Welcome back to NHL Game Day Predictions. Daily, Last Word on Hockey brings you a prediction and analysis of every game on the schedule. This will also feature a significant game on the schedule that is must-watch hockey. Today’s NHL Predictions featured game is the Colorado Avalanche vs the Vegas Golden Knights.
NHL Predictions Featured Game: Colorado Avalanche vs Vegas Golden Knights
Colorado Avalanche vs Vegas Golden Knights
Head to Head: Colorado 0-0 Vegas
The Colorado Avalanche are one game away from going home after a six-game road trip. So far on that trip, the Av’s are 3-1-1 and are wrapping it up in sin city with a matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights. Colorado only scored one time in a difficult battle against the St. Louis Blues. To make matters more problematic for the Avalanche tonight, Mikko Rantanen has been listed as week to week with a lower-body injury.
Tuesday night’s hard-fought win against the Chicago Blackhawks in a shootout proves that Vegas has a resilient team. Nick Holden‘s goal early in the third tied the game and Shea Theodore wrapped things up in the shootout. The Golden Knights have not done a lot of scoring recently and unless that changes, the Avalanche should roll right over Vegas.
Prediction: Avalanche win 4-1
San Jose Sharks vs Toronto Maple Leafs
Head to Head: San Jose 0-0 Toronto
The San Jose Sharks recently started a lengthy, five-game east coast swing against Atlantic Division opponents. An overtime loss against Buffalo and a win against the Montreal Canadiens displays some level of hope for the games to come. The Sharks need a strong showing tonight against Toronto if they want to escape last place in the Pacific Division.
Toronto is known for filling the net with pucks. Only Washington has scored more than the Toronto Maple Leafs 40 goals in 11 games. While still without captain John Tavares, this team does not lack scoring depth. If the Leaf’s defence can play even at an average level tonight, this should be an easy win for a strong Toronto team.
Prediction: Maple Leafs win 4-1
Arizona Coyotes vs New Jersey Devils
Head to Head: Arizona 0-0 New Jersey
With the Arizona Coyotes currently hovering right around the wild card cut line in the west, every win is important for them. A matchup against a struggling New Jersey Devils team could be just what the doctor ordered to give Arizona a little separation in the standings. With the strong season the Coyotes are having to this point, don’t be surprised to see them come out on top.
The New Jersey Devils have some strong young talent. Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier are both former first overall picks. While both still have developing to do to capitalize on their draft selection slots, the potential is there. The addition of P.K. Subban should help shore up the defence. But right now, they don’t have what it takes to steal a win.
Prediction: Coyotes win 3-2
New York Islanders vs Ottawa Senators
Head to Head: New York 0-0 Ottawa
Fans of the Ottawa Senators have nothing to look forward to tonight. When Brady Tkachuk and Thomas Chabot are your best players, your team must be in a rebuild. Ottawa only has two wins (and we are shocked one of those wins was against Tampa Bay). It’s tough to see them taking the lead at all in this one if they even score.
Last year’s New York Islanders team was one of the best defensive teams we have seen in the NHL in a long time. Barry Trotz appears to be following a similar formula, but with Semyon Varlamov in net, rather than Robin Lehner. Currently, the Islanders are in the top three teams in the league in goals scored against. They should keep that up against a weak Ottawa team.
Prediction: Islanders win 1-0
Buffalo Sabres vs Detroit Red Wings
Head to Head: Buffalo 0-0 Detroit
The Buffalo Sabres have replicated the early-season success they had last season. With an 8-2-1 record, Buffalo sits at first place in the Atlantic Division. While some may think the Sabres will come back to Earth soon, only time will tell. One thing is for sure, however, and that is that Buffalo has more talent than the Detroit Red Wings.
Detroit has considerably good young talent in Dylan Larkin and Anthony Mantha. But they still have a lot of questions in other areas. Jimmy Howard is getting old. Mike Green can’t play defence by himself. Where is the scoring depth? There is a lot of work to do in Detroit and the front office knows it. The Red Wings will not win this game.
Prediction: Buffalo wins 3-1
Washington Capitals vs Vancouver Canucks
Head to Head: Washington 0-0 Vancouver
The Washington Capitals are looking like an early contender, now almost through the fourth week of hockey. With 17 points in 11 games, the odds of them making a strong push to the playoffs is high. The Vancouver Canucks should keep their eyes open because Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, and T.J. Oshie are going to crash the net.
While they do host the game, the Vancouver Canucks are a young team that could have a difficult time holding off a diverse Capitals’ attack. Bo Horvat, Elias Pettersson, and Brock Boeser can all cause their fair share of damage, but they lack the experience of a Washington team that won it all two seasons ago.
Prediction: Washington wins 4-3
That does it for NHL predictions for October 25th, check back tomorrow for another edition.
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