by Chuck Sommers
Tuesday, Feb 28, 2023
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: FLA Live Arena, Sunrise, FL
Where to watch: BSSO, BSFL
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Check back later for odds
FanDuel: Check back later for odds
BetMGM: Check back later for odds
Caesars: Check back later for odds
Season record (entering Tuesday)
Predators: 29-22-6
Panthers: 29-26-6
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!
Predators - Panthers preview, prediction and analysis
The Nashville Predators will be playing the Florida Panthers on Thursday, March 2 in Sunrise, Florida.
The Nashville Predators won against the Arizona Coyotes on Sunday, February 26 at Mullett Arena in Tempe, Arizona with a score of 6-2. The Nashville Predators currently rank 5th in the Central Division.
Roman Josi had two goals and an assist for the Nashville Predators. Tommy Novak and Matt Duchene each had a goal and two assists, Yakov Trenin and Cody Glass each had a goal and an assist, and Juuse Saros made 25 saves for the Predators (29-22-6), who have won three in a row and four of their past five games.
"That [win] was huge. We're still fighting here. We still believe that we can make the [Stanley Cup] Playoffs," Duchene said. "Hopefully we don't lose many more guys."
Forward Tanner Jeannot did not play due to trade-related reasons and was sent to the Tampa Bay Lightning for defenseman Cal Foote and five draft picks following the game. Juuso Parssinen, who was also a late scratch, is day to day with an upper-body injury.
"A big thing we talked about is just trying to make sure that we can control we can control," Nashville coach John Hynes said. "You can't do anything about the decisions that get made, but what we can do is try to have a strong focus level."
The Predators played with 10 forwards and seven defensemen.
"It was [a] tough game for the forwards," Josi said. "There's so much skating for them but they did an amazing job and battled hard and played hard. I'm very proud of this team."
Shayne Gostisbehere gave Arizona a 1-0 lead at 5:55 of the first period, scoring a short-handed goal on a partial breakaway off a give-and-go with Schmaltz. Trenin tied it 1-1 at 9:02. With Ingram out of position following a save near the left post on Philip Tomasino, Trenin had his rebound attempt go in off the skate of Coyotes defenseman Troy Stecher.
Duchene gave the Predators a 2-1 lead at 13:48, scoring off Ingram on a one-timer from the goal line off a backhand pass by Glass. Josi extended it to 3-1 at 2:39 of the second period with a wrist shot from the right face-off circle before Nick Schmaltz cut it to 3-2 at 7:27, scoring on a wrist shot from the slot.
Novak responded for Nashville to make it 4-2 at 3:28 of the third period when he jammed in a loose puck near the left post after the rebound by Mikael Granlund squeaked through Ingram.
Novak has 11 points (five goals, six assists) during a five-game point streak.
"I'm playing more, getting more puck touches," Novak said. "My confidence keeps going up … and we're finishing right now."
Josi made it 5-2 at 6:02 on a power play, scoring with a one-timer after receiving a no-look backhand pass by Novak from the left circle. Glass then scored from the right circle on another power play at 18:17 for the 6-2 final.
Nashville was 2-for-3 with the man-advantage. Arizona was 0-for-5.
Nashville was playing its first game without forward Nino Niederreiter, who was traded to the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday. Earlier Sunday, the team announced David Poile, who has been the Predators' general manager since July 9, 1997, will retire on June 30.
"It's been a really tough last 24 hours plus, that's for sure," Duchene said. "The win feels good, but I don't remember playing a game with my heart in my throat quite like that."
Duchene, who has played 961 NHL games, said it was the first time starting a game with only nine other forwards.
"I think the last time I played with 10 was high school hockey," he said.
The Nashville Predators have won six of their last 10 games as of February 27.
The Florida Panthers lost against the Buffalo Sabres last Friday, February 24 at FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Florida with a score of 3-1. The Florida Panthers currently rank 5th in the Atlantic Division.
Anthony Duclair had an assist in his season debut for the Panthers (29-26-6), who have alternated wins and losses in their past eight games. Sergei Bobrovsky made 30 saves.
Duclair had been on long term injured reserve while recovering from an Achilles injury in the offseason. He finished with four shots and five hits in 17:26 of ice time.
"I was just trying to find my legs in the first, felt better in the second and by the third I was pretty comfortable," Duclair said. "It was just a question of timing and finding chemistry. All in all, after being out for seven months, I think I should be proud of myself."
Buffalo scored two goals before Carter Verhaeghe cut it to 2-1 at 8:24 of the third period with a shot from the right face-off circle after taking a pass from Duclair.
"This was a huge home game and it is really disappointing to have the first two periods like that," Verhaeghe said. "It [stinks]. We're in a playoff push and there is nothing we can do about it now. We have to be ready moving forward."
Buffalo scored the final goal with a score of 3-1.
The Florida Panthers have won six of their last 10 games as of February 27.
Prediction
The Predators are still in sell mode days ahead of the trade deadline. Florida needs some pieces but it can still wallop over Nashville. Panthers 5, Predators 2
The Nashville Predators won against the Arizona Coyotes on Sunday, February 26 at Mullett Arena in Tempe, Arizona with a score of 6-2. The Nashville Predators currently rank 5th in the Central Division.
Roman Josi had two goals and an assist for the Nashville Predators. Tommy Novak and Matt Duchene each had a goal and two assists, Yakov Trenin and Cody Glass each had a goal and an assist, and Juuse Saros made 25 saves for the Predators (29-22-6), who have won three in a row and four of their past five games.
"That [win] was huge. We're still fighting here. We still believe that we can make the [Stanley Cup] Playoffs," Duchene said. "Hopefully we don't lose many more guys."
