Squaring off for the fourth and final time this season, the Chicago Blackhawks and the Nashville Predators take the ice at Bridgestone Arena for a divisional showdown. The action will get going at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, January 30, and fans at home can witness the game live on NBC Sports Network.
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Nashville Predators Odds
Nashville (-175) is currently favored over Chicago (+155), and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The line for betting the total stands at -120 for the over and +100 for the under.
Nashville is 29-18 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 7.7 units this season. That winning percentage, ranked third in the NHL so far in this young season, is an improvement compared to how the team performed during the 2016-17 season (41-41). Out of its 47 regular season contests, 24 of them have gone under the total, while 23 have gone over and none have pushed. The team is 16-7 SU at home this year.
The Predators have converted on 23.8 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that’s good enough for fifth-best in the NHL. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 10th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 82.7 percent of all penalties.
As a collective unit, the Predators have been penalized 4.8 times per game overall this season, and 2.4 per game over their last five matchups at home. The team’s had to kill penalties for just 5.6 minutes per game over their last 10 outings, overall.
Sporting a .927 save percentage and 29.2 saves per game, Pekka Rinne (24-11-3) has been the primary goalkeeper for Nashville this year. If Nashville decides to give him the night off, however, head coach Peter Laviolette could go with Juuse Saros (5-8-8 record, .926 save percentage, 2.35 goals against average).
P.K. Subban and Filip Forsberg will each look to continue their strong seasons for the Predators. Subban (37 points) has put up 12 goals and 25 assists and has recorded two or more points eight times this year. Forsberg has 15 goals and 19 assists to his credit and has notched a point in 25 contests.
On the other side of the ice, Chicago is 23-26 straight up (SU) and has lost 7.5 units for bettors taking the moneyline thus far. Through 49 regular season matches, 26 of its games have gone under the total, while 21 have gone over and just two have pushed. The Blackhawks are 11-13 SU as the away team this season.
The Blackhawks have converted on just 15.6 percent of their power play chances this season, a mark that’s ranked 28th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 17th overall and it’s successfully killed off 81.3 percent of all opponent power plays.
Chicago’s players have been penalized 3.7 times per game this season, 3.4 per game over their past five contests total, and 3.2 per game over their last five road outings. The team has been forced to kill penalties just 7.8 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Corey Crawford (27.9 saves per game) has been the main option in the net for Chicago. Crawford owns a 16-12-2 record, while registering a .929 save percentage and 2.27 goals against average this year.
Leading the offensive counter for the visiting Blackhawks will be Patrick Kane, who’s got 20 goals and 29 assists this year.
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Nashville Predators Betting Predictions
NHL Tip: SU Winner – Blackhawks, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
Nashville (4-4 in shootouts this season) has significantly more experience in games decided by shootout. Chicago fell short in its lone shootout this season.
The total has gone under in three of Nashville’s last five games.
The Blackhawks are 7-4 in games where they attempt at least 10 more shots than their opponent. They’ve averaged the league’s third-most shots on goal (34.5) and Nashville has attempted the 24th-most (just 30.5).
