Detroit Red Wings at Nashville Predators odds, picks and prediction
The Detroit Red Wings (3-9-2) begin a two-game road set against the Nashville Predators (5-8-0) Thursday in Music City. Puck drop for Game 1 is set for 8 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the Red Wings-Predators NHL odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
Detroit has just one win in a 10-game stretch dating back to Jan. 19. It's coming off a 2-1 loss to the Florida Panthers Tuesday after winning the first game of that set 4-1.
Nashville has dropped three straight with the last two of those coming against the defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning on home ice. They lost those games by a combined score of 10-2.
Red Wings at Predators: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports' betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:50 a.m. ET.
- Money line : Red Wings +150 (bet $100 to win $150) | Predators -175 (bet $175 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS : Red Wings +1.5 (-190) | Predators -1.5 (+155)
- Over/Under : 5.5 (O: +100 | U: -120)
Red Wings at Predators: Projected starting goalies
Thomas Greiss (1-8-2, .904 SV%, 2.90 GAA) vs. Juuse Saros (3-4-0, .881 SV%, 3.68 GAA)
Greiss must be missing life with the New York Islanders, where he posted a .915 save percentage and 2.70 goals against average over 193 games played from 2015-16 through 2019-20. He allowed both goals on 22 shots in Tuesday's loss to the Panthers.
Saros has allowed 15 goals over his last three games, including 6 goals allowed on 30 shots faced Tuesday against the Lightning. The 25-year-old had a .919 SV% and 2.56 GAA in 118 GP over the past four seasons.
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Red Wings at Predators: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Predators 4, Red Wings 1
Money line (ML)
This is a get-right spot for the Predators against the second-worst team in the NHL. If the Preds don't sweep this two-game set on home ice there could be some significant changes made early in the season.
Still, we can't lay the -175 on Nashville based on what we've seen thus far. C Ryan Johansen (upper body) is expected to miss another game and there hasn't been much scoring behind LW Filip Forsberg.
PASS on the money line and back the Preds on the puck line.
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Against the spread (ATS)
The PREDATORS -1.5 (+155) began the 2021 season with much higher expectations than the Wings and need this game after being grossly outclassed by the Lightning on home ice with fans in the seats of Bridgestone Arena.
The Red Wings are 26th in the NHL in Corsi For percentage and 19th in scoring chance percentage at 5-on-5, and it's not like they're underachieving. The Preds have a major talent advantage and are above 50% in both Corsi and scoring-chance metrics at full strength.
Over/Under (O/U)
The Red Wings are just 4-10 against the Over/Under and that's while allowing 3.3 goals per game to rank 23rd in hockey. They score a league-worst 1.9 goals per game.
Take the UNDER 5.5 (-120) with Saros needing a strong performance as much as anyone on the home side.
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