In their first of three head-to-head meetings this season, the Vegas Golden Knights and the Nashville Predators meet at Bridgestone Arena in a Western Conference matchup. The action gets going at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, October 30, and it’ll be broadcasted live on NBC Sports Network.
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Nashville Predators Odds
Nashville enters the game as the noticeable favorite with a moneyline of -170. The line for Vegas sits at +150 and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals (-105 for the over, -115 for the under).
The Predators are 8-3 straight up (SU) and have earned moneyline bettors 2.9 units this season. That winning percentage, the NHL’s best so far this season, isn’t too far off from to what the team managed during last year’s regular season (53-29). Of its 11 games this season, six have gone over the total, while four have gone under and just one has pushed. The team’s 3-3 SU at home this year.
Nashville’s converted on 17.1 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 18th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 75.0 percent of all penalties.
As a team, Nashville has been penalized 3.8 times per game this season. Last year, it posted the worst figure in the league with 4.5 penalties per game. After serving an average of 10.9 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team has been forced to kill penalties for only 8.6 minutes per matchup this year.
Averaging 25.1 saves per game with a .912 save percentage, Juuse Saros (5-2) has been the principal option in goal for the Predators this season. If they, however, decide to give him the night off, head coach Peter Laviolette could go with Pekka Rinne (4-1-1 record, .929 save percentage, 2.10 goals against average).
The Preds will continue to rely on leadership via Filip Forsberg and Ryan Johansen. Forsberg (14 points) is up to 10 goals and four assists and has recorded multiple points in three different games this year. Johansen has two goals and 11 assists to his name and has recorded a point in seven games.
On the other hand, Vegas is 5-6 straight up (SU) and has lost 4.4 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. Through 11 regular season outings, seven of its games have gone under the total, while four have gone over and none have pushed. Vegas’ 2-3 SU as the away team this season.
Vegas has converted on just 10.8 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that places it 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 79.3 percent of all penalties.
Vegas’ skaters have been penalized only 3.1 times per game this season, a number that has improved from the 3.6 penalties per game given up last year. After serving an average of 7.9 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team has had to stave off opponent power plays for 7.5 minutes per outing this year.
Marc-Andre Fleury (20.9 saves per game) has been the primary choice in goal for Vegas. Fleury has five wins, five losses, and one OT loss to his credit, and has registered a .897 save percentage and 2.49 goals against average this year.
Jonathan Marchessault (six goals, five assists) and William Karlsson (three goals, six assists) have been standout playmakers for Vegas and will lead the offensive counter for the visiting Golden Knights.
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Nashville Predators Betting Predictions
Free Pick: SU Winner – Predators, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- The total has gone over in four of Nashville’s last five games.
- Power-play chances may prove to be key in tonight’s matchup. The Golden Knights are 4-3 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 3-5 when they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes. The Predators are 4-0 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 5-2 when their penalty minutes are in the single digits.
- After posting a 4-3 record in games decided by a shootout last year, Vegas is off to a 1-1 start in shootouts this season. Nashville went 6-7 in shootouts last year and has yet to participate in one this time around.
