Welcome to NHL Predictions! Each day, Last Word On Hockey will break down every game and give our NHL predictions for each game. This will also include a featured game that should be must-watch hockey. Tonight’s featured game is the Nashville Predators vs. Colorado Avalanche. This is the late game slate of NHL predictions. Be sure and check out the early games too.
Nashville Predators vs Colorado Avalanche Predictions and More
Vancouver Canucks vs Chicago Blackhawks
Head-to-Head: Canucks 0-0 Blackhawks
This is the first of three matchups between the Vancouver Canucks and Chicago Blackhawks. This is the only meeting that will take place in Chicago. The next two happen in Vancouver. The Canucks will hit the road for two games before returning home for four games and finish out the month on the road. They are playing some good hockey as of late. Despite their loss to the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday night in overtime, the Canucks come into this game as a slight favorite. The goaltending duo of Thatcher Demko and Jacob Markstrom are keeping the Canucks in every game. Elias Pettersson, Bo Horvat, Brock Boeser, and Quinn Hughes continue to drive the offence. The Canucks are one of the early surprises to begin the year.
Chicago is returning from a three-game road trip through California. The trip could be called a success gaining points against the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks before falling to the San Jose Sharks. This Blackhawks team is in rebuild mode as they try to get back to being a contender in the NHL. Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews are back to their old ways while players like Kirby Dach, Alex DeBrincat, and Dylan Strome are picking up the slack. Robin Lehner has been a great backup to Corey Crawford. However, the first game back after a long trip is always difficult. And with the Canucks playing so well as of late, this will be a tight affair between two rivals.
Prediction: Canucks Win 3-2
Nashville Predators vs Colorado Avalanche
Head-to-Head: Predators 0-0 Avalanche
This our NHL predictions featured late game of the night.
This is the first of four matchups between the Nashville Predators and Colorado Avalanche. The next three meetings do not come until later on in the season. Nashville is in the midst of a four-game road trip having already won the first game in Detroit. The Predators come into Colorado having won six of their past seven games. They have a well-balanced lineup that begins on their backend with Roman Josi and Ryan Ellis. Upfront the Predators have a well-balanced attack and they will give a depleted Colorado team fits. It is good to see the Predators relying on depth scoring instead of just one or two players for the offence.
The Colorado Avalanche continue to deal with injuries to Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog and as a result, they have lost five straight games. Even with the added depth up front, the Avalanche remain a one-line team. It is clear that the loss of Rantanen and Landeskog has been demoralizing for this team. Even with Nathan MacKinnon still playing well, the rest of the forwards have not been able to pick up the slack over the past five games. Even back on home ice, the Avalanche are in a tough spot with the red hot Predators coming to town. Unfortunately for the Avalanche, the losing extends to six games.
Prediction: Predators Win 3-1
New Jersey Devils vs Calgary Flames
Head-to-Head: Devils 0-0 Flames
The New Jersey Devils and Calgary Flames meet for the first of two matchups on the season. The Devils are in the midst of a five-game road trip which began in Carolina. The team is going through their four-game Western Canada trip and picked up a big win against the Winnipeg Jets. Things are trending in the right direction. After a rough start to the season, the Devils are 4-2-1 in their last seven games. One of the reasons for that has been the play of MacKenzie Blackwood. He has solidified the role of the starting goaltender. While the Devils power play continues to click, their defence has also gotten a lot better, which has led to their turn around.
The Flames are still looking to find their game from a year ago when they were the best team in the Western Conference. No surprise they are off to a slow start this season. While the same pieces are still in place, the production from Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau has been subpar. With those two players struggling, Matthew Tkachuk has stepped up in a big way for the Flames in the past couple of games. The Devils and Flames always play tight games especially when the game is in Calgary. Look for another close one with the potential of an extra session deciding this one.
Prediction: Devils Win 3-2 in OT
Columbus Blue Jackets vs Arizona Coyotes
Head-to-Head: Blue Jackets 0-0 Coyotes
This is the first of two matchups on the season between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Arizona Coyotes. One team is on the rise while the other is trying to remain a contender. Even with all the changes in the off-season, the Blue Jackets continue to fight each and every night. The results may not be there, but with John Tortorella behind the bench, this team will never be outworked. However, the one thing holding the Blue Jackets back is their goaltending. Brandon Dubinsky and Ryan Murray remain out of the lineup, but Alexandre Texier will be back in the lineup against the Coyotes. Columbus is looking to end their five-game losing streak against a tough team.
The Coyotes have gotten points in the three straight games and look to extend that streak against the Blue Jackets. Arizona is playing well as of late as they continue to rise up in the standings in a tough Western Conference. The Coyotes are tough to play against on home ice but how will they respond after a quick road trip to Alberta. Usually coming back from a road trip is tough for the home team, but this Coyotes team is out to prove they are the real deal. The Coyotes have more talent than the Blue Jackets, and this will be a close game. However, in the end, the Coyotes get the victory.
Prediction: Coyotes Win 3-1
Minnesota Wild vs San Jose Sharks
Head-to-Head: Wild 0-0 Sharks
This is the first of three meetings between the Minnesota Wild and the San Jose Sharks. Both teams have not gotten off to the start they would like. It is no surprise the Wild are struggling as they have an older team. Two players, in particular, are holding the Wild from going to the next level. When Zach Parise and Ryan Suter signed their long-term contracts, the Wild had hopes of making deep runs in the playoffs. The Wild have not been able to take that next step. However, general manager Bill Guerin will remain patient as his team continues to get back to full strength.
Coming into the season the Sharks had the tools to remain a contender for the Stanley Cup. Right now they are the clubhouse leader with one of the worst goal differentials in the league. San Jose is in the midst of a six-game homestand. After dropping the first two games, the Sharks were able to pick up a win against the Blackhawks. The Sharks are the opposite of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Instead of being top-heavy with contracts, they are back heavy. The Sharks are finding out it is tough to win when you are paying three guys big-money contracts. However, the Sharks have the talent to turn things around, but the losses upfront could be too much to overcome.
Prediction: Sharks Win 2-1
That does it for NHL predictions for November 7th, check back tomorrow for another edition.
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