In their first of three head-to-head meetings this season, the Vegas Golden Knights and the Nashville Predators collide at Bridgestone Arena in a Western Conference tilt. The puck drops at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, October 30, and you’ll be able to catch it live on NBC Sports Network.
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Nashville Predators Odds
Nashville comes into the matchup as the substantial favorite with a -170 moneyline. 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).
Earning moneyline bettors 2.9 units, Nashville is 8-3 straight up (SU) overall this year. That win percentage, the NHL’s strongest so far in the early season, isn’t too far off from to what the team produced during last year’s regular season (53-29). Among its 11 games this season, six have gone over the total, while four have gone under and just one has pushed. The team is 3-3 SU at home so far this year.
The Predators have converted on 17.1 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated 18th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 75.0 percent of all penalties.
The Predators, as a collective unit, have been penalized 3.8 times per game this season. Last year, that number was at 4.5, the highest figure in the league. After serving an average of 10.9 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team’s had to kill penalties for just 8.6 minutes per outing this season.
Averaging 25.1 saves per game with a .912 save percentage, Juuse Saros (five wins, two losses) has been the primary option in goal for the Preds this season. If Nashville chooses to rest him, however, the team might turn to Pekka Rinne (4-1-1 record, .929 save percentage, 2.10 goals against average).
Filip Forsberg and Ryan Johansen will both spearhead the attack for the Predators. Forsberg (14 points) has tallied 10 goals and four assists and has recorded two or more points three times this year. Johansen has two goals and 11 assists to his name and has recorded a point in seven contests.
On the other hand, Vegas is 5-6 straight up (SU) and has lost 4.4 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. A total of seven of its matches have gone under the total, while four have gone over and none have pushed. The Golden Knights are 2-3 SU as the visiting team this season.
The Golden Knights have converted on just 10.8 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that’s ranked 30th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 14th overall and it’s successfully killed off 79.3 percent of all opponent power plays.
Vegas’ players have been called for penalties only 3.1 times per game this season, a number that’s 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 matchup this year.
Marc-Andre Fleury (2.49 goals against average and .897 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for Vegas. Fleury is averaging 20.9 saves per game and owns a 5-5-1 record.
Leading the offensive attack for the visiting Golden Knights will be Jonathan Marchessault (six goals, five assists) and William Karlsson (three goals, six assists).
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Notes
Betting Notes
Power plays and penalty kills could have a critical role in tonight’s game. The Golden Knights are 4-3 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 3-5 when they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 total minutes. The Predators are 4-0 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 5-2 in games where they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
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 was 6-7 in shootouts last year and has yet to participate in one this time around.
The over has hit in four of Nashville’s last five games.
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