The Nashville Predators (+130) and their stifling penalty killing defense travel to take on the New York Islanders (-150), one of the league’s weakest power play offenses, at UBS Arena on Friday. The total is 5.5 (O: -120, U: +100)Nashville (11-9-2) is playing on back-to-back days after earning a 4-3 overtime win over the Devils yesterday. The Predators committed five penalties in the game, conceding two power play goals.
Ryan Johansen was the top goalscorer for the Predators with two goals. Juuse Saros allowed three goals on 28 shots against (.892%) in the win.New York (15-9-0) fell 3-1 to the Flyers on Tuesday. Noah Dobson was the only player to score for the Islanders. Ilya Sorokin saved 30 of 32 shots (.937%) in the loss.
HEAD TO HEAD
The Predators won the first meeting between the teams this season, a 5-4 victory in November, their eighth straight win against New York. Roman Josi led Nashville with four points (0G 4A). Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Adam Pelech each had two points (1G 1A) to lead New York. Saros got the win despite saving only 29 of 33 shots (.878%).
FACING OFF
Nashville is averaging just 2.59 goals per game for the season, 29th in the NHL. The visitors will face a difficult challenge against an Islanders team that is allowing only 2.58 goals a game (5th). Meanwhile, New York has found the net 3.25 times a game on average, 13th in the league, and the Predators are allowing opponents to score 3.09 goals per game (15th).
The Predators’ 29th-ranked power play offense (15.85%) will face a tough test against the Islanders, who are the league’s fourth-best penalty killing team (83.33%). New York, meanwhile, has scored on 23.61% of their power play opportunities (11th), which the home team will be looking to add to against Nashville’s 17th-ranked 79.22% penalty killing rate.
TOP PERFORMERS:
With 20 points this season, Filip Forsberg is the top skater for the Predators. He has seven goals and 13 assists in 22 games. In the net, Saros (8-6-2) is Nashville’s top goaltender. He has a 2.92 GAA and a .910% save percentage.
Mathew Barzal leads the Islanders in scoring with 26 points. He has two goals and 24 assists (2nd) in 24 games. Sorokin (10-6-0) has the best goals against average for New York at 2.18, fourth-best in the league. He has a save percentage of .933%, second-best.
HOME AND AWAY
Nashville is 4-6-0 away from Bridgestone Arena this season. New York has won three in a row at UBS Arena this season.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Nashville Predators (+140)
Want up to a $1K risk free bet for this pick?
Claim with 
today!
If you need more news, information and predictions, head over to our NHL hub page for all your hockey needs!
*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
