The Pittsburgh Penguins will be aiming to take a commanding 2-0 series lead in the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday when they hit the ice for Game 2 against the Nashville Predators as -150 favourites on the NHL betting lines at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
Pittsburgh was outplayed for lengthy stretches during a 5-3 Game 1 victory as -160 home chalk that leaves the club unbeaten in four straight on home ice ahead of Wednesday night’s Predators versus Penguins betting matchup at PPG Paints Arena.
The Penguins failed to record a shot on goal during a 37-minute span on Monday, setting a dubious team playoff record with just 12 shots on goal on the night. But Pittsburgh made the most of its limited opportunities, scoring twice on just four shots in the third period to snuff out a spirited rally by the Predators to erase an early 3-0 deficit.
Monday night’s win halts a 2-6 run for the Penguins when outshot by opponents. However, it also marks the first time in five outings that Pittsburgh has surrendered more than two goals in a game, ending a four-game stretch in which it allowed just 1.5 goals per game.
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Despite their underwhelming performance in Game 1 the Penguins continue to gain momentum on the odds to win the Stanley Cup, improving to -250 after opening the series at -155. Conversely, the Predators look to Game 2 trailing at +210 on the series prices, and listed as +130 road underdogs to even the series at one game apiece.
That is familiar territory for Nashville, which has yet to receive the nod from oddsmakers in nine road playoff games this spring. Road wins have played a critical role in the Predators’ march to the Stanley Cup Final. Nashville recorded consecutive shutouts at the United Center en route to a first-round sweep of the Chicago Blackhawks, and posted a pair of victories in Anaheim in the Western Conference Final.
The Predators have struggled in Game 2s of recent playoff series, going 1-3 in their past four, and are 3-4 in their past seven Game 2 contests following a Game 1 loss. That mirrors a recent trend in the Stanley Cup Final, with road teams rebounding to win on just two of 11 occasions after falling to defeat in Game 1.
However, Nashville has bounced back to win in four straight games immediately following a loss and are 6-2 in their past eight overall.
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