The NHL action continues with an 11-game slate on Thursday, March 16, including this divisional battle, so make sure you don’t miss out on the best Blackhawks vs. Predators betting pick and odds.

Nashville is looking for the fourth straight win when they host Chicago at Bridgestone Arena. The Predators are -200 moneyline favorites on Bovada Sportsbook, while the total is set at 6 goals. These Central Division foes will meet for the third time this season; the Predators lead the series 2-0.

Blackhawks surprised the Bruins in Chicago

The Chicago Blackhawks (23-38-4-2, 32-35 ATS) lost seven of their previous nine games. The Blackhawks returned home from a three-game road trip on which they suffered three defeats but responded with a shocking 6-3 victory against the best team in the NHL – the Boston Bruins. It was Chicago’s best offensive performance of the campaign as they scored a season-high six goals, and this win helped the Blackhawks to move up from the bottom of the Western Conference. Chicago will now spend the next five games on the road.

The Blackhawks were 3-2 down early in the third period but then scored four unanswered goals to celebrate an unlikely 6-3 win. Boris Katchouk and Taylor Raddysh (three goals) led the hosts with three points apiece, and Chicago managed to win despite having 29 shots opposite Boston’s 42. This year, the Blackhawks don’t have even one player among the top 100 in the NHL when it comes to points. Taylor Raddysh leads the team in that segment with 33 points (G 20, A 13).

Alex Stalock (8-8-1) is likely going to take his place in the cage against the Predators on Thursday. The 35-year-old is allowing 2.80 goals per game this season along with a .918 SV% and two shutouts.

C Jonathan Toews (illness), D Jarred Tinordi (lower body), and C Colin Blackwell (groin) are out indefinitely. G Petr Mrazek (groin) is questionable to face Nashville on Thursday.

Predators edged the Red Wings at home

The Nashville Predators (34-24-5-2, 31-34 ATS) came back home from a six-game road trip with four wins, including two in a row against the Kings and Ducks, both of which came in overtime/shootout. The Predators opened their three-game homestay with a narrow 2-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings, and now they climbed up to 9th position in the Western Conference with 75 points, four behind the playoff places.

Nashville had just 16 shots opposite Detroit’s 29 but still managed to get a W. Juuse Saros registered 28 saves, while Kiefer Sherwood and Thomas Novak scored for the hosts and helped them get that victory. Roman Josi is the Predators’ top point producer this season with 58 (G 17, A 41) and Matt Duchene has 51 points (G 19, A 32).

Juuse Saros (26-18-6) is expected to start at the goal against the Blackhawks on Thursday. The 27-year-old is conceding 2.75 goals per contest this year with a .918 SV% and one shutout.

C Ryan Johansen (leg), D Mark Borowiecki (upper body), LW Filip Forsberg (knee), and C Juuso Parssinen (upper body) are out indefinitely. D Ryan McDonagh (upper body) is questionable to feature on Thursday against the Blackhawks.

Trends:

Chicago:

  • 1-5 in the last six games playing on one day of rest
  • 13-51 in the last 64 vs. a team with a winning record
  • 11-41 in the last 52 vs. Central Division rivals

Nashville:

  • 8-3 in the last 11 overall
  • 6-2 in the last eight vs. Western Conference opponents
  • 5-0 in the last five after scoring two goals or less in their previous game

Chicago Blackhawks vs. Nashville Predators Pick

Chicago lost each of the last five road games and lost both H2H duels to the Preds this season. Nashville is a better team in every segment and I am backing the hosts to get a comfortable win on Thursday. Although the Predators’ offense is not very efficient, it is still scoring more goals than the Blackhawks, who have the worst offense in the NHL. Nashville is averaging 2.88 goals per game opposite Chicago’s 2.52 goals per contest, while the Predators are allowing 2.82 gpg opposite the Blackhawks’ 3.54 gpg.

Pick: Take the Predators at -1.5 Puck Line (+107)

The Total

Two H2H encounters produced ten goals in total and we saw no more than six goals per game. I don’t think that will change when the rivals meet on Thursday. I mentioned Chicago’s low-scoring offense, but the Predators are also not an efficient team in terms of scoring goals, so another low-scoring affair is on the cards. Under is 6-2 in the Predators’ last eight overall; Under is 5-2-1 in Nashville’s previous eight after scoring two goals or less in their last game, while Under is 4-0 in the Predators’ last four when their opponent scores five goals or more in their previous game.

Pick: Go Under 6 goals (-110)