Bridgestone Arena is the site for an enticing showdown as the Boston Bruins pay a visit to Tennessee to face the Nashville Predators. It’s the last time that the two clubs will go at it in the regular season. The game will get started at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, January 7, and you can catch this East-West matchup live on New England Sports Network.
Boston Bruins at Nashville Predators Odds
Nashville (-105) is entering this one as the underdog to Boston (-115), and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at an even 6 goals (-120 to bet the under, +100 for the over).
Boston is 24-19 straight up (SU) and has lost 7.7 units for moneyline bettors this year. 22 of its outings have gone under the total, while 18 have gone over and just three have pushed. The Bruins are 10-8 SU on the road in 2019-20.
Boston currently touts the third-strongest power-play unit in the NHL, as it’s scored on 27.3 percent of its extra-man chances this season. On the other hand, it has the second-best penalty kill in the league, and the team’s successfully killed off a whopping 85.8 percent of all penalties.
Boston, as a collective unit, has been called for penalties 3.6 times per game overall this season, and 3.0 per game over its last ten matchups. The team’s had to kill penalties just 6.0 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
With a .923 save percentage and 28.0 saves per game, Tuukka Rask (15-10-6) has been the top option in goal for Boston this year. If it decides to rest him, however, Boston could turn to Jaroslav Halak (9-9-5), who has a .928 save percentage and 2.25 goals against average this year.
David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand will both look to continue their strong seasons for the visiting Bruins. Pastrnak (61 points) has tallied 31 goals and 30 assists, and has recorded multiple points 18 times. Marchand has 20 goals and 40 assists to his creditand has registered at least one point in 31 games.
On the other bench, Nashville is 19-22 straight up (SU) and has lost 12.9 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 41 regular season contests, 26 of its games have gone over the total, while 15 have gone under and none have pushed. This season, the team’s 10-11 SU at home.
Nashville has converted on just 16.8 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that’s ranked 24th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 29th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 74.2 percent of all opponent power plays.
The Predators have been penalized 4.0 times per game this season, and 5.0 per game over their past five match ups. The team’s had to kill penalties 13.4 minutes per contest over their last five home games.
Pekka Rinne (23.3 saves per game) has been the primary selection in goal for Nashville. Rinne has 14 wins, 11 losses, and three overtime losses to his credit and has recorded a pedestrian 2.98 goals against average and a fairly-weak .896 save percentage this year.
Roman Josi (14 goals, 30 assists) will pace the offensive counter for the Predators.
Boston Bruins at Nashville Predators Betting Picks
NHL Pick: SU Winner – Predators, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
Nashville is 1-3 in games decided by shootout. Boston is 0-6 in shootouts.
For both of these clubs, the game went over the total in four of their past five outings.
Boston has managed 31.6 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Nashville is averaging 36.0 shots per game over its last five at home.
Four of Boston’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 3-1 in those games.
Boston skaters have dished out the seventh-most hits in the league (23.9 per game), but the team’s recorded just 18.0 hits over their last five away games.
