Welcome to NHL Predictions. Each day, Last Word on Hockey will break down every game and give our NHL Predictions for who will win. This will also include a featured game that should be must-watch hockey. These are the early games in our NHL Predictions for November 25. Today’s featured game is the Buffalo Sabres vs. Tampa Bay Lightning. The late NHL Predictions can be found here.
NHL Predictions
Ottawa Senators vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
Head-to-Head: Senators 0-0 Blue Jackets
The Ottawa Senators have been on a roll with three straight wins and four in their last five. Ottawa beat the New York Rangers 4-1 on Friday, including a goal and an assist from Anthony Duclair. The Senators average 2.83 goals a game and give up 3.04 per contest. Ottawa’s power play is at the bottom of the league at 10 percent and the penalty kill is tied for 13th a 82.6 percent.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau is the Senators’ leading scorer, with 13 goals and six assists. Anders Nilsson has taken the reins in net with a 7-4-1 record, 2.63 goals-against average and .928 save percentage.
The Columbus Blue Jackets have won three of their last four but lost 4-3 to the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday. Oliver Bjorkstrand notched two assists in the game for Blue Jackets. Columbus is near the bottom of the league with 2.64 goals a game and gives up 3.27 a contest. The Blue Jackets’ power play is 12th with a 20.3 percent success rate and 20th in the penalty kill with a 79.7% kill rate.
Pierre-Luc Dubois leads in goals (10) and points (17). Joonas Korpisalo is the Jackets’ top goalie with a 9-7-1 record, 3.04 GAA and .897 save percentage.
Ottawa has a lot of holes on defence but could get Nikita Zaitsev back. Columbus might be able to take advantage of the thin Senators’ defence.
Prediction: Columbus wins 3-1.
Buffalo Sabres vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
Head-to-Head: Sabres 0-2 Lightning
Buffalo started off its Sunshine State wing with a 5-2 win over the Florida Panthers. Zemgus Girgensons scored twice and Jack Eichel tallied a goal and two assists. The Sabres scored 2.77 goals a game and give up 2.95 a contest. Buffalo’s power play is in the top 10 with a 20.8 conversion rate and the penalty kill is 26th at 73.5 percent.
Eichel leads in all offensive categories such as goals (13), assists (13) and points (26). Carter Hutton and Linus Ullmark are sharing the time in net, but Hutton should start on due to back-to-back nights.
Tampa Bay swept both games against Buffalo in Stockholm this season and have won two straight. The Lightning may be without Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov due to injury. Tampa tops the league in goals with 3.70 per game and gives up 3.30 per game. The Lightning’s power play is a deadly 32.8 percent and the penalty kill is 80 percent.
Victor Hedman leads the team in assists as Stamkos and Kucherov may both be out. Andrei Vasilevskiy is 8-6 and has a 2.88 GAA and .908 save percentage.
Tampa Bay is missing some firepower, but Buffalo is coming off a game in Sunrise, Fla. The Lightning should keep it going here.
Prediction: Lightning win 4-3.
Minnesota Wild vs. New York Rangers
Head-to-Head: Wild 0-0 Rangers
The Minnesota Wild lost 5-4 in overtime to the Boston Bruins on Saturday. Minnesota blew a two-goal lead in the third period. The Wild average 2.78 goals a game, but give up 3.35 a contest. Minnesota’s power play is middle of the pack at 18.8 and their penalty kill is tied for 13th at 82.6 percent.
Jason Zucker leads in goals with eight while Eric Staal leads in points. Alex Stalock is taking most of the starts while Devan Dubnyk is on injured reserve.
The New York Rangers experienced a wild 6-5 comeback victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday. New York was down 4-1 before rallying thanks to Brendan Lemieux‘s two goals. The Rangers are near the top of the league with 3.38 goals a game, but give up an alarming 3.57 goals a game. New York’s power-play converts at 20.5 percent and the penalty kill is struggling at 73.5 percent.
Artemi Panarin has set the team ablaze with 12 goals and 15 assists for the Blueshirts.
New York will want a fast-paced game to take advantage of Stalock and the Wild. Rangers will win if they dictate the pace.
Prediction: Rangers win 4-3.
Calgary Flames vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Head-to-Head: Flames 0-0 Penguins
The Calgary Flames got a much-needed win with a 3-2 shootout win over the Philadelphia Flyers. Matthew Tkachuk got the shootout-winner for a Flames team struggling to score. Calgary only scores 2.38 goals a game and allows 3.08 a game. The power-play has been bad with a 15.5 percent conversion rate and the penalty kill is 85.6 percent successful.
Tkachuk leads the team in scoring with 10 goals and 10 assists while David Rittich has a 10-7-3 record with a 2.80 GAA and .911 save percentage.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are treading water without Sidney Crosby as they beat the New Jersey Devils, 4-1, on Friday. Pittsburgh scores 3.35 goals a game and surrenders 2.61 a game. The Pens’ power play has been lethargic with a 15.4 conversion rate, but better on the penalty kill at 86.7 percent.
Jake Guentzel has filled in for Crosby with 11 goals and 20 points. Matt Murray is 9-4-4 with 2.60 GAA and .907 save percentage.
Pittsburgh should stay on track despite the loss of Crosby with a solid home record.
Prediction: Penguins win 5-2.
Vancouver Canucks vs Philadelphia Flyers
Head-to-Head: Canucks 1-0 Flyers
The Vancouver Canucks got a big 2-1 shootout win over the Washington Capitals on Saturday. Jacob Markstrom made 32 saves and Elias Pettersson scored for Vancouver. The Canucks notch 3.13 goals a game and give up 2.83. Vancouver has one of the better power plays with a 26.7 success rate and kill 83.5 percent of penalties.
Petterson leads the Canucks in goals, assists and points while Markstrom and Thatcher Demko have formed a solid pairing.
Philadelphia has lost four of its last five games and lost to Vancouver 3-2 in a shootout on Oct. 12. The Flyers score 2.91 goals a game and allow 2.87 per game. Philadelphia’s power play is middle of the pack at 20.0 percent and the penalty kill is at 85.3 percent.
Travis Konecny leads in assists (15) and points (23) while Carter Hart is 6-5-3 with a 2.65 goals-against average and .898 save percentage.
Vancouver is coming off a big win and its offence seems a bit more productive.
Prediction: Canucks win 3-2.
TAMPA, FL – FEBRUARY 28: Braydon Coburn #55 of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Zemgus Girgensons #28 of the Buffalo Sabres fight for the puck during a game at Amalie Arena on February 28, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
