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 six games happening on February 10th. Each piece will include a featured game that should be must-watch hockey. The featured game today for our NHL Predictions is the New York Islanders vs Washington Capitals.
NHL Predictions
Florida Panthers vs Philadelphia Flyers
Head-to-Head: Panthers 1-0 Flyers
The Florida Panthers are really hurting with losses in four of their last five. Mike Hoffman registered a goal and an assist in the 3-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday. Evgenii Dadonov leads the team in goals with 23 and Sergei Bobrovsky has gotten most of the starts in goal for Florida.
Florida scores 3.53 goals a game and gives up 3.30 a game. The Panthers’ power play converts 23.8 percent of the time and they kill 77.7 percent of opposing power plays.
The Philadelphia Flyers have won three of their last five, including a 7-2 drubbing of the Capitals on Saturday. Sean Couturier tallied two goal and an assist for Philadelphia. He leads the team in points with 49 points.
Philadelphia scores 3.06 goals a game and yields 2.91 a contest. The Flyers score 19.1 percent on the power play and they stop 80.9 percent of the other team’s power plays.
Florida has struggled in Philadelphia as they’re 1-5 in the last six. Philly is also 12-4 in its last 16 at home.
Prediction: Flyers win 4-2.
Arizona Coyotes vs Montreal Canadiens
Head-to-Head: Coyotes 0-1 Canadiens
The Arizona Coyotes are struggling with defeats in four of their last five, including a 4-2 loss to the Boston Bruins on Saturday. Arizona is still within striking distance in the Pacific Division, but miss Oliver Ekman-Larsson on defence. Adin Hill could get the start with Antti Raanta out injured. There is even a chance Darcy Kuemper along with Ekman-Larsson can return from injury which would be a big boost to the club.
Arizona scores 2.73 goals a game and gives up 2.63 a game. The Coyotes convert 19.1 percent of power plays and they kill off 82.7 percent of penalties.
The Montreal Canadiens are coming in hot with nine wins in their last 12, including a 2-1 overtime victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Ilya Kovalchuk scored the OT-winner for the Habs. Tomas Tatar leads the team in goals (20), assists (31) and points (51). Carey Price is playing like his old self again with a 24-18-4 mark and 2.69 goals-against-average.
Montreal scores and allows 3.05 goals a game. The Canadiens’ power play has a 19.9 percent success rate and stops 79.2 of the opponent’s power plays.
Montreal may not be in playoff position, but it’s playing like a post-season team. The Canadiens should finish the season-sweep of the Coyotes here.
Prediction: Canadiens win 4-2.
New York Islanders vs Washington Capitals
Head-to-Head: Islanders 1-2 Capitals
The Caps have won two of the last three meetings in the season series so far, but the Islanders are coming off a 3-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. New York has still won three of its last five games. Brock Nelson leads the team in goals with 21 and Semyon Varlamov as the most wins with a 16-9-4 record and .915 save percentage.
The Islanders score 2.92 goals a game and give up 2.69 goals a game. New York scores 19.0 percent of the time on the power play and they stop 79.6 of power plays.
Washington is coming off a 7-2 loss to Philadelphia on Saturday. The Capitals have lost three of its last five games and are only four points ahead of the Penguins in the Metropolitan Division. Alex Ovechkin has reached the 40-goal mark once again and John Carlson has 51 assists.
The Capitals score 3.59 goals a game and allow 2.93 a game. Washington scores 20.0 percent of the time on the power play and they stop 84.7 percent of opponent’s power plays.
Washington got a big wake up call with the worst home loss in years. The Caps should rally with a win against their old coach Barry Trotz.
Prediction: Capitals win 4-1.
Tampa Bay Lightning vs Columbus Blue Jackets
Head-to-Head: Lightning 0-0 Blue Jackets
Tampa Bay has been itching to get a chance at the Columbus Blue Jackets for a month. The Lightning were embarrassed in four straight games after winning the President’s Trophy. Tampa Bay has won six straight games to put themselves back in the conversation. Steven Stamkos leads the team in goals and Andrei Vasilevskiy is turning back into a Vezina winning goalie.
The Lightning’s potent offence scores 3.59 goals a game and surrenders 2.76 a game. Tampa’s power-play scores 24.6 percent of the time and they kill 84.4 percent of penalties.
Columbus has been defying expectations despite a 2-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday. Elvis Merzlikins has taken the reins in goal since Joonas Korpisalo went down to injury. The Jackets had won three straight before Saturday. Pierre-Luc Dubois leads the team in goals (17), assists (25) and points (42).
The Blue Jackets score 2.65 goals a game and yield 2.42 per game. Columbus’ power play nets 16.8 percent of the time and they stop 82.6 percent of opposing power plays.
Tampa Bay has been zeroing in on this game for ages. They should be motivated to win this game.
Prediction: Lightning win 3-1.
Nashville Predators vs Vancouver Canucks
Head-to-Head: Predators 0-2 Canucks
The Nashville Predators are coming off a 3-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday. Nashville is trying to get back into the post-season race. Roman Josi leads the team in points with 54 and Pekka Rinne is likely to get the start after Juuse Saros started on Saturday.
Nashville scores 3.25 goals a game and gives up 3.23 a contest. The Predators score 17.0 percent of their power plays and kill off 74.9 percent of opponent’s power plays.
The Vancouver Canucks have lost four straight games after dropping a 6-2 decision to the Calgary Flames on Saturday. Vancouver will be without Brock Boeser for at least the next couple of games. Elias Pettersson leads the team in goals with 23 and Jacob Markstrom has a 20-16-3 record and 2.83 goals-against-average.
Vancouver scores 3.20 goals a game and surrenders 3.00 a game. The Canucks’ power play is 23.2 percent effective and the PK is 80.9 percent successful.
The loss of Boeser will hurt and the Predators are in desperate need of a win.
Prediction: Predators win 3-2 in a shootout.
Calgary Flames vs San Jose Sharks
Head-to-Head: Flames 0-2 Sharks
Calgary got a big win over Vancouver on Saturday after Dillon Dube got two assists. The Flames are trying to endure life without Mark Giordano. Calgary had lost three straight with one of the losses coming to the San Jose Sharks. Elias Lindholm leads the team in goals with 22.
The Flames score 2.60 goals a game and give up 3.05 a game. Calgary converts 19.7 of power plays and they kill 81.2 percent of penalties.
San Jose has won two straight and are trying to spoil the team’s playoffs chances. The Sharks have a pair of 3-1 wins over the Flames this year. Erik Karlsson leads the team in points with 38. Aaron Dell has gotten most of the starts for the Sharks since Bob Boughner took over.
The Sharks also score 2.60 goals a game and allow 3.27 goals a game. San Jose scores 16.2 percent of the power play and their PK is one of the league’s best with an 86.9 percent kill ratio.
Calgary needs to figure a way out to beat the Sharks and they will tonight with their offence.
Prediction: Flames win 5-2.
