Two teams facing each other for the second time this season, the Nashville Predators and the Calgary Flames take the ice at the Scotiabank Saddledome for a Western Conference showdown. CBC Sports will broadcast the matchup, and the action gets going at 10 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 16.
Nashville Predators vs. Calgary Flames Odds
The money line for either side is currently set at an identical -110. The Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals and originally opened at -125 for the over and +105 for the under. Those odds have moved, however, and they presently sit at -130 for the over and +110 for the under.
Nashville is 20-11 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 7.8 units this season. Through 31 regular season contests, 17 of its games have gone over the total, while 14 have gone under and none have pushed. This 2017-18 Predators team is 9-7 SU on the road.
Nashville enters the match up with the second-strongest power-play unit in the NHL, as it’s scored on 27.1 percent of its extra-man chances this year. On the other hand, it has the seventh-strongest penalty kill in the league, and it’s successfully killed off 83.1 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Preds have been whistled for penalties 5.5 times per game this season, and 4.4 per game over its past ten. The team has been forced to kill penalties an unhealthy 14.4 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Averaging 30.2 saves per game with a .927 save percentage, Pekka Rinne (17-7-3) has been the top option in goal for Nashville this year. If Nashville decides to rest him, however, the team may roll with Juuse Saros (3-4-1), who has a .911 save percentage and 2.95 goals against average this year.
Filip Forsberg and Kyle Turris will both lead the offensive attack for the visiting Predators. Forsberg has 32 points via 15 goals and 17 assists, and has recorded multiple points in eight different games. Turris has seven goals and 18 assists to his credit, and has logged a point in 15 games.
Over on the other bench, Calgary is 16-16 straight up (SU) and has lost 2.5 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 32 regular season outings, 16 of its games have gone under the total, while 15 have gone over and just one has pushed. It’s 8-9 SU at home this year.
The Flames have converted on just 18.3 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 30th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 76.7 percent of all opponent power plays.
Flames players have been penalized 3.8 times per game in total this season, and 2.7 per game over their last ten outings. The team has had to kill penalties just 6.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Mike Smith has stopped 28.4 shots per game as the primary choice in goal for the Flames. Smith has 14 wins, 14 losses, and three OT losses and has recorded a .918 save percentage and 2.63 goals against average this season.
Johnny Gaudreau (13 goals, 26 assists) will pace the offensive attack for Calgary.
Nashville Predators at Calgary Flames Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Predators, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Trends
Three of Nashville’s last ten games have been decided by a shootout. The team is 1-2 in those games and 3-3 overall in shootouts this season.
The under has hit in four of Calgary’s last five outings.
Nashville has managed 33.2 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Calgary has been attempting 38.4 shots per game over its last five at home.
Over Nashville’s last ten games, six of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 5-1 in those games).
