Here are today’s NHL Game Day Predictions. Daily, Last Word on Hockey brings you a prediction and analysis of every game on the schedule. This will also feature a significant game on the schedule that is must-watch hockey. Today’s featured game is the Philadelphia Flyers vs Tampa Bay Lightning. Be sure to check out our late-game NHL Predictions too.
NHL Predictions Featuring the Philadelphia Flyers vs Tampa Bay Lightning
Detroit Red Wings vs Boston Bruins
Head to Head: Red Wings 2-0 Bruins
The Detroit Red Wings have had an abysmal season thus far, holding a historically bad record. Surprisingly enough, they have managed to secure two wins in two games this season against one of the best teams in the NHL in the Boston Bruins. While this team lacks high-end talent outside of Dylan Larkin, they have a level of tenacity to them that can keep them in games against tough matchups. That should be enough to make today’s game competitive.
David Pastrnak is having a career year, to say the least. His hat trick was enough to win their game against the Montreal Canadiens on its own. A frontrunner for the Richard Trophy this season, Pasta will need to continue his strong effort to break the tie with Auston Matthews and to keep Alex Ovechkin in the rearview mirror. Weak goaltending in Detroit gives him an opportunity to keep his hot streak going
Prediction: Bruins win 5-3
Nashville Predators vs St. Louis Blues
Head to Head: Predators 2-0 Blues
The championship window appears to have closed for the Nashville Predators. They seem to be headed to the couch for the playoffs this season and with John Hynes instead of Peter Laviolette behind the bench, a last-minute run may not be in the cards. While they could still catch a wild card berth, their remaining schedule features plenty of tough matchups for a team that has been unable to find consistently solid goaltending.
Nashville will be the first opponent the St. Louis Blues face at home since Jay Bouwmeester collapsed on the bench in Anaheim. His absence not only leaves a hole in the defensive core but the loss of a leader as well. The Blues should be able to overcome it, but the one thing that is for sure is that he is missed by his teammates and the whole hockey community is rooting for Bouwmeester to make a full recovery. The Blues will win this one for him on home ice in front of a raucous crowd.
Prediction: Blues win 4-2
Philadelphia Flyers vs Tampa Bay Lightning
Head to Head: Flyers 0-1 Lightning
*This is our NHL Prediction Featured Game Of The Night
It’s starting to look like the Philadelphia Flyers overpaid for Kevin Hayes. He has been held without a point in his last five games and has 32 points on the season. To pay a player over $7 million, you need frequent and consistent production. The Flyers have not gotten that from Hayes and it may be a large part of the reason why they are only holding the second wild-card spot instead of being one of the top three teams in the Metropolitan. If Hayes can pick it up now, he may be able to prove he is worth the price tag.
The Tampa Bay Lightning are about as red hot as you can get. They are on a nine-game winning streak and have a record of 21-2-1 over their last 24 games stretching back to their last game before the Christmas break. It appears that the Lightning have finally snapped out of the daze created from being swept in last year’s playoffs. This team is ready to compete and should be a tough matchup come playoff time.
Prediction: Lightning win 4-3
Edmonton Oilers vs Florida Panthers
Head to Head: Oilers 0-1 Panthers
Without Connor McDavid, the Edmonton Oilers are in a tough spot. They are right in the thick of the playoff hunt in an ever-changing Pacific Division. They need wins desperately to stay afloat in a highly competitive division and the Florida Panthers present a difficult challenge. The Panthers won the last time these two met, and in a decisive fashion, winning 6-2. Leon Draisaitl will have to step up and fill McDavid’s shoes in order to get a win in the sunshine state.
The Panthers are five points behind both Philadelphia and Columbus for a playoff spot. If this team wants to get in, they need every win they can get. Florida should consider themselves lucky they don’t have to worry about stopping McDavid and should look to take full advantage of his absence.
Prediction: Panthers win 3-2
San Jose Sharks vs Minnesota Wild
Head to Head: Sharks 1-0 Wild
The Minnesota Wild have parted ways with Bruce Boudreau. Now with Dean Evason as interim bench boss, he will get his first opportunity as an NHL head coach. The Wild have struggled this season and even though they brought in the talented Mats Zuccarello in the offseason, there is still a lot of work to be done to turn this franchise around. Evason should take this opportunity to try and win the head coaching job outright.
The San Jose Sharks looked poised for another strong year following a promising postseason run in 2019. Now they are primed for a high draft pick as one of the worst teams in the NHL. Injuries to key players like Logan Couture have derailed their season. One can only hope that a strong defence boasting Brent Burns and Erik Karlsson can help this team find their way back to the playoffs next season.
Prediction: Wild win 2-1
That does it for today’s NHL Predictions. Be sure to check back tomorrow for another slate of games.
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