In a game that features two of the league’s best penalty-kill units, the Boston Bruins and the Nashville Predators clash at Bridgestone Arena in an East-West showdown. TVA Sports will air the matchup, which gets going at 8 p.m. ET on Monday, December 4.
Boston Bruins vs. Nashville Predators Odds
Boston (+120) is playing the role of underdog to Nashville (-140) and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The odds for betting the total sit at -110 for the over and -110 on the under.
Netting 5.0 units for moneyline bettors, Nashville is 16-10 straight up (SU) overall thus far. That winning percentage, ranked fifth in the league in this young season, is an improvement over the 41-41 record from the 2016-17 season campaign. Through 26 regular season outings, 13 of the team’s games have gone over the total, while another 13 have gone under and none have pushed. The team is 10-3 SU at home this year.
The Predators currently have the second-strongest power-play unit in the NHL, as they have converted on 26.5 percent of their extra-man chances this season. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked sixth overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 83.3 percent of all penalties.
As a collective unit, the Predators have been penalized 5.5 times per game overall this season, and 4.2 per game over their last five matchups at home. The team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays for just 8.2 minutes per game over their last five outings, in total.
With a .926 save percentage and 29.9 saves per game, Pekka Rinne (15 wins, six losses, and two OT losses) has been the primary goalkeeper for Nashville this season. If head coach Peter Laviolette decides to give him the night off, however, the team may turn to Juuse Saros (1-4-4 record, .870 save percentage, 3.71 goals against average).
The Preds will continue to look for offensive production out of Filip Forsberg and Viktor Arvidsson. Forsberg (27 points) has tallied 13 goals and 14 assists and has recorded multiple points on seven separate occasions this year. Arvidsson has nine goals and nine assists to his credit and has recorded at least one point in 12 contests.
On the other bench, Boston is 12-12 straight up (SU) and has lost 3.0 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 24 regular season outings, 13 of its games have gone under the total, while 11 have gone over and none have pushed. The Bruins are 5-6 SU as the road team this season.
The Bruins have converted on 18.2 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked fourth overall and it’s successfully killed off 84.6 percent of all penalties.
Boston’s players have been called for penalties 4.3 times per game in total this season, 3.8 per game over their last five contests total, and 4.4 per game over their last five on the road. The team’s had to kill penalties just 8.8 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Tuukka Rask (25.0 saves per game) has been the primary option in goal for Boston. Rask has five wins, 10 losses, and two OT losses to his credit, and has registered a .906 save percentage and 2.65 goals against average this year.
Leading the offensive attack for the visiting Bruins will be David Pastrnak (13 goals, 10 assists) and Brad Marchand (nine goals, 10 assists).
Boston Bruins at Nashville Predators Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Bruins, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Trends
Six of Nashville’s last ten outings have been decided by two or more goals, and the team is 4-2 overall in those games.
Power plays and penalty kills may be critical tonight. The Bruins are 4-6 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 5-7 in games where they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes. The Predators are 6-1 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 7-3 when they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
Three of Nashville’s last ten games have gone to a shootout. The team is 2-1 in those games and 3-2 overall in shootouts this year.
The total has gone under in three of Nashville’s last five outings.
Nashville is ranked 18th this season with 10.0 giveaways per game. That figure has regressed recently, as the team’s averaged 11.8 giveaways over its last 10 games and 11.6 giveaways over its last five.
Boston skaters have averaged 10.2 giveaways over its last five home games, a rise over its season average of 9.3 giveaways per game (the 11th-fewest in the NHL).
Boston skaters have accounted for the fourth-most hits in the league (24.7 per game).
