With back-to-back wins at home, the Nashville Predators improved to 14-6 in postseason play this year. The Predators can take the lead in this series for the first time with a road win over the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 5 on Thursday night.
Predators vs. Penguins 2017, Stanley Cup Final odds: Nashville set as underdog for Game 5
The Nashville Predators will try to extend their winning streak to three with a victory in Pittsburgh against the Penguins in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday.
Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports
Nashville is a +135 road underdog in Pittsburgh at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. The Penguins will try to regain control of this series as -155 favorites at home.
Nashville Predators
The Predators outplayed Pittsburgh for large stretches of the game in both of the first two games of this series, but Matt Murray outplayed Pekka Rinne in between the pipes. Things were reversed in Nashville as Rinne stopped 50 of the 52 shots he faced and Murray was torched for eight goals on 58 shots in Nashville’s 5-1 and 4-1 victories.
Whether the momentum in this series has shifted or whether home ice is having this strong of an effect on the outcome is a question that will be answered in Game 5.
In seven games against the Penguins in Pittsburgh since 2012, the Predators are 1-6 straight up and on the puckline, per the OddsShark NHL Database. Nashville has lost each of its last four road games in Pittsburgh.
Betting Line / Total: Pittsburgh -155 / 5.5 Goals
Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh is one of the best teams in the NHL at ending losing streaks. The Penguins are 16-3 in their last 19 games when coming off two or more losses. Due to their superior record in the regular season, the Penguins don’t need to win a road game in this series to repeat as Stanley Cup champions.
With an 11-3 record in their last 14 home games and plenty of playoff experience in this locker room, confidence shouldn’t be an issue heading into Game 5 for this Penguins team.
Thursday night’s total is set at 5.5 goals. The OVER is 5-2 in the last seven games between these two teams in Pittsburgh.
The Stanley Cup Final has lived up to its billing as an evenly matched series despite the fact that all four games have been decided by two goals or more. The loser of this game will face elimination in Game 6 in Nashville, a scenario that the Penguins will be fighting desperately to avoid.
Nashville Predators at Pittsburgh Penguins
When: Thursday, June 8, 8:00 p.m. ET
Where: PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, Penn.
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