Flyers vs Predators Odds
Flyers Odds | +118 |
Predators Odds | -142 |
Over / Under | 6.5 +100/ -122 |
Here's everything you need to know about Flyers vs. Predators on Tuesday, Dec. 12 – our expert NHL preview and prediction.
Both teams enter this contest in great form, with Philadelphia winning each of its past four games and Nashville winning four of its past five.
Will the Predators defend their home ice, or can the Flyers extend their winning streak to five games?
Let's dig into the NHL odds and make a Flyers vs Predators prediction.
Goaltender Carter Hart has been a massive part of Philadelphia's success. Hart, who is expected to start Tuesday, is 9-6-1 with a .919 SV% and a 2.42 GAA through 17 starts this season.
Entering this contest in particularly good form, he is 3-0 with a .958 SV% and a 1.30 GAA over this past three starts. That success is likely to continue against Nashville, a team Hart is 3-0-1 against with a commanding .935 SV% and a 2.00 GAA in his career.
Making Hart's job easier is the fact that the Flyers are playing as one of the best two-way teams in the league right now. At 5-on-5, they rank fifth in expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60).
The offense is also due for some positive regression as Philadelphia ranks 20th in goals scored per game, but 14th in expected goals for per 60 minutes (xGF/60) at 5-on-5.
In terms of the underlying metrics, Nashville doesn't look as good as Philadelphia on paper. At 5-on-5, the Predators rank 11th in expected goal differential per 60 minutes.
That is a very strong ranking, but it's still four spots lower than the Flyers. Meanwhile, a lot of the Predators' goal production has come on special teams.
The man-advantage won't be as big of an advantage against Philadelphia as the Flyers rank fifth in penalty kill percentage. Another factor to consider in this game is the goaltending matchup as Juuse Saros is slated to guard the cage for Nashville.
While I think Saros is the stronger netminder overall, Hart has been seeing the puck better this season. Through 22 starts, Saros boasts a .908 SV% and a 2.83 GAA.
Again, those are very strong marks, but Hart has him beat.
Flyers vs Predators
Betting Pick & Prediction
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Over his past four starts against Philadelphia, Saros is 2-2 with a .876 SV% and a 3.31 GAA.
If the Predators are in a game where Saros doesn't have the upper-hand in net, and the power play is neutralized, they're likely in trouble. Both teams have been playing well and this is certainly a game that could go either way, but at +118, I'm going to back Philadelphia in this spot every time.
That number is available via FanDuel and is the best price on the market at the moment.