Forward Tanner Jeannot did not play due to trade-related reasons and was sent to the Tampa Bay Lightning for defenseman Cal Foote and five draft picks following the game. Juuso Parssinen, who was also a late scratch, is day to day with an upper-body injury.
"A big thing we talked about is just trying to make sure that we can control we can control," Nashville coach John Hynes said. "You can't do anything about the decisions that get made, but what we can do is try to have a strong focus level."
The Predators played with 10 forwards and seven defensemen.
"It was [a] tough game for the forwards," Josi said. "There's so much skating for them but they did an amazing job and battled hard and played hard. I'm very proud of this team."
Shayne Gostisbehere gave Arizona a 1-0 lead at 5:55 of the first period, scoring a short-handed goal on a partial breakaway off a give-and-go with Schmaltz. Trenin tied it 1-1 at 9:02. With Ingram out of position following a save near the left post on Philip Tomasino, Trenin had his rebound attempt go in off the skate of Coyotes defenseman Troy Stecher.
Duchene gave the Predators a 2-1 lead at 13:48, scoring off Ingram on a one-timer from the goal line off a backhand pass by Glass. Josi extended it to 3-1 at 2:39 of the second period with a wrist shot from the right face-off circle before Nick Schmaltz cut it to 3-2 at 7:27, scoring on a wrist shot from the slot.
Novak responded for Nashville to make it 4-2 at 3:28 of the third period when he jammed in a loose puck near the left post after the rebound by Mikael Granlund squeaked through Ingram.
Novak has 11 points (five goals, six assists) during a five-game point streak.
"I'm playing more, getting more puck touches," Novak said. "My confidence keeps going up … and we're finishing right now."
Josi made it 5-2 at 6:02 on a power play, scoring with a one-timer after receiving a no-look backhand pass by Novak from the left circle. Glass then scored from the right circle on another power play at 18:17 for the 6-2 final.
Nashville was 2-for-3 with the man-advantage. Arizona was 0-for-5.
Nashville was playing its first game without forward Nino Niederreiter, who was traded to the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday. Earlier Sunday, the team announced David Poile, who has been the Predators' general manager since July 9, 1997, will retire on June 30.
"It's been a really tough last 24 hours plus, that's for sure," Duchene said. "The win feels good, but I don't remember playing a game with my heart in my throat quite like that."
Duchene, who has played 961 NHL games, said it was the first time starting a game with only nine other forwards.
"I think the last time I played with 10 was high school hockey," he said.
The Nashville Predators have won six of their last 10 games as of February 27.
The Florida Panthers lost against the Buffalo Sabres last Friday, February 24 at FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Florida with a score of 3-1. The Florida Panthers currently rank 5th in the Atlantic Division.
Anthony Duclair had an assist in his season debut for the Panthers (29-26-6), who have alternated wins and losses in their past eight games. Sergei Bobrovsky made 30 saves.
Duclair had been on long term injured reserve while recovering from an Achilles injury in the offseason. He finished with four shots and five hits in 17:26 of ice time.
"I was just trying to find my legs in the first, felt better in the second and by the third I was pretty comfortable," Duclair said. "It was just a question of timing and finding chemistry. All in all, after being out for seven months, I think I should be proud of myself."
Buffalo scored two goals before Carter Verhaeghe cut it to 2-1 at 8:24 of the third period with a shot from the right face-off circle after taking a pass from Duclair.
"This was a huge home game and it is really disappointing to have the first two periods like that," Verhaeghe said. "It [stinks]. We're in a playoff push and there is nothing we can do about it now. We have to be ready moving forward."
Buffalo scored the final goal with a score of 3-1.
The Florida Panthers have won six of their last 10 games as of February 27.
Prediction
The Predators are still in sell mode days ahead of the trade deadline. Florida needs some pieces but it can still wallop over Nashville. Panthers 5, Predators 2
Betting trends
Check back later for trends.
Projected lines
Predators:
Mikael Granlund -- Cody Glass -- Philip Tomasino
Filip Forsberg -- Tommy Novak -- Matt Duchene
Yakov Trenin -- Juuso Parssinen -- Kiefer Sherwood
Cole Smith -- Colton Sissons -- Tanner Jeannot
Ryan McDonagh -- Roman Josi
Mattias Ekholm -- Jeremy Lauzon
Alexandre Carrier -- Dante Fabbro
Juuse Saros
Mikael Granlund -- Cody Glass -- Philip Tomasino
Filip Forsberg -- Tommy Novak -- Matt Duchene
Yakov Trenin -- Juuso Parssinen -- Kiefer Sherwood
Cole Smith -- Colton Sissons -- Tanner Jeannot
Ryan McDonagh -- Roman Josi
Mattias Ekholm -- Jeremy Lauzon
Alexandre Carrier -- Dante Fabbro
Juuse Saros
Panthers:
Carter Verhaeghe -- Eetu Luostarinen -- Anthony Duclair
Matthew Tkachuk -- Anton Lundell -- Sam Reinhart
Ryan Lomberg -- Eric Staal -- Nick Cousins
Colin White -- Zac Dalpe
Gustav Forsling -- Aaron Ekblad
Marc Staal -- Brandon Montour
Josh Mahura -- Radko Gudas
Casey Fitzgerald
Sergei Bobrovsky
Carter Verhaeghe -- Eetu Luostarinen -- Anthony Duclair
Matthew Tkachuk -- Anton Lundell -- Sam Reinhart
Ryan Lomberg -- Eric Staal -- Nick Cousins
Colin White -- Zac Dalpe
Gustav Forsling -- Aaron Ekblad
Marc Staal -- Brandon Montour
Josh Mahura -- Radko Gudas
Casey Fitzgerald
Sergei Bobrovsky
Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert hockey picks today. And if you enjoyed this Nashville Predators - Florida Panthers prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our daily NHL projections and previews.
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.
