Predators vs Panthers Odds: NHL Preview, Prediction
(Photo by Christopher Mast/NHLI via Getty Images) Pictured: Filip Forsberg
Predators vs. Panthers Odds
| Predators Odds | +152 |
| Panthers Odds | -182 |
| Over / Under | 6 -120 / -101 |
Here's everything you need to know about the Nashville Predators vs. Florida Panthers on Thursday, March 21 – our expert NHL prediction and pick.
The Predators are red hot and don’t seem to be slowing down as they’re coming off a dominant 8-2 home victory over the Sharks. Nashville also continues to pull away from the pack in the playoff race and boasts an eight-point cushion.
Florida has found itself in uncharted territory after losing two in a row. Luckily, the Panthers are fresh off a four-day break. They’ve been dominant all season and hold the second-best record in the NHL, so let's dig into the Predators vs. Panthers odds and make a NHL prediction.
With Nashville, the focus always lies on Filip Forsberg and Roman Josi. Forsberg, the dynamic forward, is on a tear with goals in three consecutive games. He also has seven points in his past four games. Josi is similarly dominating, with eight points in his past four games. Along with them, forwards Gustav Nyquist and Tommy Novak continue to chip in on a consistent basis.
The Predators’ 5-on-5 dominance is nothing new. In March, they boast the highest-rated offense with a 62.55 xGF% and are third defensively with a 2.27 xGA/60.
Similarly, that dominance has translated to special teams. In the past 10 games, Nashville has had the second-best power play at 31% and a penalty kill at a solid 81%.
From the start of the season, Juuse Saros has improved drastically. In his past 10 starts, Saros has played astounding with a .927 SV%.
The depth this roster has is unmatched. Sam Reinhart is the league’s second-leading goal scorer (48) and Matthew Tkachuk has five points in his past four games. What’s a stunner though, is that Carter Verhaeghe is goalless in his past 13 games, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him get off the snide soon.
Due to Florida’s struggles, it shouldn’t be surprising that its 5-on-5 numbers are lacking. The Panthers are playing to a 15th-best 52.02 xGF%, and a 22nd-ranked 3.25 xGA/60.
Florida’s special teams are nearly identical to the Predators’. In this 10-game stretch, the Panthers have scored at a 30.6% clip. Their penalty kill is at 81%.
Aside from the debacle against Tampa, Sergei Bobrovsky has played well. The Tampa game was an outlier, but in the 10 games prior, he was a brick wall with a .935 SV%. For the season, he's posted a 16.8 GSAx.
Predators vs. Panthers
Betting Pick & Prediction
I’m not too worried about Florida as it’s a very dynamic team with a strong structure in place. As a result, I don't think these struggles will linger. However, the Panthers are playing a team that is dominant on the road (21-10-3) and seemingly unstoppable at 5-on-5 play.
FanDuel favors Florida and I definitely see why. However, I’m going a different route and am backing the Predators as they're priced at plus money and are dominant on the road. I think that's worth taking a chance.
Pick: Nashville Predators Moneyline (+146)
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