NHL betting trends, odds and predictions for Thursday, May 18th, 2017 from various handicappers and websites
NHL Knowledge
Home side won seven of last nine Anaheim-Nashville games; Ducks lost last three visits to Music City, by combined score of 10-2. Over is 3-1-2 in last six series games. Anaheim is 2-4 on power play in last two games, after going 0-20 in previous six games- they lost last two away games by combined score of 9-2. Over is 5-2-1 in their last nine games. Predators won five of their last seven games (under 5-1-1); they’re 5-0 in last five home games, allowing one goal in all five games. Nashville is 1-16 on power play in its last four games.
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Thursday’s Stanley Cup Playoffs Betting Preview
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Anaheim Ducks at Nashville Predators (-150, 5)
Buoyed by raucous fans that raise the decibels to ear-splitting levels at Bridgestone Arena, the Nashville Predators look to remain golden on their home ice when they host the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday night in Game 4 of the Western Conference final. Nashville is 6-0 in the postseason at Bridgestone and has won 10 consecutive playoff games at home.
Predators defenseman Ryan Ellis lauded the team's fans after No. 8 seed Nashville took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series with a 2-1 victory on Tuesday, scoring twice in the third period and overcoming a pair of apparent tiebreaking goals that were waved off. "Our fans, I really didn't think they could bring it to a new level, but I really thought they did tonight," Ellis told reporters. "We have our fans standing up the whole third period literally and cheering us on. It gives us that extra boost and that extra energy that we needed." Anaheim had evened the series with an impressive 5-3 victory in Game 2, but it was outshot by a 2-to-1 margin (40-20) and was unable to protect a third-period lead for the first time in six games this postseason. “Playoffs are a roller coaster,” veteran Ducks forward Corey Perry told reporters. “You got to try to stay even keel. ... What we did in Game 2 is kind of the game we want to play and that’s what we have to bring in Game 4.”
LINE HISTORY: The Predators opened as -155 home favorites but that moneyline was bet down slightly to -150 by Wednesday afternoon. The total hit the board at 5.
INJURY REPORT:
Ducks - D Kevin Bieksa (Out Indefinitely, lower body), RW Logan Shaw (Out Indefinitely, lower body), RW Patrick Eaves (Out Indefinitely, lower body), D Simon Despres (Out Indefinitely, concussion).
Predators - RW C. Smith (Questionable, undisclosed), LW Kevin Fiala (Out For Season, leg).
ABOUT THE DUCKS (55-27-11-3, 35-40 O/U): Perry, who was bumped off Anaheim's top line in Game 2, scored for only the second time in the past 11 contests on a bad-angle shot, but the Ducks were unable to generate sustained pressure and failed to notch a shot on goal in the final 11 minutes Tuesday. “You can’t score if you don’t get pucks towards the net with traffic and second opportunities,” Perry told reporters. “It’s something we’ve talked about, we’ve discussed and we got to do a better job.” Center Ryan Kesler has been superb on faceoffs, but he won 9 of 22 on Tuesday after going 27-18 in the first two games.
ABOUT THE PREDATORS (51-32-8-4, 43-41 O/U): Nashville continues to receive stellar production from its blue-line corps, with Roman Josi delivering the decisive goal and Ellis adding an assist to boost their playoff totals to 10 points each - a franchise record for defensemen. Overall, the unit combined for more shots on goal (21) in Game 3 than the Ducks (20) did as a team, led by nine from Ellis - who failed to notch a shot in Game 2. Forward Filip Forsberg has scored in each game of the series, with Tuesday's tying tally in the third period boosting his playoff total to a team-leading six goals.
TRENDS:
* Ducks are 1-4 in their last 5 Conference Finals games.
* Predators are 6-1 in their last 7 vs. Pacific.
* Over is 7-1-3 in Ducks last 11 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.
* Under is 9-1-2 in Predators last 12 home games.
* Home team is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings.
CONSENSUS: 63 percent of the public is siding with the home chalk Predators on the moneyline and 52 percent are on the Under.
ANAHEIM (55-27-0-14, 124 pts.) at NASHVILLE (51-32-0-12, 114 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
NASHVILLE is 31-18 ATS (+11.1 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
NASHVILLE is 23-11 ATS (+11.2 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season this season.
ANAHEIM is 55-41 ATS (+3.4 Units) in all games this season.
ANAHEIM is 37-21 ATS (+9.9 Units) second half of the season this season.
ANAHEIM is 13-7 ATS (+22.4 Units) in road games when trailing in a playoff series since 1996.
ANAHEIM is 27-16 ATS (+7.8 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent this season.
ANAHEIM is 15-6 ATS (+7.3 Units) after scoring 1 goal or less in their previous game this season.
ANAHEIM is 30-20 ATS (+8.3 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
ANAHEIM is 20-12 ATS (+7.5 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season this season.
Head-to-Head Series History
ANAHEIM is 10-9-0 straight up against NASHVILLE over the last 3 seasons
9 of 13 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+4.9 Units)
ANAHEIM vs. NASHVILLE
Anaheim is 13-5 SU in its last 18 games
Anaheim is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games on the road
Nashville is 10-3 SU in its last 13 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Nashville's last 7 games