The Nashville Predators will attempt to clinch a playoff berth for the third consecutive game, after losing their past two, when they visit the Pittsburgh Penguins Thursday. The Preds will need to reverse history though, as Nashville is just 1-6 SU in the past seven games against the Pens while averaging a mere 1.6 goals per game.
- The Penguins are 4-0 SU in their past four games against teams with winning records.
- The Predators are 6-2 SU in their past eight games against the Eastern Conference.
- The total has gone UNDER in the past five meetings between the two teams.
The Predators will need to start executing on the road if they wish to find success in the playoffs with the team posting a pedestrian 18-14-1 record when travelling this season, which includes just one win in their past five road games. Pekka Rinne, who registered the loss in the Preds last outing, has been stellar with the goaltender not recording back-to-back losses since the start of February.
Pittsburgh enters Thursday’s contest as one of the hottest teams in the NHL with the Penguins winning nine of their past 10 games while averaging 3.9 goals per game in that span. Not surprisingly, Sidney Crosby has been heating up for the Penguins as the captain has tallied 23 points in the past 16 games.
Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick
If you're going with the Pittsburgh Penguins in this one, they were listed as moneyline favorites of -140 on most NHL hockey betting menus (such as Sportsbook) early today for Thursday's contest. The over-under total was at 5.5 earlier at Sportsbook.
Handicapping models based on recent betting stats and prediction formulas pick a 2.8-2.5 win for the Penguins. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming NHL matchups here.
Nashville Predators vs Pittsburgh Penguins Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
This season the Pittsburgh Penguins are 43-25-8 overall while the Nashville Predators are 39-25-13. As for the totals, Pittsburgh is 32-30-14 on the OU, and Nashville is 31-29-17. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Pittsburgh vs Nashville injuries news.
According to new NHL Power Rankings here at Odds Shark, it's the No. 5-ranked Pittsburgh Penguins and the No. 3-rated Nashville Predators in this matchup.
Statistical Matchup
Offensively, the game matches up the Pittsburgh Penguins No. 5-ranked offense (2.88 goals per game) against a Nashville Predators defense that ranks No. 12 at 2.58 goals per game allowed. The Penguins Sportsbook has clicked at a 17.7% rate while the Predators have a 80.72% rate on the penalty kill.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
The Predators were a 5-2 loser in their most recent outing on the road against the Stars. That made Sportsbooks of bettors who got Dallas at -121 on the moneyline, while the total score (7) was good news for OVER bettors.
In their last action, Pittsburgh was a 5-4 Sportsbook at home against the Sabres. Bettors on Pittsburgh at -225 on the moneyline collected their winnings from that game, while the total score (9) sent OVER bettors home happy as well.
- Nashville is 12-6 SU in its last 18 games
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Nashville's last 5 games
- Nashville is 11-5 SU in its last 16 games on the road
- Nashville is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
- Pittsburgh is 9-1 SU in its last 10 games
- Pittsburgh is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Pittsburgh's last 6 games at home
- Pittsburgh is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing Nashville
Next Betting Matchups
Nashville home to San Jose, Saturday, April 2nd
Pittsburgh at New York, Saturday, April 2nd
