Squaring off for the second and final time this season, the New Jersey Devils and the Nashville Predators take the ice at Bridgestone Arena for an East-West showdown. The puck drops at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 10, and you can witness it live on MSG Network.
New Jersey Devils at Nashville Predators Odds
New Jersey (+170) is currently the underdog to Nashville (-200), and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals. The odds for betting the total stand at -115 for the over and -105 for the under.
Nashville is 44-23 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 15.1 units this year. That win percentage, ranked second in the NHL so far in the early season, is a solid improvement compared to what the team managed during the 2016-17 season (41-41). Through 67 regular season outings, 34 of its games have gone over the total, while 32 have gone under and just one has pushed. This season, the teams 24-10 SU at home.
The Predators have converted on 22.1 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that’s good enough for fifth-best in the league. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated 11th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 82.0 percent of all penalties.
As a collective unit, the Predators have been penalized 4.5 times per game overall this season, and 3.8 per game over their past five contests. The team has been forced to kill penalties for 9.0 minutes per game over their last five home outings.
Averaging 29.2 saves per game with a .928 save percentage, Pekka Rinne (37-13-4) has been the top option in goal for Nashville this year. If head coach Peter Laviolette decides to rest him, however, Nashville may turn to Juuse Saros (7-11-11 record, .924 save percentage, 2.42 goals against average).
Viktor Arvidsson and P.K. Subban will both spearhead the attack for the Predators. Arvidsson (51 points) has put up 25 goals and 26 assists and has recorded multiple points on 14 separate occasions this year. Subban has 15 goals and 35 assists to his credit and has recorded at least one point in 37 contests.
On the other side of the ice, New Jersey is 34-34 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 4.5 units this season. Through 68 regular season outings, 33 of its games have gone over the total, while an additional 33 have gone under and just two have pushed. The Devils are 16-17 SU as the away team this season.
The Devils have converted on 20.9 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 10th overall and it’s successfully killed off 82.6 percent of all penalties.
New Jersey’s players have been penalized 3.8 times per game this season, and 2.4 per game over their last ten match ups. The teams been forced to defend opponent power plays just 5.1 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Cory Schneider (.912 save percentage and 2.81 goals against average) has been the primary option in goal for New Jersey. Schneider is averaging 28.5 saves per game and owns an 18-20-6 record.
Leading the offensive counter for the visiting Devils will be Taylor Hall, who has 30 goals and 44 assists this year.
New Jersey Devils vs. Nashville Predators Betting Picks
Prediction: SU Winner – Devils, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- New Jersey is 4-4 in games decided by a shootout this season while Nashville is 5-5 in shootouts.
- The over has hit in three of Nashville’s last five outings.
- New Jersey has managed 28.8 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Nashville is averaging 37.6 shots per game over its last five home outings.
- Nashville has scored 3.3 goals per game overall this year, but is scoring 4.3 per contest over its 10-game win streak.
- Over Nashville’s last ten outings, six of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 6-0 in those games).
