Stars vs Predators Series Price: Nashville Heavy Favorite After Game 3 Win
- Nashville leads Dallas 2-1 in their first-round playoff series
- The Predators have advanced beyond the first-round in each of the last three seasons
- Pekka Rinne ranks in the top-four in the playoffs in both Goals Against Average & Save Percentage
Momentum in a seven-game playoff series is a real thing and right now the Nashville Predators have it all in their series with the Dallas Stars.
2019 NHL Series Odds: Dallas vs Nashville
| Which team will advance to Round 2? | Odds |
|---|---|
| Nashville Predators | -250 |
| Dallas Stars | +210 |
*odds taken 4/16
After winning the series opener, Dallas was briefly favored to upset Nashville. After winning Game 2 in OT (2-1) and then taking Game 3 in Big D (3-2), the Predators are now heavy favorites to advance, and they should be.
You can’t get them at the price that was available after Game 1, but there is still value in betting the Preds to advance.
Tonight’s recap via @RyanJohansen19:#StandWithUs | #NSHvDAL pic.twitter.com/4ucEEmH5Jo
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) April 16, 2019
Predators’ Experience is a Key Factor
The Predators have advanced beyond the first-round in each of the last three seasons, including a Stanley Cup finals appearance in 2017. This is a team that knows how to win in the playoffs, and now they have home-ice advantage back.
Even if they happen to lose Game 4, they will play two of the final three games on home ice, where they were 25-14-2 this season. Dallas, on the other hand, was just 19-18-4 on the road, tied for the second-fewest road wins among playoff teams.
The pass. The goal. ?#StandWithUs | #NSHvsDAL pic.twitter.com/5NrBvGqaVy
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) April 16, 2019
The Stars don’t have nearly the playoff experience of Nashville either. This is the first time in three years that they even made the postseason, and they have only advanced to round two once in the last decade.
Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin give them talent up front and Miro Heiskanen will be a great piece on the back end for years to come, but the reality is Dallas just doesn’t have the depth to erase a series deficit over a proven winner like the Predators.
Rinne Has Erased All Doubts
Pekka Rinne was a question mark coming into the series. He’s obviously an extremely talented goalie, but he’s had a checkered history in the playoffs. So far in the 2019 playoffs, he owns a 1.98 Goals Against Average (3rd-best) and a .936 Save Percentage (4th-best).
Having a solid presence between the pipes to go with a deep forward group and talented back end gives Nashville a roster, not only capable of winning this series, but going deep into the playoffs.
We just really aren't worthy.#StandWithUs | #NSHvsDAL pic.twitter.com/xlQh1ryGwR
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) April 16, 2019
With Rinne performing at an elite level, there is really nothing to suggest this team won’t close out this series. They have experience, they have the better roster, and they also have a great home record to rely on should this series reach a Game 7.
PICK: NASHVILLE PREDATORS (-250)
Ryan has been working at TSN for over eleven years, and is now a lead writer and content producer at That's Hockey. Over the years, he's launched and hosted TSN's first NCAAF podcast, The College Football Show, and been featured on the likes of TSN 1050, Sportscentre, and That's Hockey 2Nite.
