The Nashville Predators, dealing with a banged-up defense and subpar road form, head into tonight's matchup against the Anaheim Ducks with a clear disadvantage. The Predators are 16-16-7 on the road this season, while the Ducks have been robust at home, posting a 23-12-3 record. The Predators are without much margin for error, particularly given their recent scoring struggles on the road, where they average 2.96 goals per game. That's a full .27 goals per game less than the Ducks' 3.23 at the Honda Center.
Anaheim's offense has been clicking, with Cutter Gauthier leading the charge before his current injury; his 38 goals are a team high, and his absence will certainly be felt. Filip Forsberg has been Nashville's top scorer, with 72 points (37G, 35A), but the Predators' defense has allowed 29.5 shots per game on the road, a worrisome trend against an Anaheim team that averages 30.5 shots per game at home. With the Ducks favored by -1.5 and the total set at 6.5, bettors will need to decide if Nashville can keep this one close or if Anaheim's firepower will prevail. Make your pick or follow the discussion on StreakChat.