Welcome back to NHL Predictions! Each day, the Last Word on Hockey team 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 Montreal Canadiens vs. Winnipeg Jets. This is the late game slate of NHL Predictions. Be sure and check out the early games of NHL Predictions too.
NHL Predictions
Arizona Coyotes vs. Nashville Predators
Head-to-Head: Coyotes 1 – 0 Predators
This is the second meeting of the season between the Arizona Coyotes and Nashville Predators. Back in October, the Coyotes defeated the Predators by a score of 5-2. The stories of the first game of the season were Phil Kessel scoring his first two goals of the season and Darcy Kuemper playing spectacular in between the pipes. Well, the Coyotes will be without the services of Kuemper for a while. He is week-to-week with a lower-body which he sustained in the Coyotes previous game. Antti Raanta will have to take the share of the starts going forward. The addition of Taylor Hall has made the Coyotes a much better team. Hall has registered points in the three games he played in a Coyotes uniform. The Coyotes are in first place in the fluctuating Pacific Division.
The Predators come into this matchup having won three of four games on the road. Pekka Rinne and Juuse Saros are starting to round into form. Both goalies played a vital role in the Predators’ successful road trip. Nashville won a game in Boston that nobody expected them to after losing a winnable game in Ottawa. The defence continues to drive the offence for the Predators. Roman Josi and Ryan Ellis lead in the team in points and it was Ellis who got the overtime winner Saturday night in Boston. Filip Forsberg is getting hot at the right time too. However, it is always tough to win that first game back on home ice after a long road trip. But with the Coyotes playing in back-to-back games, Nashville might just have a leg up in this one.
Prediction: Coyotes Win 3-2
Montreal Canadiens vs. Winnipeg Jets
Head-to-Head: Canadiens 0 – 0 Jets
This our NHL predictions featured late game of the night.
This is the first of two meetings between the Montreal Canadiens and Winnipeg Jets. The Canadiens remain on the road for four more games which includes Monday night in Winnipeg. So far the Canadiens are 2-1 on their road trip through Western Canada. Max Domi is heating up for the Canadiens with points in five of his last six games. The Canadiens need to generate more offence some how some way. Especially against a team like the Jets who have so many weapons. Brendan Gallagher has to be his fiery self. He is at his best when he gets under the skin of the other team’s best players. But he can also score goals as well. Goaltender Carey Price will have to be on his game as Winnipeg is a very tough place to play.
After a mini two-game slide, the Jets got back in the win column on Saturday defeating the Minnesota Wild. The big boys of Mark Scheifele, Patrik Laine, Kyle Connor, and Blake Wheeler continue to get it done offensively. Not to mention Nikolaj Ehlers has been a great complimentary piece for the big guns on offence. He is always in the right position as he leads the Jets in goals. On defence, Neal Pionk is steady as ever and Josh Morrissey is living up to the contract he signed just prior to the season getting underway. The Jets are figuring out ways to win despite all their losses on defence. Connor Hellebuyck is getting back to form. This will be a fun game to watch and a tough one to pick.
Prediction: Jets Win 4-3
New Jersey Devils vs. Chicago Blackhawks
Head-to-Head: Blackhawks 1 – 0 Devils
This is the second and final meeting between the New Jersey Devils and Chicago Blackhawks. The Blackhawks took the first meeting in a shootout two weeks ago in New Jersey. It was a goalie battle between MacKenzie Blackwood and Corey Crawford. Kirby Dach got the deciding goal in the fifth round of the shootout. It has been a disappointing season for both teams, to say the least. After back-to-back losses, the Devils are looking to get back in the win column. Since the departure of Taylor Hall, the Devils are playing more of a team game, but do not have much to show for it. It will be interesting to see how the Devils respond after two poor performances in their last two games.
The Blackhawks remain in the hunt for the playoffs. Well at least in their mind. With wins in three of their last four games, the Blackhawks are looking to extend their winning streak to three. Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane have been reunited on a line for the time being. This move has allowed Toews to find his scoring touch again. The young players in Alex DeBrincat, Dylan Strome, and Dach continue their development. With Robin Lehner playing the last game, look for Crawford to get another crack at the Devils. Considering the history when these two teams hook up, look for another close game.
