NHL Thursday best bets: Predators primed to upset Rangers

We're coming off another successful night on the ice, going 2-1 with our best bets on Wednesday night.

We'll look to keep the profit train moving with a pair of sides - including a healthy underdog - for Thursday's jam-packed slate of games.

The Predators are off to an underwhelming 1-3 start, but they've played a lot better than the results suggest.

They've controlled a healthy 58% share of the expected goals at five-on-five, a top-five mark in the NHL. Making those metrics all the more impressive is the fact their schedule has been so demanding. They've faced the Lightning, Kraken, Bruins, and Oilers - four playoff teams from a season ago.

Nashville has only conceded five goals at full strength thus far, and four of those came against a desperate Oilers team last time out.

The Predators really haven't given their opponents much. Considering the goaltending they generally get, that's a recipe for success over the long haul if they can continue to play like they have.

Coming off a pair of losses - including a blowout last game - I think we're going to see a top-tier effort from the Predators. You can't earn a playoff spot in October, but you can lose one, and a 1-4 start would begin to point the Predators in that direction.

The Rangers look pretty good statistically right now, but it's worth noting their schedule has been ultra-soft. They've played a Sabres team that'll likely be on the playoff bubble, as well as the Blue Jackets and Coyotes, two teams that failed to win even 30 games a season ago.

I'm expecting a tight, low-scoring game in which there isn't much separating the two teams. At +160, I'll happily roll the dice with a desperate Predators side in what should be a pretty evenly matched contest.

Bet: Predators (+160)

The Wild aren't off to the most impressive of starts. Although they own a 2-1 record through three games, there are a lot of concerns beneath the hood right now.

Minnesota was absolutely dominated in its season opener, getting outshot 41-21 by a Panthers team missing its two best defensemen and second-line center. Not great.

They followed that up by giving up seven goals to the Maple Leafs. They only took three penalties and didn't allow an empty-netter, so it's not as if the output was inflated by unusual circumstances.

The Wild played well against the Canadiens, but that's the Canadiens. Not a lot can be expected from them on any given night - especially when Jake Allen isn't manning the crease.

I think the Wild are a little overrated right now. The loss of Jared Spurgeon really hurts them at both ends of the ice. I also think they're leaving value on the table against the Kings by starting Marc-Andre Fleury again rather than going back to Filip Gustavsson, who already stole the Wild a game this season.

The Kings are a deeper team up front and very stout defensively. In fact, only the Stars and Islanders have done a better job of limiting expected goals thus far.

That - along with the Wild not using their best goaltender - should more than offset the gap between the two sides in goal.

Bet: Kings (-110)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @ToddCordell.

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