Philadelphia at Nashville

Philly will not have the services of goaltender Robert Esche in this one and that doesn't bode well going into Nashville where the Predators are 15-3 in the second of consecutive home games if they won the first one. This season, they've only lost 2 of 14 at home. Their defense is why. They are holding opponents to just 2.1 goals per game in Nashville this season and 6.7% SOG and 12.2% power play conversion. Philadelphia's normally high-powered offense will find it tough going tonight. Favorites againsthat have won 6 or 7 of their last 8 games, in a game involving two good teams (60% to 70%) are 27-8 (77%) over the last 5 seasons. And, in December games, road teams off a close win by 1 goal over a division rival are just 5-22 over the last 5 seasons. One star on Nashville.