Today's Free Picks for
Posted at 2:00 PM EST. Odds subject to change.
Pinnacle +100 BET365 +100 Sportsinteraction +100 888Sport +100
Nashville +100 over Minnesota
8:07 PM EST. Nashville has lost two in a row and three of four but we’re not concerned in the least. The Preds are consistently consistent so don’t expect many long winning or losing streaks. The Nashville Predators are the epitome of a team that is a decent underdog but a risky favorite because they’re almost always a 50/50 proposition against teams slightly above or below them in the standings. Hiring Andrew Brunette came with the understanding the Predators would score goals, because that's what the Panthers did when Brunette was their interim coach for a season, and it's what the Devils did when he was an assistant. They've gone from averaging 2.72 goals per game last season to scoring 3.10 per contest this season but that comes with the caveat that the Preds allow 3.13 goals per game. Their differential of minus-0.03 is the tightest differential in the league; again proving how reliably consistent they are. However, this is more about sticking with our fade on the Wild.
Minnesota has won three in a row and has scored five goals or more in all three games. That’s not sustainable and neither is winning when playing poorly. Minnesota is not playing well despite the results. The Wild have also won four of its last five games but don’t put any emphasis on it because they were the second best team on the ice in all of them but one. Against Washington last game out, the scoring chances and shots on net favored the Caps but the final score did not. In back-to-back games against Carolina and Florida last weekend, the Wild were thoroughly dominated in both games, getting outchanced by a combined count of 56-24. They won both games. Bottom line here is that the Wild have run into a streak of weak goaltending performances and that is going to have to be the case on most nights because it’s a rare night when they outplay or outwork anyone. This is a weak favorite that is on an extremely lucky run, thus, we’ll keep fading the Wild when they’re favored like they are here.
Sherwood
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Our Pick
Nashville +100 (Risking 2 units - To Win: 2.00)