Bad blood may spill over to the rink when the Nashville Predators host the Winnipeg Jets tonight at Bridgestone Arena. The Predators were dumped from last year’s playoffs by the Jets in seven games and will be gunning for their first home win of the season. The Jets are coming off a close 2-1 victory over the Kings and will look to win their second game on the road after getting throttled by the Stars just under a week ago. The Preds opened as -130 favorites with a total of 6 in this Western Conference showdown.
- The Jets are 3-1 SU and 4-0 ATS in the last four road games vs the Predators.
- Pekka Rinne has a 2.50 GAA and .921 save percentage this season.
- The OVER has hit in four of the last six games in this matchup (avg. combined score of 6.8 goals).
Jets have Taken Care of Business in Tennessee
Bettors and hockey fans will remember the close second-round series between these teams that in many eyes was viewed as the real Western Conference final. The Jets won the war in seven games and one of the reasons why they were so impressive was that they won three of four games in hostile territory at Bridgestone Arena. Nashville owned the second-best home record in the NHL last season (behind the Jets) but was outscored 19-9 in those four games. What’s more troubling for the Preds this season is they’re 0-for-6 in power-play opportunities while allowing opponents to score in three of nine tries.
Preds goaltender Pekka Rinne should be plenty motivated to have a great game tonight as some in hockey circles felt that his poor play was the reason for Nashville’s demise in that playoff series. Rinne has bounced back early in the season with a 2.50 GAA and .921 save percentage and despite giving up three goals to Calgary in the home opener, he has fared well in regular-season games vs the Jets. His record is 15-4-1 in 20 career starts vs the division rival while owning a 2.41 GAA and .916 save percentage.
Between the pipes for the Jets will be Connor Hellebuyck, who sports a career 3.20 GAA vs the Preds with a 6-4 record in 10 games. The 25-year-old has picked up right where he left off last season as he has only given up six goals through three games while stopping 88 of the 94 shots he’s faced.
Is Another OVER in Store Between these Rivals?
The total opened at 6 in this matchup and bettors should seriously consider the OVER. The OVER has hit in four of the last six games in this matchup with an average combined score of 6.8 goals per game. These two teams have a penchant for going OVER totals when playing in Nashville as the OVER has also hit in seven of the last nine games in this matchup when played at Bridgestone Arena. Expect a goalfest in Pred-Land!
My Pick is...
To take the OVER. I’ve watched enough of these two teams to know that goals are scored aplenty when they lock horns and goaltending is a non-factor despite each one’s pedigree. Nashville can’t possibly continue to be skunked on the power play and Winnipeg’s big three of Laine, Scheifele and Wheeler should score early and often. Sit back and watch the fireworks.
