Pittsburgh Penguins vs Nashville Predators Picks and Predictions February 1st 2025

Pittsburgh Penguins vs Nashville Predators February 1st 2025

Don’t miss out on the NHL showdown between the Predators and Penguins. The game is starting at 7:00 ET on ESPN+, and it’s hosted by the Penguins at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. Get ready to place your bets! The odds for this non-conference game currently have the Penguins as the -1.5 favorite, with the over/under line sitting at 6 goals.

Nashville vs. Pittsburgh Key Information

• Teams: Predators at Penguins
• Where: PPG Paints Arena Pittsburgh
• Date: Saturday, February 1st
• Betting Odds PIT -112 | NAS -109 O/U 6

The Predators Can Win If…

Nashville improved to 18-25-7 with a 5-2 win over the Avalanche. The Predators covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites, with the total of 6.5 goals being surpassed by the game’s 7 total goals.

After falling behind 1-0 early in the second period, Nashville responded with five unanswered goals. Five different players scored for the Predators in the win.

Nashville’s offense fired 25 shots on goal and scored twice on the power play in their 5-2 win over the Avalanche. The Predators were held scoreless in the first period before Steven Stamkos netted his second goal of the season, and Colton Sissons followed with his first. Roman Josi added his first goal of the year on a power play in the third period.

Filip Forsberg scored his seventh goal on an empty net, while Gustav Nyquist added his fourth, also on an empty net. Nyquist picked up his fourth assist on Forsberg’s goal. Nashville had 15 giveaways in the game.

Defensively, the Predators will look to improve after giving up the first goal just 2:54 into the 2nd period and another at 17:43 in the 3rd. Juuse Saros made 29 saves with a 93.5% save percentage, while the defense added 4 takeaways and 23 hits.

• Nashville has put together a record of 0-3 in their last three games (regular season). In these matchups, they ended with an puck line record of 0-3 and an over-under mark of 2-1.
• Nashville has put together a record of 5-5 in their last ten games (regular season). The team’s record vs the puck line was just 3-7, in addition to an over-under mark of 7-3.

The Penguins Can Win If…

Pittsburgh improved to 21-24-8 with a 3-1 road win over the Canadiens. The Penguins were -1.5 goal favorites and covered the puck line. The total was set at 6.5 goals, but the combined score of 4 fell short of that mark.

Sidney Crosby scored twice for Pittsburgh, including a goal at 4:03 in the first period. Blake Lizotte added an empty-net goal with 0:45 left in the game to secure the win.

Sidney Crosby led the way for the Penguins in their 3-1 win over the Canadiens, scoring twice on three shots. Crosby’s first goal came at 4:03 in the opening period, followed by his second on a power play at 1:20 in the second period. Blake Lizotte added his second goal of the season, finding the net on his only shot of the game with an empty-netter at 19:15 in the third period.

The Penguins took 24 shots on goal and recorded 14 giveaways. Lars Eller picked up his third assist of the season on Lizotte’s empty-net goal, while Kris Letang and Erik Karlsson were credited with assists on Crosby’s second goal, giving them three and seven assists on the season, respectively.

Defensively, the Penguins will look to carry over their performance from the previous game, where they allowed just one goal to Montreal. Alex Nedeljkovic made 25 saves, posting a 96.2% save percentage. Pittsburgh’s defense also added 5 takeaways, 19 hits, and 19 blocks.

• Over their last three regular season games, the Penguins have gone 1-2 straight up. In these contests, the team went just 1-2 against the spread, while going 0-3 on the over-under.
• Through their last ten regular season contests, Pittsburgh has a record of 3-7. Their record against the puck line in this stretch is 3-7 to go along with an over-under mark of 3-5-2.

The Lean

If you’re looking for a moneyline pick, my choice is the Penguins to take down the Predators at home. With the moneyline currently at -112, I’m placing my bet on the Penguins straight-up.

For my recommended choice in the puck line, I’m leaning towards the Predators to cover. Even if the Penguins secure a straight-up win, this game is expected to be tightly contested, and the Predators should cover the puck line.

