Betting news, trends, odds and predictions from various handicappers and websites for Thursday 3/21/19
It is a busy night in the National Hockey League on Thursday, March 21 as there are 12 games scheduled. That starts with a fantastic battle between two teams that have the same point total when the Pittsburgh Penguins visit to Nashville Predators. In other great action, the Philadelphia Flyers take on the Chicago Blackhawks and the Colorado Avalanche battle the Dallas Stars.
Pittsburgh Penguins (+124) vs. Nashville Predators (-150)
Pittsburgh is in third in the Metropolitan Division with 89 points (39-24-11). Pittsburgh is 18-11-8 on the road this season and is 6-2-2 in their last 10 games. Nashville is in second in the Central Division with 89 points (42-27-5). Nashville is 23-13-1 at home this season and they are 6-4-0 in their last 10 games, including winning their last three.
Goaltending Matchup:
Matt Murray will be in goal for Pittsburgh. Murray is 24-12-3 this season with a 2.80 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage. He has allowed two goals in each of his last two appearances and is 5-2-2 in his last nine decisions.
Pekka Rinne will start for Nashville. Rinne is 26-18-2 with a 2.46 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage. He has won his last two starts, giving up just one goal total. Rinne is 7-3-0 in his last 10 decisions.
Hot Trends:
The Pittsburgh Penguins are…
1-4 in their last five games against Western Conference opponents.
9-4 in their last 13 games against teams from the Central.
2-5 in their last seven games on the road when facing a team that has a winning percentage at home of greater than .600.
The Nashville Predators are…
5-2 in their last seven games.
5-2 in their last seven games at home.
4-0 in their last four games on a Thursday.
Stat Pack:
Penguins:
Goals For: 3.38
Goals Against: 2.97
Power-Play: 25.1%
Penalty Killing: 80.6%
Predators:
Goals For: 2.95
Goals Against: 2.62
Power-Play: 13.0%
Penalty Killing: 81.1%
Prediction
While Pittsburgh has won 13 of the last 18 meetings between these two teams, the truth has been that the home team has dominated of late, winning 10 of the last 11 meetings. That includes the Predators winning four of the last five meetings in Nashville. They are the hotter team right now and getting better goaltending. It makes the Predators the right choice.
The total is set at 6.0, and with how well Rinne has been playing that seems high. Nashville has gone under in four straight, including six of their last eight home. Pittsburgh has gone under in three of their last four games and has gone under in four straight on the road. Take the Nashville Predators to win, 3-1.
Two Games to Watch
Philadelphia Flyers (+105) vs. Chicago Blackhawks (-125)
The Philadelphia Flyers are in sixth place in the Metropolitan Division was 78 points (35-30-8). Philadelphia is 17-15-4 on the road this season and they are 5-4-1 in their last 10 games. The Chicago Blackhawks are in the last place of the Central Division with 74 points (32-30-10). Chicago is 16-13-7 at home this season and are 6-3-1 in their last 10 games.
Why Philadelphia Wins:
Flyers are 4-1 in their last five games on the road.
Flyers are 19-9 in their last 28 games.
Flyers have won six of the last eight meetings.
Carter Hart has allowed three total goals in his last two starts.
Cam Ward has given up at least four goals in each of his last five starts.
Why Chicago Wins:
Blackhawks are 5-1 in their last six games.
Blackhawks are 10-3 in their last 13 games against teams with a losing record.
Flyers have lost their last four games on a Thursday.
Home team has won 23 of the last 28 meetings.
Blackhawks have won eight of the last 10 meetings in Chicago.
What About the Total?
Go under 7.0, because…
Philadelphia has gone over in nine of their last 14 games.
Chicago has gone over in 37 of their last 51 games.
Chicago has gone over in 19 of their last 26 games at home.
Ward has a 4.2 goals-against average over his last five starts
Colorado Avalanche (+120) vs. Dallas Stars (-141)
This Central Division battle pits the Colorado Avalanche, sixth in the division with 76 points (32-29-12), against the Dallas Stars, fourth in the division with 82 points (38-29-6). Colorado is 16-15-6 on the road this season and is 5-5-0 in their last 10 games. Dallas is 22-12-3 at home this season and are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games.
Why Colorado Wins:
Avalanche are 4-1 in their last five games within the division.
Avalanche have won five of the last seven meetings.
Why Dallas Wins:
Stars are 7-3 in their last 10 games.
Avalanche are 12-25 in their last 37 games.
Stars are 6-1 in the last seven meetings between these two teams in Dallas.
Home team has won eight of the last 10 meetings.
Semyon Varlamov has lost his last two starts, and three of his last four.
Ben Bishop has won six straight decisions, allowing three total goals in that span.
What About the Total?
Go under 5.5, because…
Bishop has a 1.00 goals-against average in his last seven starts.
Colorado has gone under in five of their last six games.
Dallas has gone under in six of their last seven at home.