Can Pekka Stop a Puck in Pittsburgh?

Leveling the series at two games apiece, the Nashville Predators have climbed all the way back into a Stanley Cup final where the home side has reigned supreme. If you think that continues in Game 5, you’ll have to lay some serious chalk on the Penguins. They opened the contest as -150 moneyline favorites and with victory in Music City looking unlikely, the Pens should be a desperate team Thursday night.

SHARK BITES
  • The Penguins are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games as home favorites.
  • Pekka Rinne is 0-5 with an .883 save percentage as a starter in Pittsburgh.
  • The Penguins are 9-3 SU and 7-5 on the puckline on home ice this postseason.

Pittsburgh is going to be a tough team to beat three times in a row but if Pekka Rinne continues to play like he did in Games 3 and 4, he won’t be so easy to beat himself. The Finn stopped all but two of the Penguins’ 50 shots in Nashville and looks to be back at the level that put him at the Sportsbook of the Conn Smythe conversation.

Not wanting to return to Nashville down 3-2, the Pens will have to give a better effort tonight than they did in the last two contests as they were dominated for long stretches and were ultimately outscored 9-2. The Preds are now 9-1 straight up in their home barn this postseason and they’ll be confident that they can wrap it up in friendly territory if they win tonight.

By many accounts, the Preds outplayed the Pens in the first two games in the ’Burgh and if it weren’t for about seven minutes where Nashville forgot how to play hockey, they could be up in the series.

Tonight’s contest is the most crucial thus far so expect a high level of competition from both teams and expect Nashville to try to lock it down at their own end. The OVER/UNDER is 2-2 in this series but 5.5 is high for a game where neither team will want to break first.

Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick

Betting fans looking to back the visiting Nashville Predators before puck drop in this match found them as 110 moneyline underdogs at Sportsbook. They saw an Sportsbook total of 5.5, according to Sportsbook.

Odds Shark prediction models pick the Predators to win this game 3.4-2. 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

The Pittsburgh Penguins bring a 64-28-13 record to the battle against the 55-34-13 Predators. OVER/UNDER bettors have seen Pittsburgh go 57-41-7 so far and the Predators go 46-44-12. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Pittsburgh vs Nashville injuries news.

The Predators - Penguins odds would favor the Penguins if the lines were set according to our power ranks. Pittsburgh is rated No. 5 in the current Odds Shark poll, while Nashville is at No. 22.

Statistical Matchup

Offensively, the game matches up the Pittsburgh Penguins No. 1-ranked offense (3.34 goals per game) against a Nashville Predators defense that ranks No. 9 at 2.59 goals per game allowed. The Penguins Sportsbook has clicked at a 22.73% rate while the Predators have a 82.83% rate on the penalty kill.

Recent Outings Betting Recap

 

Betting Trends
  • Nashville is 15-7 ATS in its last 22 games
  • Nashville is 14-6 SU in its last 20 games
  • Nashville is 9-3 ATS in its last 12 games on the road
  • Nashville is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games on the road
  • Pittsburgh is 3-8 ATS in its last 11 games
  • Pittsburgh is 9-4 ATS in its last 13 games at home
  • Pittsburgh is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
  • Pittsburgh is 10-4 SU in its last 14 games when playing Nashville

Next Betting Matchups

Nashville home to Pittsburgh, Sunday, June 11th

The Penguins are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games as home favorites.home Pekka Rinne is 0-5 with an .883 save percentage as a starter in Pittsburgh.away The Penguins are 9-3 SU and 7-5 on the puckline on home ice this postseason.home
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