Golden Knights vs Predators NHL Odds, Pick, Prediction

Golden Knights vs. Predators Odds

Fresh off the All-Star break, the Vegas Golden Knights head to the Music City on Tuesday to take on the Nashville Predators. Vegas ended the first half of the season on a sour note, losing four in a row. The Knights will hope the break will ascend them back into Western Conference prominence.

Contrary to their opponents, the Predators ended their first half on a three-game winning streak. Nashville is often a hard team to predict, but it continues to scratch and claw to a playoff position.

Here’s a look at our odds, as well as our prediction for the Vegas Golden Knights vs. Nashville Predators.

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Vegas Golden Knights

The Golden Knights surely could use some reinforcements after a tremendous start to the season. Chandler Stephenson is having a wonderful year, as one of two Vegas All-Star representatives, and Jack Eichel is averaging near a point per game. They’ve lost captain Mark Stone to back surgery however, so William Karlsson and Jonathan Marchessault need to step it up.

Losing Stone has been a crucial part to this collapse, but the chart still seems to favor Vegas. It’s posting a fifth best 54.02 xGF% (expected goals) and averaging 10 high danger chances per game.

Things have been pretty good on the defensive end. While it could be better, allowing 2.88 goals is nothing to sneeze at, and the Knights also place 12th in expected goals against.

Rookie Logan Thompson enjoyed his first-ever All-Star experience, but prior to it, he has struggled. Since the turn of the year, Thompson is posting a .905 SV% which is fine, yet drastically different from his .927 SV% from October through New Year's Eve.

Nashville Predators

When looking at this Predators team, nothing really ‘wows’ you. Filip Forsberg is a legitimate first line winger, and Roman Josi is a future Hall of Fame defenseman, but what else?

I’ve liked what I’ve seen out of Matt Duchene, but he was never going to repeat his 43-goal season from last year, and Mikael Granlund has held it down as a solid depth center. Still seems to be something missing.

Even after a solid winning streak to head into the All-Star break, the Predators don’t stand out in the charts. They’re 22nd in expected goals with a 49.81 xGF% and are middle of the road in high danger chances.

For years, the back end has been the bread and butter for Nashville. This year, it hasn’t been so great, though, allowing 2.92 goals a game and ranking 21st in expected goals against.

Juuse Saros also enjoyed the bright sun in South Florida for the All Star Game. The Finn is playing incredible hockey right now – playing to a top three +23.0 goals saved above expected (GSAx) and a .932 SV% since January 1.

Knights vs. Predators Pick

I don’t blame Knights fans for worrying about their team. They’re going through a rough patch and losing their captain has made a negative impact. Going up against a team in Nashville that is feeling its oats, winning three in a row and surging up the standings, can bring up some pessimistic feelings.

Saros has been a big part of this surge. He has stolen games left and right to keep the Predators alive. If you look at who the Preds have beaten in those three games, it was two struggling teams in the Kings and the Jets, and the red-hot Devils. Two out of three games, Nashville has managed to net over five goals, and the other, where it got drastically outshot, Saros stole the game.

My gut doesn’t think Nashville comes out and net a ton of goals as they have in the past. I believe they’ll come in rusty and show their true colors in playing a mediocre offensive game. I like the Knights a lot, and think the break was beneficial for them. They rank high in all offensive numbers, and defend their zone fairly well, so the talent is there.

I’m backing Vegas as the slight underdog here.

Pick: Golden Knights +105

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