The Nashville Predators (12-16-1) remain in the Sunshine State for a two-game set against the Florida Panthers (19-5-4) beginning with a 7 p.m. ET puck drop Thursday at BB&T Center. Below, we analyze the Predators-Panthers odds and lines, with NHL picks and predictions.
Nashville’s coming off a split two-game set against the defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning. The Preds lost 6-3 Saturday but responded with a 4-1 victory Monday. They’re just 2-5-1 in March with one of those victories in a shootout and a loss in overtime.
The Panthers are one of the hottest teams in hockey. They’ve won four straight games and six of their last seven to take over top spot in the Central Division.
These teams last met in Nashville earlier this month with Florida winning both games by a combined score of 11-6. They split a two-gamer at BB&T Center in early February.
Predators at Panthers: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:35 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Predators +185 (bet $100 to win $185) | Panthers -225 (bet $225 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Predators +1.5 (-145) | Panthers -1.5 (+120)
- Over/Under: 6 (O: -120 | U: +100)
Predators at Panthers: Projected starting goalies
Juuse Saros (5-5-0, .895 SV%, 3.10 GAA) vs. Sergei Bobrovsky (12-2-2, .905 SV%, 2.95 GAA)
Saros was activated from the injured reserve and should make his return from an upper-body injury. He last played March 2 and allowed 2 goals on 10 shots before leaving the game after the first period.
The highly-paid Bobrovsky had a disastrous start to his tenure with the Panthers, but he has strung together six straight wins and hasn’t lost in regulation since Feb. 20. He’s 2-0-1 against the Preds this season but with a 3.91 GAA and .887 SV%.
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Predators at Panthers: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Panthers 3, Predators 1
Money line (ML)
The Panthers (-225) are the preferred side on home ice based on the recent, and season-long, play of both teams but the -225 tag is too expensive. Florida leads the season series 3-1, however, two of those wins were decided by single-goal margins.
Bobrovsky has the edge in net against the rusty Saros, but it’s a narrow one. He allowed 3 and 4 goals in two of his past three victories.
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Against the spread (ATS)
Back the PANTHERS -1.5 (+120) with a smaller bet than you’d normally place on the money line. It’s not a great profit margin based on the close results of the season series thus far, but four of the Preds’ six losses this month were by 2 or more goals.
Four of the Panthers’ last five wins were by multi-goal margins.
Over/Under (O/U)
Bet the UNDER 6 (+100) with the line seemingly expecting a shaky performance from Saros. He had allowed just a single goal in each of his last two full games prior to injury and had regained the starting role.
The season series is 3-1 against the O/U.
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