ESPN+ Hockey Night offers an exciting NHL matchup for bettors to tune in to see, with the Nashville Predators (40-25-4) and Florida Panthers (45-19-4) battling it out for the second time this season on Thursday, March 21 at 7:30 PM ET. ZenSports Tennessee sportsbook has the Panthers slightly favored with a moneyline at -187.
When: March 21, 2023 at 7:30 PM ET
Where: Amerant Bank Center in Sunrise, Florida
Watch: Hulu|ESPN+
Nashville Predators Preview
The Predators seek to keep their win streak alive as they face a tough road test. They are currently on a three-game win streak, with their most recent triumph being an 8-2 thrashing over the San Jose Sharks.
They handed four goals unanswered in the third period to close out their game over the Sharks, with a variety of players scoring throughout. One of them that scored was Filip Forsberg, who currently leads the team with 74 points and 36 goals.
The Predators’ offensive continues to improve as the season progresses, as they are averaging 3.26 goals per game on 31.5 shots attempted. Their power play percentage has hovered around 19.9 for most of the season, as they have scored 46 goals while giving up a total of 49 in return.
On defense, they have steadily improved to giving up just 2.99 goals on 30.1 shots, which is a good sign of their effort on this end. Their penalty kill efficiency does come in a bit lower than the Panthers’ at 76.4, which could cause some issues.
Florida Panthers Preview
The Panthers need to get back on track quickly, as they have lost their last two games. Their previous defeat was a 5-3 showing against the Tampa Bay Lightning, ironically also part of the ESPN+ Hockey Night Event.
The biggest difference in their performance against the Lighting was the first period, as they were unable to score any goals and allowed them to land two. They will need to rely on Sam Reinhart to lead them early, as he currently leads the team with 79 points and 48 goals.
The Panthers have similar stats compared to the Predators. They are averaging 3.26 goals and take 33.9 shots a game. Their power play percentage comes in at 26.4, which gives them an edge when put in these positions.
Their defense has consistently been great, as they allow opposing teams to score 2.41 goals on 27.6 shot attempts. Their penalty kill percentage at 82.3 could provide an advantage here if the Predators fail to hold up their end.
Betting Odds
ZenSports Tennessee sportsbook has outstanding NHL betting options. The Florida Panthers are currently favored in this matchup, especially being at home where they are 21-10-2 on the season. Furthermore, the Predators are 21-10-3 on the road to combat the Panthers’ home record.
Nashville Predators: +151
Puck Line: +1.5 (-154)
Florida Panthers: -187
Puck Line: -1.5 (+125)
Total Goals: Over 6.5 (-110), Under 6.5 (-111)
Photo Credit: © Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