Prediction: Blackhawks Win 3-2 in Overtime
Edmonton Oilers vs. Vancouver Canucks
Head-to-Head: Oilers 2 – 1 Canucks
This is the final meeting of the season between the Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks. The last meeting came three weeks ago as part of a home and home series. The Oilers got the better of the Canucks by the final score of 3-2. Even though the Oilers are tied for points with 44 in the Pacific Division, they sit in third place. Four wins in the month of December will do that to a team. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl continue to be one of the best duos in the NHL this season. Outside of those two players, the Oilers need to find more offence. You can’t have two players carry a team to the playoffs. Another thing the Oilers need is goaltending. Especially against a team like the Canucks.
The Canucks are looking to extend their winning streak to three games against the Oilers. Vancouver sits on the outside of the playoff picture. The Canucks know they need to continue to put wins together. On Saturday night, the Canucks got a big win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. The big boys of Elias Pettersson, Bo Horvat, J.T. Miller, Brock Boeser and Quinn Hughes led the way. With Josh Leivo and Brandon Sutter out of the lineup, it will be interesting to see how the Canucks adjust their lineup. The Canucks will need to figure out how to stop the dynamic duo as they did in the previous win in the series.
Prediction: Oilers Win 4-3
Colorado Avalanche vs. Vegas Golden Knights
Head-to-Head: Avalanche 1 – 0 Golden Knights
This is the second of three meetings between the Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights. Their prior meeting came in October when the Avalanche came into Vegas and put a beating on the Golden Knights by a score of 6-1. The Avalanche are looking to do the same on Monday night. Colorado enters the game having lost three of its last four games. Rookie defenceman Cale Makar remains out of the lineup. Since getting injured the Avalanche have not been the same team. Makar means so much to this team as he does so much not only defensively but offensively as well. They are hoping he can return on Monday night. Even with Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, and Gabriel Landeskog playing well, the Avalanche will still want production out of Andre Burakovsky, Joonas Donskoi, and Valeri Nichushkin.
The Golden Knights sit at the top of the Pacific Division, tied with Arizona. Having picked up several wins in the month of December, the Golden Knights are playing to the level everyone expected at to begin the season. This will be a tough game as they will be playing back-to-back games. Not only having to play Sunday night but having to travel too, will make this a tough game for the Golden Knights. However, head coach Gerard Gallant will have his team prepared for battle against a good team. After calling his play out, Mark Stone has got his act together. He is second in the team in points behind Max Pacioretty. With Malcolm Subban getting the call against the San Jose Sharks on Sunday, look for Marc-Andre Fleury to play against the Avalanche.
Prediction: Avalanche Win 5-2
St. Louis Blues vs. Los Angeles Kings
Head-to-Head: Blues 1 – 0 Kings
This is the second of three meetings between the St. Louis Blues and Los Angeles Kings. In the first meeting, the Blues took care of business against the Kings winning by a score of 5-2. With the way St. Louis is playing as of late, do not be surprised to see a similar result. The defending Stanley Cup Champions are playing like a team that has the goal of repeating as champions this season. St. Louis enters this game with the Kings on a five-game winning streak. With Vladimir Tarasenko out of the lineup guys like David Perron, Brayden Schenn, and Jaden Schwartz are stepping up their games. The Blues continue to roll four tough lines that play a hard physical game that wears teams down.
The Kings are returning home after a long six-game road trip. As stated previously, the first game after a long road trip is always the toughest. It was a successful road trip for the Kings in their eyes as they went 3-3. While the Kings sit in last place in the Western Conference, they are starting to become a tougher team to play against. Even though the Kings are losing games, they are playing better defensively. The losses on the road trip were only by one goal. But the Kings are going up against a superior team as they return home.
Prediction: Blues 4-1
This does it for NHL Predictions for the late games for December 23rd.
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