2017 NHL Free Picks For Anaheim At Nashville Game 3

The Stanley Cup is arguably the toughest of all professional championships to win, yet when it comes to the playoffs, the formula for success is quite simple, although pulling it off is easier said than done. The simple blueprint is to win every one of your home games, hoping that you can steal a game or two on the road. The latter is particularly important if you are heading into the postseason with all your opponents in possession of home ice advantage.

Click Here For More NHL Betting Odds

Like I said, it’s a simple enough plan, and it’s one that the Nashville Predators have executed to perfection so far. They have won all of their home games, and have also won 4 on the road during their impressive postseason run. Their latest road victory came in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final in Anaheim, and while they went on to lose Game 2, they are now in a position where they can head to the Stanley Cup Final if they can continue to go unbeaten in their own building.

A Closer Look At The 2017 NHL Free Picks For Ducks At Predators Game 3

When: Tuesday, May 16 at 8 PM EST Where: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville TV: NBCSN Live Stream: NHL.TV NHL Odds: TBA    

Why bet on the Anaheim Ducks

The Ducks managed to score 7 goals through the opening two games of this series, which is impressive when you consider how stingy Pekka Rinne has been between the pipes for the Predators. The downside here, though, is that they still only managed to come away with a split, which means they will be heading on the road having given up home ice advantage. This is something that they have experience with in this season’s playoffs, though, as they lost the opening two home games in their series with the Oilers. The Ducks have won 4 of their 5 road games this postseason, so they are definitely a team that has what it takes to go into Nashville and hand the Predators their first home loss.

Why bet on the Nashville Predators

Game 2 of this series was the first time that Pekka Rinne has looked human in the playoffs, and it may have come down to the fact that the Predators may have let down just a little after stealing Game 1 in OT. The goal was to go into Anaheim and get the spilt, and when you achieve that at the first time of asking, it stands to reason that some guys might relax heading into the second game. It is going to be interesting to see how Rinne bounces back after a sub-par performance, as this was certainly the first time that he will be asked to do so this postseason.

Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction

This is a tough game to call. On the one hand, you have a team that has been perfect at home so far, while on the other, you have a team that has arguably played their best hockey on the road. I think the Predators will get back to basics and keep their home win streak alive in Game 3.

Nashville Predators 3 Anaheim Ducks 2