Stanley Cup Predictions: Will the Penguins top the Predators? 5/31/17
Can the Pittsburgh Penguins take care of business at home tonight when they host the Nashville Predators in Game 2 at 8PM ET? Here’s our Stanley Cup Predictions for tonight.
GAME 2 ODDS
According to oddsmakers, the Penguins are the favorite at home in this one, as they are getting odds of -145 to win. Nashville is listed with odds of +130 to prevail, while the over/under total is set at 5.5 goals.
RECORDS
Pittsburgh took the first game in the series on Monday night, 5-3. The home team has now won the last four meetings between these two, including all three meetings this season.
Nashville is now 53-33-13 overall and 22-24-4 on the road. Pittsburgh is 63-26-13 overall and 39-7-6 at home.
GAME 1 RECAP
Monday’s game saw the Penguins take a 3-0 lead in the first, but still have to rally in the third. Evgeni Malkin, Conor Sheary and Nick Bonino each found the net in the first, but Nashville began their comeback in the second. Ryan Ellis made it 3-1 and Colton Sissons and Frederick Gaudreau both scored in the third to make it 3-3. Jake Guenztel then got his 10th postseason goal, the game-winner, late in the third and Bonino added an empty-net goal late.
Amazingly, the Penguins scored their five goals on just 12 shots. Pekka Rinne managed to make only 7 saves. Nashville had a 26-12 edge in shots, 37-31 edge in hits and 8-5 edge in takeaways.
STANLEY CUP PREDICTIONS
The Penguins can’t afford to have a similar effort as it did on Monday and expect to win tonight. Pekka Rinne isn’t going to allow five goals on 12 shots often. However, Nashville has to know that it should have won Game 1.
Pittsburgh is likely to be improved with the puck, which cuts down on the opportunities Nashville will have. I don’t see the Pens being held to 12 shots again at home, which means another loss for the Predators.
Stanley Cup Predictions – Game 2 – Pittsburgh Penguins -145