With an over/under line sitting at 6 goals, we like this game to surpass that mark and recommend getting a bet down on the over.

Penguins Return Home After Long Road Trip to Face Predators

The Pittsburgh Penguins will host the Nashville Predators on Saturday night, looking to capitalize on the momentum from their overtime win in Utah.

Sidney Crosby delivered in the clutch with an overtime goal to give Pittsburgh a 3-2 victory, snapping a three-game losing streak and salvaging a 3-4-0 record on their season-long seven-game road trip.

Back home at PPG Paints Arena, the Penguins will try to build on that win against a Nashville squad that has lost three straight games and is on the second night of a back-to-back.

Pittsburgh Penguins: Aiming for Stability

Pittsburgh (26-20-6) enters this game sitting just outside a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, making each game critical down the stretch.

Their road trip had its ups and downs, but finishing with a win was key for team morale.

Key Players for Pittsburgh:

• Sidney Crosby (55 points, 39 assists in 53 games) – Scored the OT winner in Utah and has a three-game point streak.
• Erik Karlsson (38 points, 9 goals, 29 assists) – A crucial playmaker from the blue line.
• Bryan Rust (18 goals, 19 assists) – A game-changer who had a four-point night against Nashville in December.
• Alex Nedeljkovic (10-9-4, .896 SV%, 3.15 GAA) – Expected to start in net, looking to improve his numbers.

Crosby emphasized the importance of carrying momentum into the upcoming stretch.

“There’s probably a couple games that could have gone the other way for us,” Crosby said. “But hopefully we can bring some of this momentum back home.”

This game will mark the final meeting between the Penguins and Predators this season. Pittsburgh won the first matchup in December 5-4 in overtime, with Crosby and Rust each collecting four points.

Nashville Predators: Searching for Answers

The Predators (24-22-2) fell 4-3 to Buffalo on Friday, continuing their recent slump. Nashville has now lost three straight and has been struggling to find consistency.

Their game against the Sabres was particularly frustrating, as the team had control for stretches but gave up costly goals.

“We kind of threw away the game, made classic mistakes at the wrong times,” said Predators coach Andrew Brunette. “Gave them free offense, free goals.”

Key Players for Nashville:

• Filip Forsberg (18 goals, 49 points) – Nashville’s offensive leader, always a threat.
• Brady Skjei (34 points, 12 goals, 22 assists) – Provides key contributions from the blue line.
• Luke Evangelista (8 goals, 17 assists) – Returned from injury and scored against Buffalo.
• Goaltending Uncertainty – Juuse Saros was scratched due to illness on Friday, and Matt Murray was recalled to back up Justus Annunen.

With Saros’ status uncertain, the Predators may have to rely on Murray or Annunen, which could create an advantage for Pittsburgh.

Key Matchups to Watch

Sidney Crosby vs. Nashville’s Defense

Crosby had a four-point performance in their first meeting this season. The Predators will have to focus on containing him, especially in key moments.

Filip Forsberg vs. Penguins’ Defense

Forsberg leads Nashville in scoring and will be a focal point of their attack. Pittsburgh will need to limit his chances.

Goaltending Battle: Nedeljkovic vs. Nashville’s Uncertain Starter

With Saros potentially out, Pittsburgh might have a significant advantage in net.

Prediction: Penguins Edge Predators in Tight Battle

Pittsburgh’s return home after a long road trip, combined with Nashville’s fatigue from back-to-back games, gives the Penguins an advantage.

If Saros remains out, it further tilts the scales toward Pittsburgh.

Final Score Prediction: Penguins 4, Predators 2

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Final Thoughts

This game carries major playoff implications, especially for Pittsburgh as they try to climb back into the mix.

• Will Sidney Crosby continue his hot streak?
• Can Nashville overcome their defensive lapses and snap their losing streak?
• Who will step up in goal for the Predators if Saros remains sidelined?

Expect a hard-fought battle in Pittsburgh as the Penguins try to keep their momentum rolling.