Hockey fans can look forward to an exciting NHL matchup on Friday as the Pittsburgh Penguins take on the Nashville Predators in the Global Series, set to drop the puck at 2 p.m. ET from Stockholm, Sweden. The game will be broadcasted on the NHL Network, and both teams feature notable Swedish players, adding to the significance of the match. The Predators, being the designated home team, are slight underdogs with odds of +105 against a total of 6.5 goals.
In terms of betting insights, many are leaning towards Nashville with a player prop highlighting Filip Forsberg as an anytime goalscorer at +170. The reasoning behind this includes the strategic advantage of being the home team, which allows the Preds to have the last line change.
Pittsburgh has shown promise early in the season, accumulating 21 points in 17 games. However, the team’s Stanley Cup aspirations appear uncertain, particularly for their veteran stars Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang. Despite their age, Crosby has been performing admirably, leading with 11 goals and eight assists this season. In contrast, the Penguins are longshots to claim the championship at +20000, while Nashville’s odds are slightly better at +10000, although they find themselves at the bottom of the Central Division standings with only 14 points from 18 games.
Recent struggles have plagued both teams. The Penguins have lost two consecutive games and four of their last five, compounded by a string of injuries to key players, including goalie Tristan Jarry and forward Rickard Rakell. Arturs Silovs is expected to start in goal, bringing a solid record of only one regulation loss in his past seven starts.
On the flip side, the Predators are facing challenges of their own, entering this game on a five-game losing streak amid team turmoil, including Ryan O’Reilly’s recent public apology for a postgame outburst and trade rumors surrounding veteran players like Steven Stamkos. Nashville’s lineup is healthier than Pittsburgh’s, with the exception of defenseman Roman Josi and forward Cole Smith. Although goaltender Juuse Saros is expected to start, he’s been in a slump, struggling recently with a GAA of 3.72 and only one win in his last seven appearances.
Historically, games played outside North America tend to be closely contested, with half of all such matchups ending in one-goal margins or ties. The Penguins previously swept the Predators last season, with Crosby notably contributing two goals and four assists in those matchups. According to the SportsLine Projection Model, Nashville is favored to win in 53% of simulations, while Forsberg’s motivation to score during this homecoming could be a turning point to watch in this intriguing encounter.