Two clubs that split their season series (one game apiece) last year, the Nashville Predators and the New Jersey Devils meet at the Prudential Center in an East-West showdown. The opening face-off is at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, January 25, and fans at home are able to see it live on MSG Network.
Nashville Predators vs. New Jersey Devils Odds
Nashville is 28-18 straight up (SU) and has earned 6.7 units for moneyline bettors this year. 23 of its matches have gone over the total, while another 23 have gone under and none have pushed. The Preds are 12-11 SU on the road in 2017-18.
Nashville has converted on 24.1 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that places them in the top-5 among NHL teams. On the other hand, it has the ninth-strongest penalty kill in the league, and it’s successfully killed off 82.5 percent of all penalties.
Nashville, as a collective unit, has been penalized 4.9 times per game this season, and 3.4 per game over its last five on the road. The team’s had to kill penalties just 6.7 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Sporting a .925 save percentage and 29.3 saves per game, Pekka Rinne (23-11-3) has been the best option in goal for Nashville this year. If head coach Peter Laviolette chooses to rest him, however, Nashville could roll with Juuse Saros (5-8-4 record, .926 save percentage, 2.35 goals against average).
The visiting Predators have relied on P.K. Subban and Filip Forsberg heavily this year. Subban has 35 points on 11 goals and 24 assists, and has recorded two or more points in eight different games. Forsberg has 15 goals and 19 assists to his credit, and has registered a point in 25 games.
On the other side of the rink, New Jersey is 24-23 straight up (SU) and has earned 3.3 units for moneyline bettors this season. Through 47 regular season matches, 25 of its games have gone over the total, while 21 have gone under and just one has pushed. This year, the team’s 13-10 SU as the home team.
New Jersey has converted on 20.3 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked seventh overall, and it’s successfully killed off 83.4 percent of all opponent power plays.
New Jersey players have been sent to the penalty box 4.0 times per game in total this season, 4.2 per game over their last five contests total, and 3.8 per game over their last five at home. The team has had to kill penalties 8.9 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Cory Schneider (28.9 saves per game) has been the top netminder in goal for New Jersey. Schneider has 18 wins, 17 losses, and six OT losses and has registered a pedestrian 2.79 goals against average and a .913 save percentage this season.
Taylor Hall (17 goals, 31 assists) will lead the attack for the Devils.
Nashville Predators at New Jersey Devils Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Devils, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Trends
The total has gone under in four of New Jersey’s last five games.
The extra-man advantage may have a critical role in the outcome of this matchup. The Predators are 12-3 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 14-7 when they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes. The Devils are 7-11 when the team serves fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 10-17 in games where their penalty minutes are in the single digits.
Two of New Jersey’s last ten games have gone to a shootout. The team is 0-2 in those games and 3-4 overall in shootouts this year.
New Jersey is ranked 8th in the league this season with 8.3 takeaways per game. That figure’s trended lower recently, however, as the team has averaged 7.6 takeaways over its last 10 games and 7.6 takeaways over its last five.
Nashville skaters have created 4.4 takeaways per game over its last five road games, a drop-off from its season average of 7.5 takeaways per game (ranked 14th).
