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 San Jose Sharks vs the Edmonton Oilers. Be sure to check out the early games NHL predictions to stay informed.
NHL Predictions
Winnipeg Jets vs Colorado Avalanche
Head-to-Head: Winnipeg 0 – 0 Colorado
Despite working with a skeleton crew on the blue line, the Winnipeg Jets have put together an OK season. The Jets are winners of four of the last five games and sit at fourth in the Central Division. Winnipeg needs their goaltenders to play well, and Connor Hellebuyck has been up to the task lately. The team is trending up and has the high-end talent to continue that trend.
The Colorado Avalanche exploded over the last two games, scoring 13 goals in a blast of offence. This breaks a slump the team had been in after some major injuries. Even without some key players, the Avalanche still have an elite player in Nathan MacKinnon and some other solid pieces. This game is hard to predict as both teams are so clearly depleted. Tie goes to the home team?
Prediction: Jets win 3-2 (OT)
Vancouver Canucks vs Nashville Predators
Head-to-Head: Vancouver 0 – 0 Nashville
The Vancouver Canucks have cooled down over the last week after a hot start to the season. Vancouver lost its last four games, only picking up one point in the standings in the process. The Canucks are having trouble scoring with just five goals in the four-game slide. If Vancouver hopes to get back to their winning ways, they need to get the offence going once again with their balanced scoring attack. The Canucks’ attack has been highlighted this year by a “score by committee” philosophy where multiple players chipped in important goals.
Like the Canucks, the Nashville Predators are not playing their best hockey at the moment. The team has lost five of their last six games. This slide was punctuated by a 9-4 loss to the Avalanche last Thursday and then a subsequent loss to the lowly San Jose Sharks in their last contest. There are some signs this may turn around. Besides the debacle against Colorado, Nashville has kept games close, losing by just one goal in their other recent losses. Expect the Predators to right the ship in this game.
Prediction: Predators win 4-2
Anaheim Ducks vs Detroit Red Wings
Head-to-Head: Anaheim 1 – 0 Detroit
The Anaheim Ducks have come back to Earth after an impressive start. This team goes as far as John Gibson carries them and he can’t be the best goaltender in the world every night. Until the Ducks get Gibson some help, it’s unlikely their ceiling will be any higher than it currently is. That being said, their game Tuesday night will be against one of the weaker teams in the league.
Sound the alarms. The Detroit Red Wings are undefeated since acquiring forward Robby Fabbri and now look like a contender in the East. In all seriousness, Detroit lives and dies by their top line of Dylan Larkin, Tyler Bertuzzi, and Anthony Mantha. Mantha, in particular, is finally looking like the goal-scoring machine that many predicted he could become when he was drafted. He is also the strongest possession player on the team with an 11.7 relative Corsi For percentage. The Red Wings have some solid pieces and one of the best general managers in the league at the helm, but don’t let a couple wins sway opinions about this team. They aren’t very good and shouldn’t win this game.
Prediction: Ducks win 3-1
Los Angeles Kings vs Minnesota Wild
Head-to-Head: Los Angeles 0 – 1 Minnesota
The Los Angeles Kings have lost 7 of their last 8 contests. They aren’t a very good team, and they show very few signs of improving. If any positives can be taken from their recent run, the goal-tending has improved. That’s not to say that the Kings are strong in net, but Los Angeles has held their opponents to three goals in each of their last four games. If the offence could put together a solid night the Kings could come away with a victory.
Similarly, the Minnesota Wild are in the middle of a rough season. They sit seventh place in the Central Division. November has been kinder to Minnesota, however, as they’ve picked up points in three of their four games this month. Neither of these teams is very good, but Minnesota probably has more to like. They should get their second win over the Kings this season.
Prediction: Minnesota wins 3-1
San Jose Sharks vs Edmonton Oilers
Head-to-Head: San Jose 0 – 0 Edmonton
The San Jose Sharks have been one of the big disappointments of the 2019-20 season. That being said, they have won their last three contests and look to be playing better hockey. While the wins are encouraging, they have come against teams that aren’t necessarily the cream of the crop. The Sharks come into this contest sitting at seventh in the Pacific Division but could gain some ground.
The Edmonton Oilers are inconsistent but still sit atop the Pacific Division. Their top-end scoring has enough firepower to get it done against any team, and their goaltending tandem of Mike Smith and Mikko Koskinen hasn’t been disastrous. Against the weak San Jose defence and goalies, if the Oilers tandem of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl can have a big game, it should be a win for Edmonton.
Prediction: Oilers win 5-3
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