The Nashville Predators (1-5-0) visit the Chicago Blackhawks (2-4-1) for a Friday night battle at the United Center. Puck drop in the Central Division matchup will be at 8:30 p.m. (ESPN+ / Hulu). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Predators vs. Blackhawks odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Season series: First meeting; Predators won 4-0-0 last season
Nashville snapped a season-opening 5-game losing streak with a 4-0 win over the Boston Bruins Tuesday. The Predator triumph, one bolstered by Nashville rifling 42 shots on goal and a strong performance between the pipes by G Juuse Saros, came in the finale of a 4-game homestand. Friday’s game at Chicago marks just the 2nd road tilt for the Preds.
The Blackhawks are closing out a 4-game homestand of their own. Chicago opened that stretch with a victory but has since lost 2 straight. That includes a 6-3 loss to the Vancouver Canucks in their last game (Tuesday).
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Predators at Blackhawks odds
Predators at BlackhawksProvided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of NHL odds. Lines last updated at 11 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Predators -175 (bet $175 to win $100) | Blackhawks +145 (bet $100 to win $145)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Predators -1.5 (+140) | Blackhawks +1.5 (-165)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6 (O: +100 | U: -120)
Predators at Blackhawks projected goalies
Juuse Saros (1-4-0, 2.89 GAA, .903 SV%, 1 SO) vs. Petr Mrazek (2-3-0, 3.24 GAA, .887 SV%)
Saros logged a bounceback with his 33-for-33 effort Tuesday. He had notched an aggregate .868 SV% over his 3 previous starts.
Mrazek coughed up all 6 goals in Chicago’s Tuesday loss. That effort came on the heels of 3 solid starts; he had registered a .930 SV% over his 3 previous outings.
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Predators at Blackhawks picks and predictions
Prediction
Predators 4, Blackhawks 3
Moneyline
Soros clocked a 2-start .939 SV% against Chicago last season, and he owns a career .933 SV% against the Blackhawks. And if he gets the nod for the Predators, he does not figure to face a lot of close-in shots. The ‘Hawks are among the worst teams in the league thus far when it comes to generating high-danger looks in 5-on-5 play.
The Preds may well be glad to be on the road after experiencing perhaps some bad puck luck in their string of earlier setbacks. Their puck-possession and shot-quality numbers certainly belie their early-season won-loss mark.
The Predators have won 4 in a row and 9 of their last 10 against the Blackhawks.
FanDuel Sportsbook offers a budget line here. TAKE NASHVILLE (-172).
Puck line/Against the spread
The pricing on the ML play is solid. PASS.
Over/Under
Nashville has scored 4-plus goals in 3 of its last 4 games against Chicago.
The Blackhawks defense was especially leaky the last 2 games. Both sides have some expected-goals numbers at both ends of the ice that would indicate slightly more scoring in the tank.
BACK THE OVER 6 (-110).
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