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Posted at 10:00 AM EST. Odds are subject to change.

Nashville +142 over Ottawa 

7:00 PM EST. We are going with Nashville tonight against Ottawa, a team that may want to check its calendar before checking into the rink. The Senators are coming through a rough stretch of the schedule, playing their second game in three days and their fourth in six. That is a lot of hockey in a short period, and sooner or later somebody's legs are going to start filing a formal complaint. The NHL is not exactly a league where you can coast through a game on fumes and expect to collect two points.

Nashville needs to make Ottawa earn every inch of ice. Keep the game honest, stay aggressive on the puck, and make the Senators work for their chances. The longer Ottawa has to grind through another demanding night, the more attractive this spot becomes for the Predators. We are not asking Nashville to reinvent hockey here. Just bring a solid effort, take advantage of a team with a busy itinerary, and let the schedule do some of the heavy lifting.

Everybody loves a home team, but home ice does not come with an extra set of legs or a complimentary oxygen tank. Ottawa has a tough assignment, and we are happy to make the Senators prove they have enough gas left in the tank. We will take Nashville to make the most of the opportunity and get the job done.

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