On Friday, a matinee NHL game will be held as part of the Global Series, featuring the Pittsburgh Penguins facing off against the Nashville Predators in Stockholm, Sweden, with a start time of 2:00 PM ET. The NHL Network will broadcast the game. Both teams include several Swedish players, and they will meet again on Sunday. Nashville is considered the official home team today and is favored slightly as underdogs at +105, with a total of 6.5 goals predicted. The game has stakes and player prop bets available.
New users at bet365 can receive $200 in bonus bets after placing their first wager of $5 or more, regardless of the outcome.
It’s essential to note which team is the home team in hockey, especially at neutral sites, as the home team gets the final line change. This strategic advantage partly explains why Nashville is valued at +1 in the betting.
Pittsburgh started the season well with 21 points in 17 games. However, the chances of winning a Stanley Cup with veterans Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang have diminished. Despite this, Crosby (11 goals, 8 assists) and Malkin (3 goals, 18 assists) remain strong performers, with Crosby favored to score today at +165 points, just ahead of Nashville’s Filip Forsberg (+170).
Although the Penguins are seen as a long shot with +20,000 odds to win the Cup, Nashville, with just 14 points in 18 games and near the bottom of the Central Division, faces even steeper odds at +10,000 and a +900 chance to make the playoffs.
The Penguins are coming off a tough stretch, losing two straight games and four of their last five. Key players such as goalie Tristan Jarry and forwards Rickard Rakell and Justin Brazeau are injured, so Arturs Silovs (record 4-2-3, 2.49 GAA, .916 save percentage) is expected to start in goal. Silovs has only lost once in regulation over his last seven starts.
Nashville is also dealing with internal issues, exemplified by Ryan O’Reilly’s recent public apology following a frustrating postgame outburst and rumors of major trades involving star player Steven Stamkos. Nevertheless, the Predators are healthier than the Penguins, missing only defenseman Roman Josi and forward Cole Smith. Jouse Saros (5-6-3, 3.11 GAA, .892 save percentage) will likely start in goal. Saros, from Finland, has struggled lately, winning only one of his last seven games with a 3.72 GAA and an .865 save percentage.
Historically, half of NHL games played outside North America end with a one-point difference or a tie, including all four games previously played in Sweden. Last season, Pittsburgh swept Nashville, with Crosby contributing two goals and four assists.
According to SportsLine’s prediction model, Nashville has a 53% chance of winning based on simulations. Filip Forsberg, a native Swede, is particularly motivated to score on home ice, which is a genuine home venue for him. Notably, all of Forsberg’s seven goals this season have been scored in home games.
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Fan Take: This matchup is significant for hockey fans as it highlights the global reach of the NHL and showcases talented Swedish players in a unique international setting. The outcome could influence team momentum and player confidence, making it a key series to watch as both teams navigate challenging seasons.
