Predators vs Penguins Preview, Odds, Trends, & Free Pick [Game 2]

By
Jay Cooper
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Nashville (0-1) at Pittsburgh (1-0)
When: Wednesday, May 31st 2017
Where: PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA
Time: 8:05 ET | TV: NBC

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The Nashville Predators will look to play the same type of game the second time around, but this time with a better result. Nashville thoroughly outplayed the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals, but were on the short-end of a 5-3 setback as they regroup for Game 2 on Wednesday night. “I thought our guys played great,” Predators coach Peter Laviolette said after Monday’s game. “We hate the score, we hate the result, but we’ll move forward.” Pittsburgh rookie Jake Guentzel beat Nashville’s Pekka Rinne with 3:17 left in regulation to put the Penguins ahead to stay in a 5-3 victory on Monday night. Guentzel snapped an eight-game goalless drought to help the defending champs escape after blowing a three-goal lead. Nick Bonino scored twice including an empty-netter, Conor Sheary scored his first of the playoffs and Evgeni Malkin notched his eighth goal. Pittsburgh used the first coach’s challenge in Finals history to wipe out an early Nashville goal and held on despite going an amazing 37:09 without a shot on goal. Netminder Matt Murray finished with 23 saves for Pittsburgh, who are coming off two-straight seven game series. Captain Sidney Crosby is looking to become the first player to win the goal-scoring title and a Stanley Cup in the same season since Wayne Gretzky (1986-87).

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Nashville was playing their first Finals game in franchise history and were not intimidated by the big stage, the crowd, or the defending champions. P.K. Subban appeared to put the Predators up 1-0 in the first period, but Penguins video coordinator Andy Saucier alerted the bench of the infraction that saw Nashville forward Filip Forsberg’s skate was up in the air as he brought the puck into the zone, making it an offsides. That seemed to deflate the Predators a bit, who committed two bad penalties late in the period to give Pittsburgh a 5-on-3, which Malkin converted and then Sheary a minute later. Ryan Ellis scored the first goal by a Predator in Stanley Cup history midway through the second period, as Nashville kept Pittsburgh from recording a single shot in the middle period. The Predators didn’t give up, getting third period goals from Colton Sissons and Fredrick Gaudreau to tie it up before Guentzel’s eventual game-winner. Rinne, who has helped the Predators get to this point, stopped just seven shots in Game 1 as the Nashville blue-line did their job. Sissons continues to shine in place of injured No. 1 center Ryan Johansen with four goals in two games while center Mike Fisher returned from injury to collect two assists – his first points of the playoffs.

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I expect more of the same out of Nashville as they continue to frustrate the Penguins offense. Rinne let up a couple of soft goals in Game 1 and I don’t see that happening again. I predict Nashville will steal Game 2 and head back home with a 1-1 series tie.

Pick: Predators +130

W/L TRENDS

Nashville
  • Predators are 6-1 in their last 7 after allowing 5 goals or more in their previous game.
  • Predators are 7-2 in their last 9 when their opponent scores 5 goals or more in their previous game.
  • Predators are 6-2 in their last 8 games playing on 1 days rest.
  • Predators are 6-2 in their last 8 Wednesday games.
  • Predators are 6-2 in their last 8 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
  • Predators are 17-7 in their last 24 vs. a team with a winning record.
  • Predators are 12-5 in their last 17 overall.
  • Predators are 0-4 in their last 4 vs. Eastern Conference.
Pittsburgh
  • Penguins are 4-1 in their last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
  • Penguins are 4-1 in their last 5 overall.
  • Penguins are 7-2 in their last 9 Stanley Cup Finals games.
  • Penguins are 64-21 in their last 85 home games.
  • Penguins are 37-14 in their last 51 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
  • Penguins are 60-25 in their last 85 games playing on 1 days rest.
  • Penguins are 2-5 in their last 7 games following a win.
  • Penguins are 1-4 in their last 5 after scoring 5 goals or more in their previous game.
  • Penguins are 1-9 in their last 10 when their opponent allows 5 goals or more in their previous game.

OU TRENDS

Nashville
  • Over is 5-1 in Predators last 6 after allowing 5 goals or more in their previous game.
  • Under is 4-1 in Predators last 5 when their opponent scores 5 goals or more in their previous game.
  • Under is 4-1 in Predators last 5 vs. Eastern Conference.
  • Under is 10-3-4 in Predators last 17 games playing on 1 days rest.
  • Over is 18-7-2 in Predators last 27 vs. Metropolitan.
  • Under is 15-6-7 in Predators last 28 overall.
  • Under is 12-5-7 in Predators last 24 vs. a team with a winning record.
Pittsburgh
  • Under is 4-1-1 in Penguins last 6 Wednesday games.
  • Under is 8-2 in Penguins last 10 Stanley Cup Finals games.
  • Over is 3-1-2 in Penguins last 6 overall.
  • Over is 3-1-2 in Penguins last 6 vs. a team with a winning record.
  • Over is 33-12-6 in Penguins last 51 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
  • Under is 5-2 in Penguins last 7 after scoring 5 goals or more in their previous game.
  • Over is 15-6-1 in Penguins last 22 when their opponent allows 5 goals or more in their previous game.

HEAD TO HEAD

  • Over is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings.
  • Home team is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings.
  • Over is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings in Pittsburgh.
  • Predators are 2-9 in the last 11 meetings.
  • Predators are 1-5 in the last 6 meetings in Pittsburgh.

Trends courtesy of SportsOptions.com – an UltimateCapper.com partner

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