn't good, but Hynes has completely revamped it. They used to play man-on-man in the defensive zone, and he changed it to a zone defense. The (Predators) do some of the exact same things that Nasher talked about with the Coyotes in protecting the front of the net and really being harder in that area, keeping teams to the outside. Before (Hynes), there was a lot of movement, chasing guys around the defensive zone. When that happens, if one guy loses their assignment, chances are you're going to give up a big scoring chance. But they've cut that down, especially the last month and a half. Once guys had an opportunity to buy in, learn and get the reps in that system, they really worked hard with that and watched a lot of video."

Nash:'We talk about ice bag hockey, and that means a full buy-in for Rick Tocchet, who has won as a player and a coach and knows what it takes. This is a young group with some good veterans who have won before. I don't know if you can put a price tag on experience in the playoffs. I have to give the Coyotes the nod on defense ... they don't have the flash like Nashville's Josi or (Ryan) Ellis, but some very experienced guys. Niklas Hjalmarsson has been in the League a long time and won Cups. Alex Goligoski is another guy who flies under the radar."

Mason: "If you break the season down into segments and look at Nashville's defense after Hynes took over, it's been a lot more improved and I think an underrated part of their game. The guys have bought in, and it's definitely a part of their identity."