Welcome back to NHL Predictions, where Last Word on Hockey provides insight into all of the day’s games. In Thursday, October 31st’s edition of NHL predictions, we’ll take a look at two games. This includes the featured matchup: the Montreal Canadiens vs Vegas Golden Knights.
NHL Predictions
Calgary Flames vs Nashville Predators
Head-to-Head: Flames 0 – 0 Predators
The first matchup of the day sees the Calgary Flames face off against the Nashville Predators. The Predators will look to continue their winning streak, which stretched to four games after Tuesday’s 3-0 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Nashville’s recent success is thanks in large part to their top defensive pairing. The duo of Roman Josi and Ryan Ellis has been unstoppable and are currently tied for the team-lead in scoring. They each have 13 points in 12 games so far. Josi, who just signed a long-term extension, is also tied for second on the team in goals.
Nashville has outscored opponents by a daunting 13 goals during their four-game win-streak, tallying 16 goals-for and only three against. Every aspect of their team seems to be clicking, as the Preds look to topple other Central Division giants in the St. Louis Blues and Colorado Avalanche. Their recent hot-streak should be enough to help them breeze by a Flames team that has lost three of their last four games.
If the current mojo in Nashville isn’t enough to beat Calgary, the addition of Filip Forsberg back into the lineup will surely be. Forsberg has been sidelined for the last six games with a lower-body injury. David Poile, Nashville’s general manager, appeared on ESPN 102.5 on Tuesday. There he said that Forsberg could return in Thursday’s matchup against Calgary. Forsberg has been the most prolific Predator in the time he’s been able to play. In six games so far this season, he has tallied eight points. Five of these points were goals, tied for second on the team. Reintroducing Forsberg to a red-hot lineup will make the Predators a very daunting team.
Prediction: Predators win 5-1.
Montreal Canadiens vs Vegas Golden Knights
Head-to-Head: Canadiens 0 – 0 Golden Knights
Today’s featured matchup contains two promising, yet underwhelming, giants going head-to-head. Montreal has seen a hefty amount of recent success. They’ve won four of their last six games, toppling strong teams including the Blues and Toronto Maple Leafs. This sets them at a 6-4-2 record on the year, an admirable start. Their offence seems to be clicking in the way that fans dreamed of last year. Brendan Gallagher and Jonathan Drouin are tied for the team lead with 11 points in 12 games. Close behind them are Max Domi with 10 and Tomas Tatar with nine.
With a reasonably sound defence and a legendary goalie in Carey Price, the Canadiens have had little to worry about to start the year. The same can be said for Vegas, though. They have had a similar offensive-explosion to start the year, with newcomers Mark Stone and Cody Glass revolutionizing an already dominant offence. Stone has tallied an impressive 16 points in 13 games, leading the charge for the Golden Knights. Their scoring doesn’t stop with Stone, though. They have three other players with double-digit scoring through the first 13 games and only one player to appear in five-or-more games, Cody Eakin, has yet to score a point.
Marc-Andre Fleury is expected to start in net for Vegas. He is looking to continue what has been a truly impressive season so far. Fleury has tallied a record of 8-3-0, with a save percentage of .928, to start the year. In the Canadiens net is Keith Kinkaid, per projections. Kinkaid has served as Montreal’s backup this year and has been relatively off-kilter. He has a 0-1-1 record through two starts, allowing nine goals in total. If he does start for Montreal, he will surely be the team’s Achille’s Heel in Thursday’s bout against a dazzling Vegas offence.
Prediction: Golden Knights win 6-3.
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