Pekka Problems: Can Preds Overcome Poor Goaltending in Game 3?

P.K. Subban continued to do P.K. Subban things when he guaranteed victory following his team’s Game 2 loss in Pittsburgh but if that’s going to happen, a Nashville goalie will need to stop a puck or two. Pekka Rinne has allowed eight goals on the 36 shots he’s faced in the first two games in the Stanley Cup final and the speculation on whether he’ll start the next one is more than warranted.

SHARK BITES
  • The Predators are 11-1 SU in their last 12 games in the playoffs at home.
  • The total has gone UNDER in 4 of the Penguins' last 5 games with a closing total of 5.5 or more.
  • The Predators' OVER/UNDER record at home this postseason is 1-4-3.

One loss away from being taken to the brink, the Predators should be switched on to full desperation mode heading into a game they opened as -140 moneyline favorites. That said, they need to be a little more creative on offense and especially when they have the man advantage. The Preds were 0-for-4 on the power play in Game 2 and they failed to score on a five-on-three.

The man they’re trying to beat, Matt Murray, has struggled to stop high-danger scoring chances (HDSC) when they’ve come (.800 save percentage on 15 HDSC) but he’s stopped pretty much everything else (.938 save percentage overall). Pittsburgh goalies have faced their fair share of rubber this postseason and it’s starting to become obvious that simply outshooting them won’t do the trick.

Nashville has the vast advantage in shot attempts this series and they’ve out-chanced the Penguins by a wide margin but it’s become blatantly clear how much they miss Ryan Johansen in the attacking end. Someone needs to step up in Ry-Jo’s absence and I’d suggest someone like Filip Forsberg. The Swedish sniper has zero points and is -2 through two games after leading his team in points through the first three rounds.

Although they have no momentum, I’m predicting that the Preds make the necessary adjustments and hold serve on home ice in front of the raucous fans in Nashville. Nobody – except Penguins proponents – wants this series to end in four games.

Pittsburgh Penguins vs Nashville Predators Matchup

Team Betting Records & Power Rankings

53-34-13 Nashville battles the Penguins, currently with a 64-26-13 mark. The OVER/UNDER records, important for totals bettors, are 45-43-12 for the Predators and 56-40-7 for the Penguins. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Nashville vs Pittsburgh injuries news.

According to new NHL Power Rankings here at Odds Shark, it's the No. 22-ranked Nashville Predators and the No. 5-rated Pittsburgh Penguins in this matchup.

Statistical Matchup

Offensively, the game matches up the Nashville Predators No. 10-ranked offense (2.91 goals per game) against a Pittsburgh Penguins defense that ranks No. 16 at 2.74 goals per game allowed. The Predators Sportsbook has clicked at a 18.47% rate while the Penguins have a 80.56% rate on the penalty kill.

Betting Trends
  • Pittsburgh is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games
  • Pittsburgh is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
  • Pittsburgh is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
  • Pittsburgh is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Nashville
  • Nashville is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games
  • Nashville is 12-6 SU in its last 18 games
  • Nashville is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games at home
  • The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Nashville's last 6 games at home

Next Betting Matchups

Pittsburgh at Nashville, Monday, June 5th

The Predators are 11-1 SU in their last 12 games in the playoffs at home.home The total has gone UNDER in 4 of the Penguins' last 5 games with a closing total of 5.5 or more.away The Predators' OVER/UNDER record at home this postseason is 1-4-3.home
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