Nashville Predators vs Chicago Blackhawks Prediction, 4/21/2021 NHL Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Nashville Predators vs Chicago Blackhawks

Date: Wednesday, April 21, 2021

Location: United Center in Chicago, IL

TV: NBCSN

Odds/Point Spread: Predators (-122) Blackhawks (+102)

Juuse Saros and the Nashville Predators (25-21-1) go to United Center on Wednesday where they'll take on the Chicago Blackhawks (21-20-5). The Blackhawks open this contest at +102 while the Predators are coming in at -122. The O/U has been set at 5.5.

The Predators were on the right side of the scoreboard with a 5-2 win against the Blackhawks in their last game. Their offensive zone starts were at 28.7% and their PDO rating was 116.4 for this game. They garnered 22 face-off wins at even strength and were beaten on 19 opportunities to gain puck control. Their Fenwick was 30 and the Fenwick Against sat at 37, giving them a Fenwick percentage of 44.8%. The Corsi for the Predators was sitting at 36 and the Corsi against when this game finished was 51 which means they had a Corsi rate of 41.4%. Nashville compiled 10 penalty minutes in this matchup. Moreover, they had 5 attempts on the power play but weren't able to net one. The Predators had a solid offensive performance in the win. In the game, they converted 5 out of the 30 shots they attempted.

Nashville Predators opponents have recorded 148 power play opportunities (3rd in pro hockey) and have tallied 37 goals in those chances. The Predators have had 1,459 shots attempted against them and hold a save percentage of .910. Nashville has taken 1,393 shots and is the owner of a shooting percentage of 8.7%. At even strength, the Predators let the opposition score 95 goals while getting 96 themselves. Nashville is sitting with 137 power play chances and they have scored 25 goals during those advantages, giving them a rate of 18.25%. For the season, they have accumulated 51 points and their points percentage is sitting at .543. In the matter of their scoring, the Nashville Predators have notched 121 goals (21st in the National Hockey League) for the year and have conceded 132.

The player guarding the cage in this matchup is Juuse Saros. Opponents have tallied 341 goals versus Saros in his pro hockey career and his average for goals against per game is 2.50. Saros has been in net for 147 games over the course of his hockey career. His save percentage currently is at .920 for his 8,194 minutes in the crease. He has accumulated a win-loss record of 71-45-16 and he started in 131 games. In his career, Saros has tallied 80 quality starts and his percentage for quality starts is .611. Saros has seen 4,269 shots against him and has recorded 3,928 saves.

In their loss to Nashville, Chicago had a 58.6% Corsi rate. This Corsi rating tells us the kind of game Chicago played and you could say that they have had better days on the ice. Their Fenwick percentage came in at 55.2% by accumulating a Fenwick of 37 and the Predators ending the game with a 30 Fenwick. Their PDO was 84 and they finished the game with an oZS percentage of 71.3%. The Blackhawks converted 2 goals of the 32 shots on goal they tried. They had 5 power play opportunities in this one and earned 1 out of those opportunities.

For the year, the Chicago Blackhawks have earned 127 goals, 47 points, in addition to a points percentage of .511. They have permitted 142 goals to be scored by of a combination of 111 goals at even strength and 31 goals while they were shorthanded. The Blackhawks have racked up 93 goals at even strength and 34 goals (7th in professional hockey) while having more men on the ice. They have recorded 144 opportunities on the power play and they have earned a power play rate of 23.61%. Chicago has taken 1,351 shots (14th in pro hockey) and has accumulated a shot percentage of 9.40%, while allowing the opposition 1,517 shots. They have recorded a penalty kill rate of 75.78% on the other teams 128 opportunities on the power play, and their save percentage comes in at 90.6%.

For the opposition you will find Kevin Lankinen defending the goal. Lankinen has accumulated a lifetime record of 16-13-4 and has played in 33 games. Lankinen's percentage of quality starts comes out to 54.5% and he has earned 18 quality starting assignments in his hockey career. He has tallied 978 stops out of 1,073 shots taken, which gives him a save % of .911. His opponents are averaging 2.89 goals per contest and he has relinquished 95 goals overall. He got the starting nod in 33 contests and has been on the ice for 1,975 minutes.

Who will win tonight's NHL game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Nashville (-122)

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