NHL predictions: Nashville Predators push into playoff position

On February 15, the Nashville Predators dropped a 9-2 decision at home against the Dallas Stars. It dropped their record to 27-25-2 and they were headed out for a five-game road trip.

The Predators players were making plans for an outing to see U2 at Sphere in Las Vegas and, after the blowout loss at home against Dallas, the team cancelled the plans. Teams can have fun, but not if they are not showing up to do the work.

It turns out that the road trip might have helped to save the Predators’ season because the Predators have won six straight games.

Nashville now has 68 points in 60 games, which puts them into a Wild Card position in the Western Conference, five points ahead of the St. Louis Blues and the Calgary Flames.

The Predators, priced at +9680*, are longshots to capture the Stanley Cup, but they have at least climbed into position to have their chance to play in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Best Money Line Bet

The Ducks are not a strong team and have one win in the past five games, so it’s not as though they offer the most compelling position as a road favorite. However, Anaheim’s 12-15-2 road record is at least respectable and that might be just enough when facing the worst team in the league. 

When the Ducks travel north to face the San Jose Sharks, they will face a Sharks team that has 35 points in 57 games, the second-lowest points percentage (.307) in the NHL. The Sharks’ goal differential of -102 is the worst in the league.

Complicating matters further for the Sharks is that they are missing centres Tomas Hertl and Logan Couture, so it is an already weak team that is further hindered by injuries. 

That makes the Ducks a worthy favorite at a reasonable price. 

Ducks ML (-125*)

Best Handicap Bet

Although the Colorado Avalanche have not been consistent since emerging from the NHL All-Star break, with a 4-5-2 record in 11 games. Nevertheless, Colorado still has a roster with high-end talent – including Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen and Cale Makar – that can make a difference against subpar opposition. Nine of Colorado’s 13 road wins have been by a margin of at least two goals.

While Colorado might not be consistent, the Chicago Blackhawks have been consistently bad, with one win in their past 13 games. The Blackhawks have a record of 11-15-4 on home ice, with 11 of those 15 losses coming by a margin of two goals or more. 

Chicago is getting buried in terms of puck possession, too, controlling just 38.5% of five-on-five score-and-venue-adjusted expected goals across the past month. That is a shaky enough team that can help the Avalanche get on track.

Avalanche -1.5 (-113*)

Best Total Bet

In the past month, the Minnesota Wild have averaged 3.89 goals per 60 minutes in all situations, the second-highest rate in the league. Minnesota’s superstar winger Kirill Kaprizov has been on another level since returning from injury in mid-January. In his past 18 games, Kaprizov has produced 13 goals and 29 points. He has elevated the production of linemates Joel Eriksson Ek, who has 26 points in 18 games, and Matt Boldy, who has 20 points in 18 games.

The Nashville Predators are not far behind, averaging 3.61 goals per 60 minutes, which ranks fifth over the past month. Team captain Roman Josi has paced the Predators with 15 points in 11 games across the past month.

Both teams are playing a competitive brand of hockey, and the scorers seems to be providing more of an edge than the goaltenders for Minnesota and Nashville.

Wild-Predators Over 6 (-114*)

Best Player Prop Bet

Carolina Hurricanes right winger Martin Necas started slowly this season but has picked up his scoring pace since the calendar flipped to 2024. In his past 17 games, Necas has tallied nine goals and 17 points. For the entire season, Necas has recorded at least one point in 15 of 28 road games.

Necas and the Hurricanes visit the Columbus Blue Jackets, who have a goals against average of 3.33 in the past month, which ranks 24th. 

Now that Necas is producing at a high level once again, getting a matchup against a suspect defensive team should work in his favor.

Martin Necas Over 0.5 points (-145*)

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