Two teams that split their head-to-head series (one win apiece) a year ago, the Nashville Predators and the Detroit Red Wings take the ice at Little Caesars Arena. This East-West matchup will get going at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday, January 4, and it can be seen live on Fox Sports Detroit.
Nashville Predators vs. Detroit Red Wings Odds
Nashville (-200) is favored over Detroit (+170), and the Over/Under (O/U) is placed at an even 6 goals. If gamblers want to put some action on this game’s total, they’ll be looking at odds of -110 money on the over and -110 on the under.
Though the team is 24-17 straight up (SU) this season, Nashville has actually lost 2.3 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. Through 41 regular season contests, 21 of its games have gone under the total, while 19 have gone over and just one has pushed. The Preds are 9-10 SU on the road in 2018-19.
Nashville has converted on just 15.8 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a figure that places them in the bottom-10 overall among NHL teams. Its penalty kill is ranked 12th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 81.1 percent of its penalties.
Nashville, as a collective unit, has been called for penalties 3.7 times per game overall during the 2018-19 season, and 2.2 per game over its last five games. The team’s had to kill penalties just 6.5 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Sporting a .920 save percentage and 24.3 saves per game, Pekka Rinne (16-13-2) has been the best option in goal for Nashville this season. If Nashville chooses to rest him, however, the team might turn to Juuse Saros (9-7-1), who has a .903 save percentage and 2.83 goals against average this year.
Ryan Johansen and Roman Josi will both spearhead the attack for the visiting Predators. Johansen has 35 points via seven goals and 28 assists, and has recorded two or more points 10 times. Josi has seven goals and 22 assists to his name (and has logged at least one point in 22 games).
On the other bench, Detroit is 15-27 straight up (SU) and has lost 5.2 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 42 regular season outings, 22 of its games have gone over the total, while 18 have gone under and just two have pushed. This year, the team is 8-14 SU at home.
Detroit has converted on 17.8 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that’s right around league average. Its penalty kill is also ranked 22nd overall, and it’s successfully killed off 77.0 percent of all opponent power plays.
Detroit skaters have been called for penalties 3.9 times per game this season, and 3.2 per game over their last five home outings. The team has had to stave off opponent power plays just 6.7 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Jimmy Howard (29.5 saves per game) has been the primary option in the crease for Detroit. Howard has 10 wins, 17 losses, and five OT losses to his credit and has registered a .918 save percentage and 2.77 goals against average this season.
The Wings offense will be led by Dylan Larkin (17 goals, 22 assists).
Nashville Predators at Detroit Red Wings Free Picks
Prediction: SU Winner – Red Wings, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- Two of Detroit’s last ten games have been decided by a shootout. The team is 0-2 in those games and 2-5 overall in shootouts this season.
- For both of these teams, the over has hit in each of their past five matchups.
- Detroit has allowed 4.3 goals per game, while managing just 2.3 per contest, in its last six contests (the team is 0-6 SU over that stretch).
- Over Detroit’s last ten outings, five of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 1-4 in those games).
- Nashville skaters notched 21.0 hits per game last season, while the Red Wings logged 19.6 hits per matchup.
