by Chuck Sommers
Saturday, Feb 18, 2023
Time: 5 p.m. ET
Venue: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN
Where to watch: BSSO, BSFL
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Panthers -130, Predators +110
FanDuel: Panthers -132, Predators +108
BetMGM: Panthers -120, Predators +100
Caesars: Panthers -125, Predators +105
Season record
Panthers: 28-24-6
Predators: 25-21-6
The All-Star break is over, the second half of the NHL season can officially begin, and we're bound for what should be a very exciting second half of the hockey season. Basketball and hockey are about to rule the roost in the sports betting world once the Super Bowl is done with, and we should all be very excited for what's to come. When the trade deadline hits and players switch teams, you know things are about to get hectic over these final 30 games or so. One way you can stay tuned with the action is following what our champion handicappers are doing in the world of the NHL. Look at ASA, Inc., reeling in a $6,750 profit off a 17-9-0 run. Al McMordie is also doing well on the ice with a 13-5-0 run and a net profit of $6,050. Scott Rickenbach has also been hanging strong with a lot of betting action, in what's been an unusual year, with a 24-18-0 run and reeling in $5,950. You know this action is going to be great now that games are back and a busy second half if on the horizon. All you need to do is head to our BEST BETS page at bigal.com to find out all of what we're trying to tell you. Make sure you're locked in at bigal.com and go to our Best Bets page to find out what our champion handicappers have to say in the world of the NHL!
Panthers - Predators preview, prediction and analysis
Recent results
Panthers: won 6-3 at Capitals
Predators: lost 5-0 vs. Bruins
The Florida Panthers will be playing the Nashville Predators on Saturday, February 18 in Nashville, Tennessee.
The Florida Panthers won against the Washington Capitals last Thursday, February 16 at Capital One Arena in Washington with a score of 6-3. The Florida Panthers currently rank 4th in the Atlantic Division.
Anton Lundell had a goal and two assists in the Florida Panthers' 6-3 win against the Washington Capitals. Sergei Bobrovsky made 29 saves, and Marc Staal scored his first goal of the season for the Panthers (28-24-6), who have won five of their past seven games and rebounded from a 6-2 loss at the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday.
"You want to get back on your horse, and we were cooking right out of the gate," Florida coach Paul Maurice said. "Got off to a lead, which was good for us in a lot of ways. Mentally, you get to put the last game behind you and focus on tonight."
Staal had not scored since March 15, 2022, against the Edmonton Oilers while with the Detroit Red Wings.
"It felt good," Staal said. "I'm not that stressed about it, I don't really think about it, but the boys were pretty pumped up for me, so it was nice to get. Nice to get one and get the momentum going for us."
Gustav Forsling gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead when he scored on a wrist shot from the top of the left face-off circle at 9:10 of the first period. Staal scored on a slap shot from the point at 1:32 of the second period to make it 2-0.
Moments after Bobrovsky made a point-blank save on Lars Eller, Colin White got behind the Washington defense, received a pass from Lundell on the rush and lifted a backhand past Kuemper to make it 3-0 at 7:20.
"It was a great play by 'Lundy,'" White said. "He found me there, end of a shift. I was lucky enough to beat [Kuemper] on the far side."
Strome pulled the Capitals within 3-1 when he deflected T.J. Oshie's point shot past Bobrovsky at 15:51, but Aleksander Barkov gave Florida a 4-1 lead at 17:03, keeping the puck on a 2-on-1 rush and scoring with a no-look shot through the five-hole.
"We slowed it down and watched it a whole bunch of times. His head never checks his shoulder," Maurice said. "But he's done that too many times to ever call it lucky. It was incredible. Huge goal for us. To go in with a three-goal cushion instead of two is important."
The Panthers had 20 shots on goal in the second period.
Nicklas Backstrom's shot deflected off Staal's stick and between Bobrovsky's pads for a power-play goal that pulled Washington within 4-2 at 13:04 of the third period. Evgeny Kuznetsov knocked in a loose puck on a power play to cut it to 4-3 at 17:28, but Lundell (18:39) and Sam Reinhart (19:45) each scored into an empty net for the 6-3 final.
The Florida Panthers have won five of their last 10 games.
The Nashville Predators lost against the Boston Bruins last Thursday, February 16 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee with a score of 5-0. The Nashville Predators currently rank 5th in the Central Division.
Juuse Saros made 25 saves for the Predators (25-21-6), who have lost three of four since the All-Star break and have been outscored 15-5.
"I think there was a [lack] of execution out there by us," Nashville defenseman Ryan McDonagh said. "We see a lot of missed passes, some odd-man rushes that we'd like to generate something and we don't. There's a willingness and a price to pay if you want to win in this league. Certainly [the Bruins were] doing it throughout the game."
"To be honest, we came in the room after the second and we were all embarrassed [with] what was happening out there," Predators captain Roman Josi said. "It definitely wasn't enough. It was a 5-0 game, so there wasn't enough pushback."
The Nashville Predators have won six of their last 10 games.
Prediction
There's a lot of pressure coming from the Predators in that they need to figure out how to get some wins before the trade deadline rolls some heads. Panthers 5, Predators 2
The Florida Panthers will be playing the Nashville Predators on Saturday, February 18 in Nashville, Tennessee.
The Florida Panthers won against the Washington Capitals last Thursday, February 16 at Capital One Arena in Washington with a score of 6-3. The Florida Panthers currently rank 4th in the Atlantic Division.
