The Nashville Predators (24-19-7) host the Vegas Golden Knights (26-20-7) Saturday at Bridgestone Arena for an 8 p.m. ET puck drop. We analyze the Golden Knights-Predators sports betting odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips and picks around this matchup.
Golden Knights at Predators: Projected starting goalies
Marc-Andre Fleury vs. Pekka Rinne
Fleury should return to the crease Saturday after serving his one-game suspension for skipping the all-star game. The 35-year-old is 19-12-4 on the year with a .907 save percentage and 2.86 goals against average.
Rinne, 37, allowed five goals on 32 shots but still picked up the win Thursday against the New Jersey Devils. He is 17-11-3 on the season with a .895 save percentage and 3.05 goals against average.
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Golden Knights at Predators: Odds, picks and betting tips
Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 10:30 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Golden Knights 3, Predators 2
Moneyline (ML)
The GOLDEN KNIGHTS (+105) are a strong value play on the road. They’re 12-10-4 as visitors this season, while the Predators (-128) are just 11-10-4 at home. The two teams are among the NHL’s biggest disappointments just past the half-way mark of the 2019-20 NHL season, having both fired a head coach already, but they’re still thoroughly in the playoff hunt.
The Preds won both games on a mini two-game road trip, beating the Washington Capitals 5-4 Wednesday and New Jersey Devils 6-5 in a shootout Thursday. The Golden Knights topped the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 Friday. Back the rested Fleury with the upper-hand in the goaltending matchup.
New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Golden Knights to win in regulation, overtime or a shootout returns a profit of $10.50.
Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
PASS on the puck line Saturday. Both teams have been playing tight games of late and a 1-goal win for Vegas is my projected outcome. With Nashville favored for the outright win on home ice, the alternate puck line of Predators +1.5 (-357) is far too chalky to warrant a wager. Stick with the underdog Golden Knights to win straight up on the road.
Over/Under (O/U)
Take the more profitable UNDER 5.5 (+125) with Fleury entering Saturday with plenty of rest. He’ll be able to limit the Preds’ offensive output, while Vegas has been too inconsistent on offense to handle the scoring on its own.
Esten’s NHL betting record: 195-181
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