Calgary Flames at Nashville Predators Betting Preview 10/31/19

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Two teams squaring off for the first time this year, the Calgary Flames and the Nashville Predators meet at Bridgestone Arena. This Western Conference matchup gets going at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, October 31, and it is being televised live on Sportsnet.

Calgary Flames vs. Nashville Predators Odds

With a -155 moneyline, Nashville heads into the contest as the noticeable favorite. The line for Calgary is standing at +135, and the Over/Under (O/U) is placed at an even 6 goals. The odds for betting that total stand at -105 for the over and -115 on the under.

The Predators are 8-4 straight up (SU) and have netted 1.4 units for moneyline bettors this season. That winning percentage, the NHL’s fourth-best so far this season, isn’t too far off from to what the team managed during the 2018-19 season (47-35). Through 12 regular season contests, eight of its games have gone over the total, while four have gone under and none have pushed. The team’s 6-2 SU at home thus far.

Nashville’s converted on 19.6 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 26th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 73.7 percent of all penalties.

Nashville, as a collective unit, has been penalized 3.5 times per game this season, a number that is pretty close to the 3.7 penalties per game given up last year. After serving an average of 8.3 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team has been forced to kill penalties for 7.8 minutes per outing this year.

Sporting a .937 save percentage and 26.1 saves per game, Pekka Rinne (seven wins, one loss, and one OT loss) has been the best option in goal for the Predators this year. If head coach Peter Laviolette decides to give him the night off, however, the team could roll with Juuse Saros (1-3-3 record, .872 save percentage, 3.99 goals against average).

The Preds will continue relying on offensive production via Roman Josi and Ryan Ellis. Josi (13 points) is up to five goals and eight assists and has recorded two or more points on three separate occasions this year. Ellis has two goals and 11 assists to his credit and has recorded at least one point in eight contests.

On the other side of the rink, Calgary is 6-8 straight up (SU) and has lost 4.3 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. A total of eight of its contests have gone under the total, while five have gone over and just one has pushed. As the road team, Calgary is 2-6 SU so far.

Calgary has converted on 17.8 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked fifth overall and it’s successfully killed off 86.8 percent of all opponent power plays.

Calgary’s skaters have been penalized 4.6 times per game this season, a number that’s grown some from the 3.7 penalties per game given up last year. After serving an average of 9.0 penalty minutes per game a year ago (ninth-most in the league), the team has had to stave off opponent power plays for 10.9 minutes per outing this season.

David Rittich (.910 save percentage and 2.86 goals against average) has been the primary option in goal for Calgary. Rittich is averaging 28.5 saves per game and has five wins, six losses, and two OT losses to his credit.

Johnny Gaudreau (three goals, eight assists) has been one of the primary offensive facilitators for the visiting Flames.

Calgary Flames at Nashville Predators Free Picks

Free NHL Pick: SU Winner – Predators, O/U – Under

Betting Trends

  • The under has hit in four of Nashville’s last five outings.
  • Calgary has managed 29.0 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Nashville is averaging 33.4 shots per game over its last five at home.
  • Penalties and power plays could prove to be key in the outcome of this one. The Flames are 2-3 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 4-5 when they serve fewer than 10 penalty minutes, in total. The Predators are 5-2 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 6-3 when total penalty minutes are in the single digits.