Predators Regular-Season Point Total Jumps Two Full Points
By Robert Duff in NHL Hockey
Updated: March 26, 2020 at 2:51 pm EDTPublished:
- Nashville Predators have improved from 96.5 to 98.5 in their 2019-20 NHL season prop wager
- Last season, the Predators finished with 100 points
- That was a 17-point decrease from Nashville’s 2017-18 output
The point would appear to be that sportsbooks suddenly like the chances of the Nashville Predators preying on the rest of the NHL a little bit more.
The sportsbook recently increased Nashville’s number in their 2019-20 NHL season point total prop wager from 96.5 to 98.5.
Last season, the Predators finished with 100 points.
Odds on Central Division Regular Season Point Totals
| Team | Total Points | Over Odds | Under Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Blackhawks | 90.5 | -115 | -105 |
| Colorado Avalanche | 97.5 | -110 | -110 |
| Dallas Stars | 96.5 | -110 | -110 |
| Minnesota Wild | 87.5 | -110 | -110 |
| Nashville Predators | 98.5 | -110 | -110 |
| St. Louis Blues | 96.5 | -120 | -100 |
| Winnipeg Jets | 92.5 | -110 | -110 |
*Odds taken 10/02/19
In 2017-18, the Predators posted an NHL-best 117 points and won the Presidents’ Trophy as the NHL’s top regular-season team.
Centrally Located
There may be no tougher, more competitive division in the NHL than the Central. Last season, one point separated the top three teams. There was a mere 10-point gap from first place to fifth place.
The St. Louis Blues won the Stanley Cup last spring. Nashville was a Stanley Cup finalist in 2016-17. The Chicago Blackhawks won three Stanley Cups between 2010-15.
A special gift from her boys – thank you Laila for being such an inspiration during our #StanleyCup run. #stlblues pic.twitter.com/4Zlu1Xuwjb
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) October 1, 2019
Other than perhaps the Minnesota Wild, it’s easy to make a case as legitimate playoff hopefuls for every team housed within this division.
The point total projections emphasize the tightness of this group. The top four teams – Nashville, Colorado. St. Louis and Dallas – are all rated to finish within two points of each other.
Which Central Teams Will Rise?
The Avalanche looked poised to be the NHL’s next great team. Just three seasons ago, the Avs won an NHL-worst 22 games. Today, in Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen and captain Gabriel Landskog, they suit up the NHL’s most potent forward line. MacKinnon will contend for the Hart Trophy. Defenseman Cale Makar will be a Calder Trophy favorite.
“See that, right over there? That’s Opening Night. We’re so close…”
— Naz, Probably#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/MTH1ZgckxA
— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) October 1, 2019
The addition of Nazem Kadri, Joonas Donskoi and Andre Burkovsky provides grit and Stanley Cup final experience to Colorado.
St. Louis won’t win the Stanley Cup again but the Blues won’t flirt with the NHL basement like they did until midseason a year ago. Top to bottom they’re as deep as any team.
Chicago isn’t a Stanley Cup contender any longer but after a two-year absence from the postseason, look for the Blackhawks to be in the playoff hunt.
Which Central Teams Will Fall?
The Winnipeg Jets are in free-fall. Three of their top six defenders are gone and a fourth, Dustin Byfuglien, is sitting at home, trying to decide whether he wants to keep playing. And yet again, the Jets don’t have a second-line center.
#TSNHockey Insider @TSNBobMcKenzie joins #JayAndDan to discuss Dustin Byfuglien’s absence from the #NHLJets. pic.twitter.com/Bf1CXWiTYt
— JayOnSC (@JayOnSC) October 2, 2019
The Wild are in disarray. They fired GM Paul Fenton after one season. They’ve an aging lineup that’s accomplished nothing.
A team everyone seems high on that is likely to disappoint is the Dallas Stars. Their core is old – Jamie Benn is 30, Alex Radulov is 33, Ben Bishop is 32 and Joe Pavelski is 35.
What About the Predators?
In the past two seasons, Nashville finished first in the division, averaging 108.5 points. And the Predators won one playoff series in that span.
In 2016-17, the Preds finished with 94 ponts – their lowest total in the past five seasons – and went to the Stanley Cup final.
https://twitter.com/BenStancliff/status/1176279498435825664?s=20
They shipped out defenseman PK Subban to make room to sign center Matt Duchene and bolster a weak offense and soft power play. Nashville remains deep on the back end with Roman Josi, Mattias Ekholm and Ryan Ellis.
Look for Nashville to take a step back in the regular season, but it just might lead to a longer run the postseason.
Pick: Nashville Predators under 98.5 points (-110).
Sports Writer
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
