Nashville Predators at Carolina Hurricanes Betting Preview/Prop Pick

The NHL has a loaded schedule of big games this weekend, including one taking place in Carolina on Friday night. The Hurricanes are set to host the Nashville Predators, and this is a matchup of two very solid teams.

Nashville has been struggling of late as they have lost three straight games. The Predators still have 60 points on the year, and that has them in fourth place in the Central Division.

Carolina has 67 points on the year, and they continue to look like a team that has a great shot of winning a title. The Predators are currently in second place in the Metropolitan Division, and they have gone just 1-4 in their last five games. 

The Carolina Hurricanes are the betting favorites at -169 on the moneyline over the Nashville Predators. 

Veterans Leading Predators Charge

The Nashville Predators have had some exciting runs through the playoffs in recent years, and they have the pieces in place to do it again. This is a team led by veterans including Filip Forsberg and Roman Josi.

Josi is one of the best defensemen in the league, and he leads the team with 35 assists and 48 total points. Forsberg has scored a team-high 24 goals on the year, and he is always a scoring threat when he has the puck.

Nashville is scoring over three goals per game this season, and they have been terrific on the powerplay. The Predators are actually facing a more explosive offensive team in this game, and goaltender Juuse Saros will have to play well. 

Hurricanes Great on Special Teams

There aren’t many things that the Carolina Hurricanes don’t do well, but they have been especially great on special teams. Carolina has scored on the power play over 24 percent of the time, and they have also killed off a whopping 90 percent of their own penalties. 

Goaltender Frederik Andersen is a legitimate MVP candidate this season as he has gone 25-7-2 and is allowing just 2.07 goals against on average. Andersen has been able to do this despite the fact that the Hurricanes are an explosive offensive team.

Sebastian Aho leads the team with 21 goals and 49 points, but this Hurricanes team is loaded with offensive weapons. Carolina has been slumping a bit of late, but they can turn it on at any given time. 

Predators Pick Up Important Win

Both of these teams have played well enough to reach the postseason this year, and that should make for a terrific battle on Friday night. The overall statistics make it pretty clear that the Hurricanes are better, but that doesn’t always matter in the NHL. 

Nashville has lost three straight games, and that simply means that they are due for some good luck. The Predators should have a big offensive night in this game, and that will allow them to beat the Hurricanes.

This is a game that should be close throughout, but the home fans will be left disappointed. Bet the Nashville Predators moneyline and the UNDER as they head into Carolina and stun the Hurricanes by one goal.

Prop Pick

Carolina (+160) UNDER 2.5 Goals

The Predators are allowing 2.8 goals per game on defense, which ranks No. 12 in the league. Scores have gone UNDER six of the last eight meetings between the two teams in Carolina.

With Dunkel predicting a Nashville victory by the score of 3-2, take the Hurricanes (+160) to finish UNDER their Vegas team total of 2.5 goals against the Predators.

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