Jonathan Huberdeau, Mike Hoffman, and the Florida Panthers will do battle against Ryan Ellis, Matt Duchene, and the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena in an East-West showdown. This one gets underway at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, October 19 and it’s being shown live on Fox SportsNet Florida.
Florida Panthers vs. Nashville Predators Odds
Moneyline and Over/Under (O/U) odds have not yet been posted for this matchup.
Nashville is 4-3 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. That winning percentage, ranked 2nd in the Central Division in this young season, is a regression from the 47-35 record that the team managed during the 2018-19 season campaign. Through seven regular season matches, seven of its games have gone over the total, while zero have gone under and none have pushed. This season, the team’s 3-1 SU at home.
The Predators have successfully connected on 20.0 percent of their power play opportunities in 2019-20. That’s a big improvement from last season, when they were ranked 31st in the league by scoring on 12.6 percent of their extra-man opportunities. Their penalty kill has fallen off significantly year-over-year as they’ve gone from successfully defending 82.1 percent of opponents’ power plays (ranked sixth overall last season) to 66.7 percent this year.
With a .908 save percentage and 27.3 saves per game, the undefeated Pekka Rinne (4-0) has been the primary option in goal for the Preds this year. If Nashville chooses to give him the night off, however, the team could turn to the winless Juuse Saros (0-3-3 record, .853 save percentage, 4.74 goals against average).
Florida has lost 2.6 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year and is currently 2-5 straight up (SU). Through seven regular season contests, four of its games have gone over the total, while two have gone under the total and none have pushed. As a road team so far, the Panthers are 1-3 SU.
The Panthers have scored on 18.5 percent of their power play chances this year after successfully converting on 26.8 percent of their extra-man opportunities in 2018-19 (when the team ranked third in the league in that category). The team’s gone from successfully defending 81.3 percent of opponent power plays (ranked ninth overall last season) to 89.5 percent in 2019-20.
Sergei Bobrovsky (4.07 goals against average and .872 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for Florida. Bobrovsky is averaging 25.0 saves per game and owns a 2-4-2 record.
Florida Panthers vs. Nashville Predators Free Picks
NHL Pick: SU Winner – Predators, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- After putting up a 3-7 record in games decided by a shootout last year, the Panthers are off to a 0-2 start in shootouts this season. The Predators were 4-2 in shootouts last year and has yet to participate in one this time around.
- For both of these teams, the game went over the total in each of their past five matchups.
- Florida skaters recorded 23.2 hits per game last season, while the Preds logged 18.7 hits per matchup.
