The Nashville Predators, led by Ryan Johansen and Roman Josi, are ready to take the ice against Brent Burns, Tomas Hertl, and the San Jose Sharks at the SAP Center in a Western Conference showdown. The opening face-off takes place at 10:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 16, and it will be broadcasted live on Fox Sports Tennesse.
Nashville Predators at San Jose Sharks Odds
Nashville (+135) is currently the underdog to San Jose (-155). The Over/Under (O/U), set at an even 6 goals, initially opened at -110 for the over and -110 for the under. That line has since moved however, and it now sits at -115 for the over, -105 for the under.
Earning moneyline bettors 1.5 units, San Jose is 43-28 straight up (SU) overall in the 2018-19 season. That winning percentage, ranked third in the league in this young season, is an improvement over the 45-37 record from last year’s regular season campaign. Through 71 regular season matches, 40 of the team’s games have gone over the total, while 29 have gone under and just two have pushed. The team is 23-11 SU at home this year.
The Sharks have converted on 24.6 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that’s good enough for seventh-best in the league. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 14th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 81.0 percent of all penalties.
Averaging 24.9 saves per game with a .899 save percentage, Martin Jones (35-19-5) has been the primary option in goal for the Sharks this season. If the Sharks, however, choose to give him a breather, San Jose might roll with Aaron Dell (10-11-11 record, .889 save percentage, 3.06 goals against average).
Nashville has lost 9.3 units for moneyline bettors this year and is currently 40-32 straight up (SU). A total of 38 of its games have gone under the total, while 31 have gone over and just three have pushed. As the away team, the Predators are 18-18 SU.
The Predators have converted on just 13.6 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that places them in the bottom- overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 14th overall and it’s successfully killed off 80.7 percent of all penalties.
Pekka Rinne (.913 save percentage and 2.51 goals against average) has been the primary option in goal for Nashville. Rinne is averaging 25.1 saves per game and owns a 26-23-4 record.
Nashville Predators at San Jose Sharks Betting Predictions
Pick: SU Winner – Predators, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- Three of the Predators’ last ten games have been decided by a shootout. The team is 3-0 in those games and 4-1 overall in shootouts this season.
- For both of these clubs, the under has hit in three of their past five matches.
- This game features two teams that shoot the puck early and often. Nashville has registered the league’s sixth-most shots on goal (33.0) while San Jose has attempted the fourth-most (33.5).
- Five of Nashville’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 1-4 in those games.
- Nashville skaters registered 21.0 hits per game last season, while the Sharks forced 18.4 hits per matchup.