Anton Lundell had a goal and two assists in the Florida Panthers' 6-3 win against the Washington Capitals. Sergei Bobrovsky made 29 saves, and Marc Staal scored his first goal of the season for the Panthers (28-24-6), who have won five of their past seven games and rebounded from a 6-2 loss at the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday.
"You want to get back on your horse, and we were cooking right out of the gate," Florida coach Paul Maurice said. "Got off to a lead, which was good for us in a lot of ways. Mentally, you get to put the last game behind you and focus on tonight."
Staal had not scored since March 15, 2022, against the Edmonton Oilers while with the Detroit Red Wings.
"It felt good," Staal said. "I'm not that stressed about it, I don't really think about it, but the boys were pretty pumped up for me, so it was nice to get. Nice to get one and get the momentum going for us."
Gustav Forsling gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead when he scored on a wrist shot from the top of the left face-off circle at 9:10 of the first period. Staal scored on a slap shot from the point at 1:32 of the second period to make it 2-0.
Moments after Bobrovsky made a point-blank save on Lars Eller, Colin White got behind the Washington defense, received a pass from Lundell on the rush and lifted a backhand past Kuemper to make it 3-0 at 7:20.
"It was a great play by 'Lundy,'" White said. "He found me there, end of a shift. I was lucky enough to beat [Kuemper] on the far side."
Strome pulled the Capitals within 3-1 when he deflected T.J. Oshie's point shot past Bobrovsky at 15:51, but Aleksander Barkov gave Florida a 4-1 lead at 17:03, keeping the puck on a 2-on-1 rush and scoring with a no-look shot through the five-hole.
"We slowed it down and watched it a whole bunch of times. His head never checks his shoulder," Maurice said. "But he's done that too many times to ever call it lucky. It was incredible. Huge goal for us. To go in with a three-goal cushion instead of two is important."
The Panthers had 20 shots on goal in the second period.
Nicklas Backstrom's shot deflected off Staal's stick and between Bobrovsky's pads for a power-play goal that pulled Washington within 4-2 at 13:04 of the third period. Evgeny Kuznetsov knocked in a loose puck on a power play to cut it to 4-3 at 17:28, but Lundell (18:39) and Sam Reinhart (19:45) each scored into an empty net for the 6-3 final.
The Florida Panthers have won five of their last 10 games.
The Nashville Predators lost against the Boston Bruins last Thursday, February 16 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee with a score of 5-0. The Nashville Predators currently rank 5th in the Central Division.
Juuse Saros made 25 saves for the Predators (25-21-6), who have lost three of four since the All-Star break and have been outscored 15-5.
"I think there was a [lack] of execution out there by us," Nashville defenseman Ryan McDonagh said. "We see a lot of missed passes, some odd-man rushes that we'd like to generate something and we don't. There's a willingness and a price to pay if you want to win in this league. Certainly [the Bruins were] doing it throughout the game."
"To be honest, we came in the room after the second and we were all embarrassed [with] what was happening out there," Predators captain Roman Josi said. "It definitely wasn't enough. It was a 5-0 game, so there wasn't enough pushback."
The Nashville Predators have won six of their last 10 games.
Prediction
There's a lot of pressure coming from the Predators in that they need to figure out how to get some wins before the trade deadline rolls some heads. Panthers 5, Predators 2
Betting trends
Panthers are 10-16 in non-conference games this season.
Panthers are 3-9 after winning by 3 goals or more this season.
Predators are 11-11 in non-conference games this season.
Projected lines
Panthers:
Anton Lundell -- Aleksander Barkov -- Sam Reinhart
Carter Verhaeghe -- Eetu Luostarinen -- Matthew Tkachuk
Ryan Lomberg -- Eric Staal -- Nick Cousins
Grigori Denisenko -- Colin White -- Givani Smith
Gustav Forsling -- Aaron Ekblad
Marc Staal -- Brandon Montour
Josh Mahura -- Radko Gudas
Sergei Bobrovsky
Anton Lundell -- Aleksander Barkov -- Sam Reinhart
Carter Verhaeghe -- Eetu Luostarinen -- Matthew Tkachuk
Ryan Lomberg -- Eric Staal -- Nick Cousins
Grigori Denisenko -- Colin White -- Givani Smith
Gustav Forsling -- Aaron Ekblad
Marc Staal -- Brandon Montour
Josh Mahura -- Radko Gudas
Sergei Bobrovsky
Predators:
Mikael Granlund -- Ryan Johansen -- Matt Duchene
Nino Niederreiter -- Cody Glass -- Philip Tomasino
Yakov Trenin -- Colton Sissons -- Tanner Jeannot
Cole Smith -- Tommy Novak -- Juuso Parssinen
Ryan McDonagh -- Roman Josi
Mattias Ekholm -- Jeremy Lauzon
Kevin Gravel -- Dante Fabbro
Juuse Saros
Mikael Granlund -- Ryan Johansen -- Matt Duchene
Nino Niederreiter -- Cody Glass -- Philip Tomasino
Yakov Trenin -- Colton Sissons -- Tanner Jeannot
Cole Smith -- Tommy Novak -- Juuso Parssinen
Ryan McDonagh -- Roman Josi
Mattias Ekholm -- Jeremy Lauzon
Kevin Gravel -- Dante Fabbro
Juuse Saros
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
