A game between two teams that are firmly in playoff contention, the Winnipeg Jets and the Nashville Predators meet at Bridgestone Arena in a divisional showdown. The puck drops at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, December 19, and you can watch it live on Fox Sports Tennesse.
Winnipeg Jets at Nashville Predators Odds
Winnipeg (+135) is currently the underdog to Nashville (-155) and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals. The odds for betting the total stand at -120 for the over and +100 for the under.
Netting 8.8 units for moneyline bettors, Nashville is 21-11 straight up (SU) overall this year. That winning percentage, ranked second in the NHL so far in the early season, is a solid improvement compared to what the team did during the 2016-17 season (41-41). Of its 32 games this season, 17 have gone over the total, while 15 have gone under and none have pushed. The teams 11-4 SU at home this year.
The Predators currently have the third-best power-play unit in the NHL, as the team has converted on 26.4 percent of their extra-man chances this year. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated fifth overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 83.7 percent of all penalties.
As a collective unit, the Predators have been whistled for penalties 5.5 times per game overall this season, and 4.2 per game over their last five outings at home. The team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays for a whopping 18.4 minutes per game over their last five outings, overall.
With a .930 save percentage and 30.3 saves per game, Pekka Rinne (18-7-3) has been the primary option in goal for the Preds this year. If Nashville decides to give him a breather, however, the team may turn to Juuse Saros (3-4-4 record, .911 save percentage, 2.95 goals against average).
The Preds will continue to rely on leadership out of Filip Forsberg and Kyle Turris. Forsberg (32 points) has produced 15 goals and 17 assists and has recorded two or more points eight times this year. Turris has seven goals and 19 assists to his name and has recorded at least one point in 16 games.
On the other side of the rink, Winnipeg is 19-15 straight up (SU) and has earned 3.0 units for moneyline bettors this year. A total of 18 of its contests have gone over the total, while 15 have gone under and just one has pushed. The Jets are 7-11 SU as a road team this season.
The Jets have scored on 25.6 percent of their power play chances this season, a mark that places it in the top-five among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 21st overall and it’s successfully killed off 79.8 percent of all penalties.
Winnipeg’s skaters have been penalized 4.3 times per game this season, and 5.4 per game over their last five road outings. The team has been forced to kill penalties just 7.6 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Connor Hellebuyck (2.45 goals against average and .920 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for Winnipeg. Hellebuyck is averaging 26.7 saves per game and owns a 17-10-4 record.
Blake Wheeler (eight goals, 31 assists) has been one of the top playmaking threats for the visiting Jets.
Winnipeg Jets vs. Nashville Predators Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Jets, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- Over Nashville’s last ten outings, six of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 5-1 in those games).
- Power plays and penalty kills could have a key role tonight. The Jets are 8-5 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 10-7 in games where they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 minutes, total. The Predators are 7-1 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 9-3 when they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
- Three of Nashville’s last ten games have ended in a shootout. The team is 1-2 in those games and 3-3 overall in shootouts this season.
- The over has hit in three of Nashville’s last five games.
- Nashville has allowed 2.7 goals per game overall this season, but has allowed just 0.3 per matchup across its three-game win streak.
- Nashville has averaged 14.6 giveaways over its last five home games, a rise over its season average of 9.8 giveaways per game (ranked 16th overall).
- Winnipeg is ranked 13th this season with 9.4 giveaways per game. That figure has trended lower, however, as the teams averaged 8.0 giveaways over its last 10 games and 8.2 giveaways over its last five.
