The red-hot Nashville Predators get a big test on Tuesday night, as they host the Washington Capitals on NBCSN. The Capitals are considered one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference and they feature Alex Ovechkin, one of the best scorers in the NHL. The Predators come into this game having won four straight, including a win over the Pittsburgh Penguins last time out in a Stanley Cup rematch. The Predators have won five of the last seven meetings in this series against the Capitals.
Don't miss the ice action from Bridgestone Arena at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, November 14, 2017. Catch every moment of the game live on NBCSN.
We'll have NHL odds at BookMaker.eu available for this and every game on the NHL Tuesday schedule.
Odds Analysis
The Capitals have been up and down so far this season, winning nine and losing eight in their first 17 games. Part of the problem for Washington has been injuries, but the Capitals are getting players back. Head coach Barry Trotz said that Matt Niskanen, Brett Connolly and Tyler Graovac are getting close to a return. “They’re very close,” Trotz said to the Washington Post. “I’m going to talk to them. I’m going to look at the opposition’s lineup a little bit, and they’re close. You’ve got guys that, in the next few days, you’re going to probably see a new face or two just because they’re getting closer, a guy like Conno. So, that’s good. But I don’t know if we can put everybody in at the same time or if they’re all coming at the same time.” Niskanen is the key player of the three, as he would help a team that is struggling on the penalty kill and one that is giving up too many shots per game.
The Predators are coming off an exciting overtime win against Pittsburgh in a Stanley Cup rematch. Newcomer Kyle Turris had a goal and an assist in the 5-4 win on Saturday. Nashville has had a couple of days off to put the big win behind them. Nashville is 4-2 at home this season, with three games going over and three going under. The Predators are scoring 2.8 goals per game and giving up 2.8 per contest.
Special Teams
The Capitals have not been that great with their special teams so far this season. They are 13th on the power play at 19.6%, but they are just 23rd in penalty killing at just over 78%. The Capitals are scoring 2.9 goals per game overall, but giving up 3.1 goals per contest. The Predators have been solid with their special teams, as they rank 9th on the power play at 21.7% and they are 9th in penalty killing at just over 84%.
Key Stat
The Predators have won five of the last seven meetings, including both of the games last season. They won 2-1 in Washington and 5-2 in Nashville. The Predators have won four of the last five at home in this series, with four of the five going over the total.
Free NHL Picks
The advantage in terms of rest is with Nashville, as the Capitals played on Sunday, while the Predators played on Saturday. The only concern with taking Nashville is a possible letdown after playing the Penguins in a Stanley Cup rematch. Neither team has played that well defensively this season, so I think the better choice is to play the total in this contest. The Capitals have gone over in seven of their last ten road games, while the Predators have gone over three times at home this season, including their last two. This has also been a high scoring series in Nashville, with four of the last five going over. I will go over the total in this game on Tuesday night.
NHL Odds: Capitals 4, Predators 3
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