The Florida Panthers (5-0-1) and Nashville Predators (4-5-0) play the first half of their back-to-back set in Sunrise, Fla., Thursday at 7 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the Predators-Panthers NHL odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
Predators at Panthers: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:08 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Predators +100 (bet $100 to win $100) | Panthers -115 (bet $115 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Predators +1.5 (-275) | Panthers -1.5 (+220)
- Over/Under: 5.5 (O: -120 | U: +100)
Predators at Panthers: Projected starting goalies
Juuse Saros (3-3-0, .908 SV%, 2.82 GAA) vs. Sergei Bobrovsky (3-0-0, .894 SV%, 2.87 GAA)
Saros allowed 4 goals on 27 shots in a loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning his last time out. It was the second time this season he has allowed 4 or more goals in a game in six outings. He stopped 29 of 30 shots against the Chicago Blackhawks the time before.
Bobrovsky is a perfect 3-0, and he has benefited from goal support. He’s coming off his best game of the season, albeit against the Detroit Red Wings, in stopping 25 of 27 shots on goal. It was the fewest goals he has allowed in a game this year.
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Predators at Panthers: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Predators 3, Panthers 2
Money line (ML)
The Predators and Panthers are ranked quite evenly in analytics such as total shots attempts (including blocked and missed shots) and scoring chances at 5-on-5 play. The Panthers are seventh in Corsi For percentage (53.30) and the Predators are 10th (52.11).
The Panthers’ power play has been one of their biggest strengths through six games. They have 7 goals on 19 opportunities and the special teams match up well against a Predators side with 13 power-play goals allowed in 37 shorthanded situations for a penalty-kill percentage of 64.86.
Bobrovsky certainly has the pedigree to stay on his correction course following an awful 2019-20 campaign, but Saros has looked sharper and been more active early in the season. Give the visitors the edge in the goaltending battle and back PREDATORS (+100) for the modest upset.
Against the spread (ATS)
PASS on the spread. These teams are well-matched analytically, and unless the Predators get into penalty trouble, this should be a 1-goal game. There’s just no reason to lay the -275 on the Preds to keep it within 1 goal in a potential loss as a $10 bet would return a profit of just $3.64.
Over/Under (O/U)
Back the UNDER 5.5 (+100) as the more profitable side of the line at even-money. Bobrovsky was sharp his last time out and Saros has been a steady presence for Nashville. The Predators haven’t scored more than 3 goals in a game since their second outing of the season (Jan. 16).
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