NHL Predictions: Can the Bruins hold off the Predators? 10/5/17
Will the Boston Bruins keep the Nashville Predators from starting the 2017-18 NHL season with a win when the two meet up tonight at 7PM ET? Here’s our NHL Predictions for this game.
ODDS
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, the Bruins are favored at home in this game, as Boston is getting odds of -120 to win. The Predators are given a money line of +100 on the road, while the over/under total for the contest has been set at 5.5 goals. The home team has won six of the last seven between these two. Tonight’s game takes place from TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.
BRUINS
The Bruins are coming off a 44-31-7 record last season in which it posted a 23-17-1 record at home. The Bruins lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Senators in six games. Boston put up 234 goals while allowing 212 in the 2016-17 season. Brad Marchand was the leader last season with 39 goals and 46 assists while David Pastrnak scored 34 goals. Tuukka Rask returns in net this year after going 37-20-5 last year with a 2.23 GAA and a .915 save percentage.
PREDATORS
The Nashville Predators were only 41-29-12 last season, but they managed to make a run to the Stanley Cup Final before falling to the Penguins. Nashville was 17-20-4 on the road a year ago and scored 240 goals while allowing 224. The Preds added a piece from the Penguins, signing Nick Bonino to a 4-year, $16.4 million deal in the offseason. However, a leg injury has him out indefinitely. Viktor Arvidsson and Filip Forsberg both scored 31 goals to lead the Preds last year while Arvidsson also had 30 assists. Pekka Rinne was 31-19-9 in goal last season, posting a 2.42 GAA and a .918 save percentage.
NHL PREDICTIONS
The Predators had a great postseason run a year ago. However, their performance during the regular season was lackluster at times, especially on the road. Now Nashville has to open the season in Boston, a tough place to play. The home team has won 12 of the last 14 meetings between these two and Nashville is just 1-6 in its last seven trips to Boston. I think the Bruins have the edge, opening at home.
NHL PREDICTIONS: BOSTON BRUINS -120
