It’s fitting that the teams with the best two records during the regular season will meet in a Game 7. The Nashville Predators are coming off an outstanding Game 6 road win in Winnipeg to force a do-or-die final game of this heavyweight series. The Predators may have home-ice advantage but that benefit hasn’t paid dividends in this series as Nashville has dropped two of three at Bridgestone Arena and was outscored by the Jets 14-8 in those games. The Predators opened as -145 favorites to survive and advance.
SHARK BITES
The total has gone OVER in five of the Jets’ last seven games on the road.
The Jets are 3-7 SU in their last 10 games as underdogs vs the Predators.
The Predators are 16-5 SU in their last 21 games in the playoffs at home.
Game 6 showed how Nashville can perform with its back against the wall. Goaltender Pekka Rinne was outstanding in a 34-save shutout while forwards Viktor Arvidsson and Filip Forsberg each scored two goals. The Predators (and bettors) will hope that this performance carries over to home because they could be in trouble if they don’t play a perfect game – Nashville is 0-5 against the puckline in its last five home games and is the only team in the postseason that has been outscored in its arena (19 goals for and 22 against). It’s also concerning that the Predators are only 3-for-18 on the power play in six games at Bridgestone Arena during the postseason.
As for the Jets, they failed to take advantage of their rocking crowd in Game 6 and beating the Predators a third time on the road in this series could be a tall order. But Winnipeg may be up to the challenge as the Jet-skis are an outstanding 6-2 SU in their last eight road games and have won 12 straight games after losing the previous game in a matchup. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck will need to stand on his head to help the Jets steal this road game and has been outstanding with a 2.36 goals-against average and .924 save percentage in 11 starts in the playoffs.
The total opened at 5.5 and trends are pointing to an OVER. The OVER has hit in seven of Nashville’s last nine games at home with an average combined score of 7.33 goals per game while the OVER has also hit in six of the last eight games in this matchup when played in Tennessee.
Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick
Sportsbooks such as Sportsbook had the Nashville Predators as -175 favorites earlier today. The OVER/UNDER opened at 5.5 at Sportsbook for betting fans hoping to turn a profit on totals.
OddsShark computer prediction handicapping models run on this game pick a 3.6-2.4 victory for the Predators. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming NHL matchups here.
The Nashville Predators currently sport a record of 60-23-11. The Winnipeg Jets are 59-23-11. Betting totals have seen the Predators post a 47-46-1 OVER/UNDER record this season, while the Jets have gone 45-46-2 against the number. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Nashville vs Winnipeg injuries news.
This game matches up the No. 14 (Nashville) and No. 12 (Winnipeg) teams according to our current NHL Power Rankings.
Statistical Matchup
Offensively, the game matches up the Nashville Predators' No. 7-ranked offense (3.27 goals per game) against a Winnipeg Jets defense that ranks No. 2 at 2.63 goals per game allowed. The Predators power play has clicked at a 21.1% rate while the Jets have a 81.13% rate on the penalty kill.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
Betting Trends
Winnipeg is 6-2 ATS in its last 8 games
Winnipeg is 18-5 SU in its last 23 games
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Winnipeg's last 13 games
Winnipeg is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Nashville is 3-8 ATS in its last 11 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Nashville's last 9 games
