PREMIUM
Stephen Nover's NHL Wednesday Top Ticket
(NHL) Nashville vs. Anaheim,
Money Line: 105.00 Anaheim (Home)
Result: Win
Money Line: 105.00 Anaheim (Home)
Result: Win
I understand Anaheim is having trouble scoring goals and may not have Ryan Getzlaf. It's a nice bonus if Getzalf plays, but I like the Ducks even if he doesn't suit up. I'm not buying Nashville as a road favorite here.
The Predators have played four of their six games at home. They are making the long trek West to face a desperate foe that has had this game circled ever since the Predators eliminated them in seven games in the playoffs last season.
Nashville last played this past Saturday. They defeated the defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins in convincing style despite a number of their players dealing with food poisoning, including goalie Pekka Rinne and captain Mike Fisher. It was a gutty, tremendous win for the Predators. It also came four days ago. That's too long to play between games. I envision the Predators being rusty and less intense for this game than the Ducks.
It also remains to be seen if Rinne and others are completely over their food poisoning. I suffered food poisoning last year and it took me nearly a week before I was 100 percent again. Rinne probably lost weight due to the food poisoning and won't be 100 percent. The Predators recalled a couple of minor league players to make the trip perhaps signalling that all of their players are not completely well.
Nashville is 0-2 on the road this season. Going back to last season, the Predators have dropped six in a row away from home. The Predators have scored 60 percent of their goals off power plays. Anaheim is a top-seven defensive team that commits few penalties and doesn't figure to get called for a lot of penalties at home. The Ducks are a strong penalty killing unit. I haven't seen the Predators generate much when not having a man advantage.
The Ducks are 2-4 in their last six games. All of those losses were by one goal with two defeats occurring in overtime. The Sharks nipped the Ducks, 2-1, last night in San Jose. Anaheim is 5-1 the past six times when playing with zero rest.
This is just the Ducks' second home game of the season. The spot is right for them to get a much needed victory.
The Predators have played four of their six games at home. They are making the long trek West to face a desperate foe that has had this game circled ever since the Predators eliminated them in seven games in the playoffs last season.
Nashville last played this past Saturday. They defeated the defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins in convincing style despite a number of their players dealing with food poisoning, including goalie Pekka Rinne and captain Mike Fisher. It was a gutty, tremendous win for the Predators. It also came four days ago. That's too long to play between games. I envision the Predators being rusty and less intense for this game than the Ducks.
It also remains to be seen if Rinne and others are completely over their food poisoning. I suffered food poisoning last year and it took me nearly a week before I was 100 percent again. Rinne probably lost weight due to the food poisoning and won't be 100 percent. The Predators recalled a couple of minor league players to make the trip perhaps signalling that all of their players are not completely well.
Nashville is 0-2 on the road this season. Going back to last season, the Predators have dropped six in a row away from home. The Predators have scored 60 percent of their goals off power plays. Anaheim is a top-seven defensive team that commits few penalties and doesn't figure to get called for a lot of penalties at home. The Ducks are a strong penalty killing unit. I haven't seen the Predators generate much when not having a man advantage.
The Ducks are 2-4 in their last six games. All of those losses were by one goal with two defeats occurring in overtime. The Sharks nipped the Ducks, 2-1, last night in San Jose. Anaheim is 5-1 the past six times when playing with zero rest.
This is just the Ducks' second home game of the season. The spot is right for them to get a much needed victory.
