Wild vs Predators Odds & Picks: Nashville Facing Pressure For Playoff Spot

The Nashville Predators (39-25-4) have a huge home game against the Minnesota Wild (43-20-5) on Tuesday as they look to stay in the Western Conference playoff picture. The Wild vs Predators prediction has this Central Division matchup as a close one, with the home team needing to keep picking up points in this key spot vs a very hot opponent.

Wild vs Predators Odds & Analysis

Sportsbook Odds

Nashville has lost three of its last five games and trails the St. Louis Blues by four points for third place in the Central Division while Minnesota is nine ahead in second. The Predators are also tied with the Vegas Golden Knights in the race for a wild-card spot, although they have three games in hand, and the Dallas Stars are only one point back.

That sets up an extremely important home game, and Nashville is 21-11-0 at Bridgestone Arena this year. The Wild have gone 19-13-3 on the road, and they are getting early support from bettors, with the line dropping down as low as +109 for the hosts. The total is up to 6 now too despite each of these teams playing different styles.

Get the best Wild vs Predators odds and lines available from our recommended sportsbooks for your favorite picks of the night.

Goalie Tandem Gives Minnesota Another Strength For Playoff Run

When the Wild acquired future Hall of Fame goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury from the Chicago Blackhawks prior to the NHL trade deadline, they figured he would help push starter Cam Talbot and allow both players to get some valuable rest.

In three starts so far, Fleury has allowed just four goals on 96 shots, going 3-0 with a 1.34 goals-against average and .958 save percentage. Talbot’s play has also improved as they had hoped, with the incumbent going 4-1 and giving up more than two goals only once to go along with a shutout.

In other words, Minnesota will be comfortable with whoever gets the call between the pipes.

Nashville Needs To Get And Stay Hot Offensively Down The Stretch

Unfortunately for the Predators, their goaltending has been less than stellar lately, as they have surrendered less than four goals just once in their last five games. They have lost three of those, including a pair of 6-1 road setbacks against the Los Angeles Kings and Vegas Golden Knights that could come back to haunt them if they do not make the postseason.

The good news is that Nashville has been scoring a lot over the past month as well, totaling four goals or more in eight of the team’s nine wins dating back to March 5. The problem is, scoring four goals was not enough in two of the club’s past five losses, with the opposition notching five or more four times to win.

The Wild vs Predators prediction does not like that kind of inconsistency for the home team here.

Wild vs Predators Pick & Insights

Wild: Keys To Victory

Goaltending has been critical for Minnesota during its hot streak, as the team has allowed two goals or less in each of its last nine wins. The Wild have also given up three goals or more in their past 11 losses, so holding their opponent under that number is the key.

Predators: Keys To Victory

This is a must-win for Nashville because Vegas is riding a five-game winning streak and could eventually take over the top wild-card spot. A loss may also put the Predators behind the Stars, as these three teams are battling for the two wild cards. That said, Nashville has been a stronger home team, winning four in a row there and six of seven. Nine of its final 14 games are at Bridgestone Arena, and most of those need to be wins for this club to make the playoffs. If you are taking the hosts with your Wild vs Predators pick, then you are banking on their solid home-ice advantage.  

Odds Shark’s Computer Wild vs Predators Prediction: Wild -120

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