Face-off: 1900 ET, 19/03/2022
Arena: Bridgestone Arena
Nashville and Toronto are both involved in fierce battles for a top-three finish in their respective divisions and a tight tussle is expected.
Home advantage may just prove crucial, though, as the Predators are playing well at Bridgestone Arena and the Maple Leafs need to improve on the road.
The hosts are rated a value bet as slight underdogs at 2.05 on the money line in our Nashville Predators vs Toronto Maple Leafs predictions.
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Nashville Predators Odds
Nashville were shaded 5-4 at Philadelphia last time out but had won five of their previous six fixtures, including three from four here.
The Predators led 4-3 early on in the third period when visiting the Flyers, only to concede at 15:45 and 18:41.
Head coach John Hynes wasn’t happy with that display, stating: “It wasn’t at the standard that we need to play with here.
“We have an identity and commitment level that we need to play with.
“We talk about icing the game and that gives us the best way to win, regardless of who we play, but we weren’t at that level tonight.”
As previously stated, the performances at this venue have been sharper of late, though, with Anaheim and Pittsburgh both beaten 4-1 in the last couple here.
This promises to be closer, but 12.0 for the Predators to prevail 3-2 catches the eye from the NHL odds.
Toronto Maple Leafs Odds
Toronto picked up a couple of timely triumphs this week by thumping Dallas 4-0 and then edging out Carolina 3-2.
Rookie Swedish goalie Erik Kallgren was superb in both victories and is already earning rave reviews after just two NHL starts.
Kallgren made 35 saves against the Stars and 34 more versus the Hurricanes, with Ilya Mikheyev, Mitchell Marner and Ondrej Kase netting in the last match.
Kase said of Kallgren: “I know he had a shutout first up, but I think in this game he played unbelievably.
“I think this game was so much harder for him. It was physical. Carolina is a great team and there’s not so much space on the ice.”
The Maple Leafs will now have star center Auston Matthews back from suspension but their recent form on the road is still nagging away at us.
Last Sunday’s 5-2 defeat at Buffalo made it just four wins from nine on their travels, so there is plenty to prove here.
Only three teams have conceded fewer first-period goals than Nashville and 2.25 for them to keep a clean sheet in the opening stanza completes our NHL predictions.
Additional stats
Last result:
Philadelphia 5-4 NASHVILLE
TORONTO 3-2 Carolina
Season head-to-head: Toronto 3-0 Nashville
