Welcome back to the return of NHL Predictions. Each day, Last Word on Hockey takes a look at the games that are happening and gives our predictions for each one, breaking down head-to-head matchups and other factors that may play in. We also have a featured game of the day, which is considered must-watch TV. Today’s featured game is the Nashville Predators vs Chicago Blackhawks. Be sure to check out more NHL predictions in the coming days as the 2024-25 season continues.
NHL Predictions
Nashville Predators vs Chicago Blackhawks
Time: 8:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
TV: ESPN+; Hulu
Our one game of this round of NHL predictions has the Predators visiting the United Center. Both teams are struggling in the early-part of the season. Nashville finally got a big victory over the Boston Bruins. Chicago has dropped two games in a row.
Many thought this would be another rebuilding season for the Blackhawks, so expectations aren’t that high. However, the Predators made some big splashes in free agency, but yet to have hit their stride.
We’ll take a look at the key players and some prop bets for this early-season Central Division game. Let’s dive into those things in this edition of NHL predictions.
The Predators Story
Things haven’t gone right in this early portion of the season for Nashville. Juuse Saros is the expected starter for the Predators, but always check social media before locking in a fantasy start. Saros is 1-4 with a 2.89 goals-against-average and .903 save percentage.
Scoring has been a problem for the Predators, as they are 28th in goals scored with 2.33 per game. However, defence has also been a problem as they’ve given up 3.83 per game.
Tommy Novak is the team’s leader in goals with three while Ryan O’Reilly and Filip Forsberg are tied for first in points with six. Nashville hopes that Tuesday’s win is the first step to get back on track.
The Blackhawks Story
Chicago lost to the Vancouver Canucks last time out. The Blackhawks did also make some free agent moves, but they were nowhere near what the Predators did.
Petr Mrazek is the likely starter for Chicago and is 2-3 with a 3.24 GAA and .887 save percentage. The Czech goalie has struggled to keep pucks out of the net in the first couple weeks of the season.
Teuvo Teravainen is tied for first in goals with Nick Foligno. The Finn is tied with Connor Bedard and Seth Jones with seven points.
Prediction
Both teams have struggled to score and keep goals off the board. However, Nashville seems to be a little bit more equipped to break out of its early-season funk.
The Predators have a little more firepower with players like Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Roman Josi on their roster. Chicago may have players like Bedard on the team-sheet, but the roster is a little bit thinner when it comes to scoring.
Saros is also more equipped to get on a run and stop shots. The Finnish netminder is a former Vezina Trophy nominee and is just coming off a shutout against the Bruins.
Prediction: Predators win 4-1.
Prop Bets of the Night
We’ll close out NHL predictions with some prop bets to help make the game a little more exciting. On the Nashville side, go with Forsberg as a goalscorer. He’s getting +550 as a first goalscorer, +600 as the last and +125 to get a goal at any time at Bet365.
For Chicago, Teravainen is getting some really good goal-scorer odds for this game. At Bet365, he’s getting +1100 as a first goalscorer and +240 as an anytime scorer.
Main photo by: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images
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