Welcome to NHL Predictions! Last Word On Hockey will break down every game and give our NHL predictions for each game. In today’s NHL predictions, we’ll cover the four late games happening on November 25th. This will include a featured game that should be must-watch hockey. The featured game today is the St. Louis Blues vs. Nashville Predators. Be sure to check out the early games as well.
NHL Predictions
St. Louis Blues vs. Nashville Predators
Head-to-Head: Blues 0-1 Predators
The Blues lost the first meeting of the season to the Predators, 4-2, on Saturday. Robert Bortuzzo was suspended four games after a nasty cross-check to Viktor Arvidsson that will sideline him four to six weeks. St. Louis is 15th in goals scored with 3.00 per game and sixth in goals allowed with 2.67. The Blues power play is fifth in the league with a 24.7 percent success rate. Their penalty kill is 83.1 percent, tying them for 11th.
David Perron leads the team is scoring with 10 goals and 12 assists while Brayden Schenn has the most goals with 11. Jordan Binnington is 11-4-4 with a 2.23 goals against average and .926 save percentage.
Nashville is tied for fourth in goals scored with 3.55 a game. They are tied for 23rd in goals allowed with 3.36 a game. The Predators power play is tied for 18th with an 18.8 conversion rate and the penalty kill is at the bottom of the league with a rate of 70.8 percent.
Roman Josi leads in points with 22 and assists with 15 while Filip Forsberg has the most goals with 10. Pekka Rinne has an 8-4-2 record with a 3.06 GAA and .889 save percentage.
Nashville can win if it gets out to a fast start. Keep in mind that the Blues have a strong defence. Styles make matchups and the Blues should bounce back in a hard-fought game that may have some nastiness to it.
Prediction: Blues win 3-2 in a shootout.
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Dallas Stars
Head-to-Head: Golden Knights 0-0 Stars
The Vegas Golden Knights are coming off a two-game losing streak after losing 4-2 to the Edmonton Oilers. Shea Theodore and Cody Eakin scored goals for Vegas, which is tied for 16th in goals scored with 2.9 a game. The Golden Knights rank 16th in goals allowed with 2.88 a game. Vegas has the 8th-ranked power play at 22.8 percent and the 4th-best penalty kill at 85.9 percent.
William Karlsson leads the team in goals with assists (15) and points (23) and Marc-Andre Fleury leads in goal with an 11-6-2 mark, 2.54 GAA and .919 save percentage.
The Dallas Stars have been red hot as of late with an 11-game point-streak that has six wins in a row and 9-0-1 record. Dallas is tied for 18th in goals scored with 2.79 and has the best defence with 2.21 goals a game. The Stars’ power play is 27th in power play success with a 12.7 conversion rate and seventh in penalty killing with an 85.1 mark.
Dallas has been winning without Roope Hintz and John Klingberg in the lineup. Vegas needs a win to keep pace in the Pacific Division. The Knights will end the streak here.
Prediction: Vegas wins 3-2.
New York Islanders vs. Anaheim Ducks
Head-to-Head: Islanders 0-0 Ducks
The New York Islanders have a 17-game point streak, but lost in overtime, 2-1, to the San Jose Sharks on Saturday night. Casey Cizikas scored and Semyon Varlamov made 24 saves. New York is 13th in goals scored with 3.14 and fourth in goals allowed with 2.38 a game. The Islanders are tied for 13th in power-play success rate at 20.0 percent and 10th in the penalty kill at 83.3.
Mathew Barzal leads the Islanders in all offensive categories like goals (9), assists (11) and points (20). New York has a great goalie duo of Varlamov and Thomas Greiss, who each have at least seven wins.
The Anaheim Ducks have lost three straight, including a 6-2 drubbing by the Tampa Bay Lightning. Anaheim is 25th in goals scored with 2.71 per game and 19th in goals allowed with 3.04. The Ducks power play is 30th with an 11.1 percent conversion rate and the penalty kill is 23rd with a 76.5 success rate.
Jakob Silfverberg paces the Ducks in all offensive categories like goals (9), assists (9) and points (18). John Gibson is 7-10-1 with a 3.02 GAA and .909 save percentage.
New York has been playing Barry Trotz’s system well and its defence has been stifling. Expect the Isles to keep it rolling on the West Coast.
Prediction: Islanders win 4-1.
San Jose Sharks vs. Los Angeles Kings
Head-to-Head: Sharks 0-0 Kings
The San Jose Sharks got a big overtime-winner from Logan Couture to beat the New York Islanders on Saturday. Martin Jones made 27 saves as the Sharks have won four of their last five. The Sharks have scored 2.79 goals a game, placing them 19th in goals in that category. The San Jose club has allowed 3.33 goals a game, ranking them sixth. San Jose’s power play is 13th with a conversion rate of 20.0 and has the best penalty kill at 90.9.
Couture leads the team in assists (19) and points (24) while Evander Kane tops the team in goals with 12. Jones is 9-8-1 with a 3.20 GAA and .889 save percentage. He has played better as of late.
The Los Angeles Kings lost 3-2 in a shootout to the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday night. Anze Kopitar and Nikolai Prokhorkin scored for the Kings and Jonathan Quick made 16 saves. Los Angeles is 27th in goals scored with 2.61 a game and 27th in goals allowed with 3.43. The Kings power play is 29th in success rate with 12.0 percent and 31st in penalty killing with 72.0.
Kopitar leads the team in all offensive categories with goals (9), assists (15) and points (24). Quick and Jack Campbell each have a goals against average of over three.
The Sharks have righted the ship as of late and will get a key Pacific Division win. San Jose will make L.A. pay if the Kings take many penalties.
Prediction: Sharks win 4-2.
ST. LOUIS, MO – FEBRUARY 26: Nashville Predators’ Calle Jarnkrok, front, is up-ended by Blues’ Alex Pietrangelo, back, during the third period of an NHL hockey game between the Blues and the Nashville Predators on February 26, 2019, at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, MO. (Photo by Tim Spyers/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
