In a game that features two squads riding winning streaks, the Anaheim Ducks and the Nashville Predators clash at Bridgestone Arena in a Western Conference showdown. This one will get started at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 8 and it will be televised live on Fox Sports Tennesse.
Anaheim Ducks vs. Nashville Predators Odds
Nashville (+130) is currently the underdog to Nashville (-150), and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-130 to bet the under, +110 for the over).
Earning 14.1 units for moneyline bettors, Nashville is 43-23 straight up (SU) overall in the 2017-18 season. That winning percentage, ranked second in the league so far this season, is a solid improvement compared to how the team performed during the 2016-17 season (41-41). Of its 66 games this season, 33 have gone over the total, while 32 have gone under and just one has pushed. The team is 23-10 SU at home this season.
The Predators have converted on 22.2 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s good enough for sixth-best in the league. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 12th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 81.9 percent of all penalties.
The Predators, as a collective unit, have been penalized 4.5 times per game overall this season, and 3.8 per game over their last five contests. The team’s had to stave off opposition power plays for just 8.4 minutes per game over their last five home outings.
Averaging 29.2 saves per game with a .928 save percentage, Pekka Rinne (36 wins, 13 losses, and four OT losses) has been the best goalkeeper for the Preds this year. If Nashville decides to give him a breather, however, the team could go with Juuse Saros (7-11-11 record, .924 save percentage, 2.42 goals against average).
The Preds will continue to lean on the leadership via P.K. Subban and Viktor Arvidsson. Subban (50 points) has tallied 15 goals and 35 assists and has recorded multiple points on 12 separate occasions this year. Arvidsson has 24 goals and 25 assists to his name and has notched a point in 35 games.
On the other bench, Anaheim is 34-33 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.7 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 67 regular season contests, 41 of its games have gone under the total, while 25 have gone over and just one has pushed. As the visiting team, the Ducks are 15-19 SU.
The Ducks have converted on just 18.4 percent of their power play chances this season, a figure that’s ranked 23rd in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked third overall and it’s successfully defended 83.1 percent of all penalties.
Anaheim’s players have been penalized 4.4 times per game in total this season, and 3.6 per game over their last five road outings. The team has been forced to kill penalties just 8.9 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
John Gibson (29.7 saves per game) has been the primary option in the net for Anaheim. Gibson has 26 wins, 23 losses, and seven overtime losses to his credit, and has registered a .927 save percentage and 2.46 goals against average this year.
Leading the offensive counter for the visiting Ducks will be Rickard Rakell, who has 28 goals and 28 assists this year.
Anaheim Ducks vs. Nashville Predators Betting Predictions
Free Pick: SU Winner – Predators, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- Two of Anaheim’s last ten games have been decided by a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 4-7 overall in shootouts this season.
- The total has gone over in three of Nashville’s last five games.
- Anaheim has managed 28.4 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Nashville is averaging 38.4 shots per game over its last five home outings.
- Nashville has scored 3.3 goals per game overall this year, but has upped that figure to 4.3 per match up across its nine-game winning streak.
- Over Anaheim’s last ten games, six of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 5-1 in those games).
- Anaheim skaters have dished out the sixth-most hits in the league (24.3 per game).
