In today’s SportSense Entertainment Newsletter…

Additional Model Predictions ⬇️

NBA Model Predictions- Click Here

NCAAB Model Predictions- Click Here

There were no model predictions yesterday, March 8, 2024.

13 NHL games are scheduled to take place today. Our model’s predictions for all 13 matchups can be found below.

Nashville Predators @ Columbus Blue Jackets

Model Predicts- Predators ML, OVER 6.5, Predators -1.5

The Nashville Predators will kick off a four-game road trip on Saturday afternoon, with the first stop coming in Columbus, Ohio to take on the Blue Jackets.

Nashville enters tonight’s matchup as one of the hottest teams in the NHL, taking home a win in nine of its last ten game. Meanwhile, Columbus has not been nearly that impressive, but has still strung together a 3-1 record in the month of March.

Both Nashville and Columbus have tons of momentum on their side, and our model believes that will lead to a high-scoring contest. Let’s take a look at why that is.

Nashville Predators

• Own 9-0-1 record in last ten games

  • Only loss came to Hurricanes on March 5th

  • +25 goal differential in that ten game span

• Dominating on both ends of ice during winning stretch

  • Rank sixth in xGF/60 in 5-on-5 situations (2.76) and ninth in xGA/60 (2.34)

  • Have scored four goals or more in nine of last ten games

• Expected goalie- Juuse Saros

  • .919 Save % in 5-on-5 situations. Ranks 58th in Goals Saved Above Expected (GSAx) with -1.5

Columbus Blue Jackets

• Own 3-1 record in last four games

  • Wins over Blackhawks, Golden Knights, and Oilers

  • +6 goal differential in that span

• Offense has been red hot since start of March

  • Rank second in GF/60 in 5-on-5 this month (4.04)

  • Averaging 4.5 goals and 33.25 shots on goal per game in March- up from season averages of 3.00 and 30.20

• Expected goalie- Elvis Merzlikins

  • .913 Save % in 5-on-5. Ranks 36th in GSAx (+1.6)

What’s the Play?

Nashville and Columbus each look close to unstoppable offensively right now, and as a result we agree with our model that plenty of goals should be scored this afternoon.

The Blue Jackets’ sudden offensive turnaround is the biggest factor here. As previously mentioned, Columbus has potted 4.5 goals per game over the last four contests, and the uptick in goals scored correlates directly with the increase in pressure that the Blue Jackets are putting on opposing goaltenders. Although Saros has started to find his footing in net, he has been susceptible to allowing several goals through at multiple points this year, and his 58th ranking in GSAx proves that he is still having some problems in net.

Columbus should continue its hot scoring streak, and we’ll back Nashville to stay hot offensively as well against a defense that ranks in the bottom three in shots on goal allowed and goals allowed per game this season. Take the over.

The Play: Over 6.5 (-115)

Money Line Trends 💰

• Nashville Predators- 36-25-3 overall this season, 9-0-1 in last ten games

• Carolina Hurricanes- 37-19-6 overall this season, 17-11-2 as the away team

Over/Under Trends ⬆️⬇️

• Detroit Red Wings- Over is 35-28 this season with average total of 6.73

• Los Angeles Kings- Under is 36-23-3 this season with average total of 5.81

Puck Line Trends ➕➖

• Columbus Blue Jackets- Puck line is 36-27 this season

• Philadelphia Flyers- Puck line is 39-25 this season

👀 Ullmark shoots down deal that would have sent him to unnamed team. Boston Bruins GM Don Sweeney downplayed rumors of trading goalie Linus Ullmark to the Los Angeles Kings, stating he wasn't aggressively pursuing such a move and is content with their current goalie tandem. Despite reports of a deal being in place, Ullmark rejected it due to geographical reasons. The Bruins' goalies, including Jeremy Swayman, have performed well, contributing to the team's strong season, and Swayman expressed his desire for Ullmark to remain with the team.

🦈 Sharks trade Hertl to Vegas. The San Jose Sharks made a significant trade, sending forward Tomas Hertl to the Vegas Golden Knights. In return, they received forward prospect David Edstrom and a 2025 first-round pick, while also sending a 2025 third-round pick and a 2027 third-round pick to Vegas. Hertl, a key player for the Sharks, is in the second season of an eight-year contract and has been a consistent scorer, recording 34 points in 48 games this season.

Today’s trivia requires you to dig into multiple pockets of your brain, testing your knowledge of recent events as well as those that happened decades ago.

See how many of the below questions you can get correct. Answers are provided at the end of the newsletter.

Question #1- What school won the 2004 March Madness tournament, defeating Georgia Tech 82-73 in the National Championship?

Question #2- Spencer Rattler played quarterback at what Big 12 school prior to transferring to the University of South Carolina?

Question #3- What catcher did the San Francisco Giants select with the No.4 overall pick in the 2008 MLB Draft?

Anyone know what has happened on March 9th throughout history? We didn’t have a clue either, but it appears that it has been a busy day.

On March 9th…

1961- Wilt Cahmberlain scores 67 points for the Philadelphia Warriors in a win over the New York Knicks. Philadelphia won the game 135-126, giving the Warriors their 46th win of the season. Chamberlain played all 48 minutes that night, shooting 72.9% from the floor and adding an additional 13 points from the free throw line.

1993- The Pittsburgh Penguins begin an NHL record 17-game win streak. The streak began with a 3-2 win over the Boston Bruins, and ended when the Penguins tied the Devils 6-6 on April 14th. Pittsburgh ended the season with a 51-21-7 record.

2002- NHL legend Joe Sakic plays his 1,000th career game. Sakic and the Avalanche defeated the Los Angeles Kings 4-3 in the milestone game, with Sakic recording one goal and one assist. Colorado would eventually reach the Western Conference Final that season in large part because of Sakic, but lost the series to the Detroit Red Wings.

1. University of Connecticut

2. University of Oklahoma

3. Buster Posey