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 Tampa Bay Lightning. This is the early game slate of NHL Predictions. Be sure and check out the late games of NHL Predictions too.
NHL Predictions
New York Rangers vs Toronto Maple Leafs
Head-to-Head: Rangers 0 – 1 Maple Leafs
The New York Rangers are a team that started slowly but have really improved as of late. They still sit near the bottom of a very tough Metro Division but have been playing much closer and even above .500 hockey recently. There are still rumours about what to do at the trade deadline. This includes potentially moving Chris Kreider, however, the Rangers will just be focused on winning games for now. They made a ton of additions this offseason bringing in names like Artemi Panarin, Jacob Trouba, and Kaapo Kakko. They didn’t add as much as hoped at first but now that the year has gone on their impact is being felt. This Rangers team is not a team to be taken lightly.
On the other side of things, the Toronto Maple Leafs have benefited greatly under new head coach Sheldon Keefe. It looks like a brand new team at times. Much more dynamic and explosive. Addition Tyson Barrie has been much better as of late, and Michael Hutchinson has been given a bit more of a leash. He even started the first half of a back-to-back last night. Both Toronto and New York played last night so rest will not be an advantage for either team. Look for the explosiveness of the Toronto forwards to be too much for New York. Frederik Andersen backstopping the Leafs should be an advantage as well.
Prediction: Maple Leafs win 5-2.
Montreal Canadiens vs Tampa Bay Lightning
Head-to-Head: Canadiens 0 – 1 Lightning
This is the NHL Predictions game of the night. Both these teams desperately need points in the Atlantic division and it promises to be a good one. The Montreal Canadiens currently have 42 points and the Tampa Bay Lightning 40. There are four teams within just three points of each other all battling for that last Atlantic spot. The Maple Leafs are just ahead of them too. The Canadiens found out they will be without Joel Armia for a few weeks, among others. However, Jesperi Kotkaniemi may be making his return to the lineup. This Habs team has battled injuries all year but have kept fighting. Look for Carey Price to get the start tonight. He has had an up and down year but looks to stop the powerful Lightning offence.
Tampa Bay has seemed to have experienced some shell shock from last season’s quick playoff exit. They just haven’t looked like the same team at all this year and there doesn’t appear to be a great reason for that. Their underlying metrics have been good, goaltending fine, the players can look as explosive as ever when needed. They will need names like Brayden Point, Nikita Kucherov, and Steven Stamkos to step up if they wish to win. They can’t seem to find a consistent game this season, being 2-2-1 in their last five. This should be a fast game between two teams desperate for two points.
Prediction: Canadiens win 4-3 in Overtime.
Detroit Red Wings vs Florida Panthers
Head-to-Head: Red Wings 0 – 1 Panthers
The Detroit Red Wings suck. There is no way to dance around that fact. They are by far the worst team in the league with just 21 points in 38 games this season. They also have a goal differential of -68 which is on pace to be historically bad in the cap era. While this may be OK in the long-run, it makes for some very tough games to watch so far. The Wings have had many long losing streaks this year and are currently on a four-game losing streak now. They will be tough to try and snap that too.
The Florida Panthers have one of the best offences in the game but their goaltending has let them down this year. Sergei Bobrovsky hasn’t been good enough and hasn’t lived up to his paycheque. Chris Driedger has come in and given Bobrovsky something to work for, being alright in his small sample. The Panthers are in the battle for that last Atlantic spot and this is two points they need to have. Look for the Panthers forwards to run all over the Red Wings defence group.
Prediction: Panthers win 4-1.
Nashville Predators vs Pittsburgh Penguins
Head-to-Head: Predators 0 – 1 Penguins
The Nashville Predators and Pittsburgh Penguins are on to game two of their home and home series. Last night was part one in Nashville where the Pens won 5-2. The Predators have wildly underperformed this year. A team with so much talent on it’s roster has struggled to find wins anywhere. Matt Duchene, Ryan Johansen, and Kyle Turris all look like overpayments to one degree or another. The Predators need to turn things around soon if they want to get back into the race. They have managed to fight their way to being right in the mix for the third spot in their division. However, a team this talented no doubt has hopes to be more than third in their division.
On the other side of things, the Penguins have been one of the most injured teams in the league this season. Despite missing lots of time from Evgeni Malkin, Sidney Crosby, and much more, they keep on rolling. They are in the fight for the last Metro spot along with the wildcards. This is a Pens team that doesn’t quit and has many players step up when needed. Names like Bryan Rust come through in the clutch when massive performers are out. This team will look to keep on rolling here tonight at home.
Prediction: Penguins win 3-2 in Overtime.
That’s all for NHL Predictions! Come back tomorrow for more!
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