Roman Josi, Ryan Ellis, and the Nashville Predators are set to face off against Jake Guentzel, Evgeni Malkin, and the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena in an East-West showdown. AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh will showcase the matchup, and the puck drops at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 28.
Nashville Predators at Pittsburgh Penguins Odds
Pittsburgh is 22-15 straight up (SU) and has netted 1.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. That winning percentage, ranked fifth in the league in this young season, isn’t too far off from to the 44-38 record the team posted during the 2018-19 season campaign. Through 37 regular season outings, 19 of its games have gone under the total, while 16 have gone over and just one has pushed. This year, the team’s 14-6 SU at home.
The Penguins have converted on just 17.1 percent of their power play chances this season, a mark that places them in the bottom-10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 14th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 81.6 percent of all penalties.
Boasting a .892 save percentage and 23.4 saves per game, Matt Murray (11-11-4) has been the primary option in goal for the Pens this season. If the Pens, however, decide to rest him, head coach Mike Sullivan might go with Tristan Jarry (12-5-5 record, .939 save percentage, 1.87 goals against average).
On the other bench, Nashville is 18-19 straight up (SU) and has lost 9.1 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. Through 37 regular season outings, 22 of its games have gone over the total, while 14 have gone under the total and none have pushed. As a road team, the Predators are 8-8 SU so far.
The Predators have converted on just 15.4 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that places them in the bottom-10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 23rd overall and it’s successfully killed off 77.6 percent of all penalties.
Pekka Rinne (3.04 goals against average and .892 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for Nashville. Rinne is averaging 22.9 saves per game and owns a 13-9-3 record.
Nashville Predators vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Betting Predictions
NHL Prediction: SU Winner – Predators, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
- The Penguins are 2-0 in games decided by a shootout this season while the Predators are 1-2 in shootouts.
- The total has gone over in four of Nashville’s last five games.
- Two clubs that fire the puck toward the goal a lot, Nashville has attempted the league’s fifth-most shots on goal (33.7) while Pittsburgh has attempted the 10th-most (33.2). The Preds have averaged 30.6 shot attempts over their last five home games and the Pens have taken 30.4 shots over their last five home outings.
- Over Nashville’s last ten games, six of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 4-2 in those games).
- The Penguins this season have recorded the third-most hits per game in the NHL (28.7), but the club has averaged 42.2 over their past five home outings.
