Welcome to NHL Predictions! Each day, 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 three games happening on February 3rd. Each article will include a featured game that should be must-watch hockey. The featured game for is the matchup between the Florida Panthers vs the Toronto Maple Leafs.
NHL Predictions
Dallas Stars vs New York Rangers
Head-to-Head: Stars 0 – 0 Rangers
The Dallas Stars have lost three of their last five but did beat the New Jersey Devils 3-2 on Saturday night. Joe Pavelski got the overtime-winner for the Stars and Ben Bishop stopped 29 saves. Alexander Radulov leads the team in goals with 15 and Bishop is the top goalie with an 18-11-3 mark, 2.31 goals-against-average and .925 save percentage.
The Stars offence is a weak point with 2.59 goals scored a game, but their defence is solid with 2.49 goals-allowed. Dallas’ power play scores at 18.5 percent and they kill 83.3 percent of power plays.
The New York Rangers are coming off a back-to-back sweep of the Detroit Red Wings on Friday and Saturday. Henrik Lundqvist played like his old self with 33 saves in a shutout. Mika Zibanejad got the only goal of the game. Artemi Panarin leads the team in all offensive categories in goals (27), assists (43) and points (70). The Rangers may go with any one of the three goalies in Lundqvist, Alexandar Georgiev or Igor Shesterkin in net.
New York scores 3.26 goals a game and yields 3.18 a game. The Rangers power play converts 22.2. percent of the time and the PK is 78.7 percent successful.
Both teams may be missing forwards as Roope Hintz and Chris Kreider could be out of the lineup. Whoever scores first will have the edge because of the contrast in styles. The Rangers are solid at home and that should get them the edge here.
Prediction: Rangers win 3-2.
Florida Panthers vs Toronto Maple Leafs
Head-to-Head: Panthers 1 – 0 Maple Leafs
Florida laid an 8-4 beating on Toronto on January 12th and the Panthers have been solid as of late. However, they lost 4-0 to the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday. Aleksander Barkov is day-to-day and could be out. Evgenii Dadonov leads the team in goals with 23 and Sergei Bobrovsky is starting to play better as of late with a 19-13-4 record.
The Panthers score 3.60 goals a game and allow 3.28 a game. Florida’s power play is 23.6 percent successful and they kill 77.7 of opposing power plays.
Toronto has won its last three games, including a 2-1 overtime win against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. Mitch Marner got the game-winner and Michael Hutchinson won a rare start in net. Auston Matthews leads the club in goals (36) and points (61). Frederik Andersen is 24-9-6 with a 2.87 goals-against-average and .910 save percentage.
The Leafs have similar offensive stats with 3,60 goals scored and give up 3.21 a game Toronto’s PP is 24.6 percent successful and they kill 77.4 of penalties.
Florida is 0-7 in its last seven meetings in Toronto and the home team has won 11 straight in the series. Look for the Leafs to continue that trend.
Prediction: Leafs win 4-2.
Philadelphia Flyers vs Detroit Red Wings
Head-to-Head: Flyers 1 – 0 Red Wings
The Philadelphia Flyers are coming off a 6-3 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday where Joel Farabee and Kevin Hayes each scored twice. Alex Lyon made 28 saves in the victory for the Flyers. Travis Konecny leads the team in goals while Briant Elliott has done well filling in for the injured Carter Hart.
Philadelphia scores 3.12 a game and gives up 2.92 a game. The Flyers power play has a 19.8 percent conversion rate and they stop 80.9 percent of opponent’s power plays.
Detroit lost back-to-back games to the Rangers to run their losing streak to eight games. The Wings have only gotten one point in those eight games. Tyler Bertuzzi leads Detroit in goals with 17 and Dylan Larkin is tops in points with 37. Jonathan Bernier is 10-13-2 with a 2.92 goals-against-average and .907 save percentage.
The Red Wings struggle on offence (2.08 goals scored) and defence (3.83 allowed). Detroit only scores 14.6 percent on the power play and they kill 72.8 percent of penalties.
Philadelphia has lost five of its last six on the road, but it should get a rare road win here.
Prediction: Flyers win 4-1.
Main Photo:
TORONTO, ON – MARCH 25: Toronto Maple Leafs Center John Tavares (91) celebrates a goal with team mates Mitchell Marner (16), Auston Matthews (34), Nazem Kadri (43) and Morgan Rielly (44) during the NHL regular season game between the Florida Panthers and the Toronto Maple Leafs on March 25, 2019, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON, Canada. (Photo by Julian Avram/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
