Two of the league’s best at converting on the power play, the Winnipeg Jets and the Nashville Predators take the ice at Bridgestone Arena for a Central Division showdown. The first puck will drop at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, March 13, and fans at home can witness it live on TVA Sports.
Winnipeg Jets vs. Nashville Predators Odds
Earning 13.2 units for moneyline bettors, Nashville is 44-24 straight up (SU) overall this year. That win percentage, ranked third in the NHL so far this season, is a solid improvement compared to how the team performed during the 2016-17 season (41-41). Among the team’s 68 games this season, 34 have gone over the total, while 33 have gone under and just one has pushed. This year, the team’s 24-11 SU at home.
The Predators have converted on 21.8 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that’s good enough for sixth-best in the league. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 11th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 82.2 percent of all penalties.
As a collective unit, the Predators have been called for penalties 4.5 times per game overall this season, 4.2 per game over their past five games total, and 4.2 per game over their last five home outings. The team has had to defend opposition power plays for 9.0 minutes per contest over their last five home games.
Boasting a .928 save percentage and 29.2 saves per game, Pekka Rinne (37-13-4) has been the best goalkeeper for Nashville this year. If Nashville decides to give him a rest, however, head coach Peter Laviolette might roll with Juuse Saros (7-12-12 record, .924 save percentage, 2.39 goals against average).
The Preds will continue looking for offensive production out of Viktor Arvidsson and P.K. Subban. Arvidsson (51 points) has tallied 25 goals and 26 assists and has recorded two or more points on 15 separate occasions this year. Subban has 15 goals and 35 assists to his name and has notched at least one point in 37 contests.
Winnipeg is 41-28 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 9.7 units this season. A total of 34 of its games have gone over the total, while 32 have gone under and just two have pushed. The Jets are 17-19 SU as an away team this season.
The Jets come into the matchup with the third-best power-play unit in the NHL, as they’ve converted on 24.2 percent of their extra-man advantages this year. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked eighth overall and it’s successfully defended 82.8 percent of all penalties.
Winnipeg’s skaters have been whistled for penalties 3.8 times per game this season, and 3.0 per game over their last five on the road. The team has been forced to defend opponent power plays just 7.1 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Connor Hellebuyck (28.3 saves per game) has been the primary option in goal for Winnipeg. Hellebuyck has 35 wins, 22 losses, and nine OT losses to his credit, while registering a .923 save percentage and 2.39 goals against average this year.
Blake Wheeler (18 goals, 58 assists) has been one of the primary playmaking threats for the visiting Jets.
Winnipeg Jets vs. Nashville Predators Betting Predictions
Free NHL Pick: SU Winner – Jets, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Trends
Winnipeg is 2-2 in games decided by a shootout this season while Nashville is 5-6 in shootouts.
The over has hit in three of Nashville’s last five outings.
Winnipeg has managed 27.4 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Nashville has been attempting 36.6 shots per game over its last five at home.
Five of Nashville’s last ten outings have been decided by two or more goals, and the club is 5-0 overall in those games.
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