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 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Toronto Maple Leafs. This is the early game slate of NHL Predictions. Be sure and check out the late games of NHL Predictions too.
NHL Predictions
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
Head-to-Head: Penguins 2 – 0 Maple Leafs
This is the NHL Predictions featured early game of the night.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are going for the sweep against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Tuesday night was the Sidney Crosby show as the Penguins defeated the Maple Leafs by a score of 5-2. Even without Evgeni Malkin in the lineup, the Maple Leafs did not stand a chance. He was a late scratch, but it wouldn’t surprise anyone if he played in this game. This was similar to their first meeting when the Penguins beat up Toronto by a score of 6-1. The Penguins continue to motor on as they continue to with injuries to their top players. The addition of Jason Zucker has allowed the Penguins to march on without missing a beat.
On the other side of the coin, the Maple Leafs continue to look like a non-playoff team. While everyone was upset or were surprised by comments made by players earlier in the season, they need to start playing as a team, not as individuals. Outside of Auston Matthews, players like John Tavares, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander need to up their game in order to make the players. Toronto needs more of a commitment to start playing defence especially in front of their goaltenders. Not to mention they need to add a bit of sandpaper to their game. If nothing changes, this group could miss the playoffs.
Prediction: Penguins Win 4-2.
San Jose Sharks vs. New Jersey Devils
Head-to-Head: Sharks 0 – 0 Devils
The San Jose Sharks and New Jersey Devils enter this contest as sellers with the NHL Trade Deadline approaching. Already without Erik Karlsson for the year, the Sharks traded Brenden Dillon to the Washington Capitals. And San Jose may not be done wheeling and dealing. Even with all the questions surrounding the Sharks, the team has won four of its past six games. However, they are embarking on a four-game Eastern road trip. Martin Jones has been solid between the pipes. The Sharks still have a team on any given night that can win a hockey game. But this season is shot to make the playoffs and they need to look towards the future.
The Devils are coming off a 3-0 shutout loss to the Blues on Tuesday night. After trading away Blake Coleman and Andy Greene on Sunday, the Devils are probably not done trading away some of their other assets. However, these questions will not affect how coach Alain Nasreddine coaches his team. He will field the possible team each and every night. Nasreddine is trying to get his young rookie going in Jack Hughes. He moved him to the wing in the last game. One bright spot his been Nick Merkley and Joey Anderson, both players are performing well since their call up from the AHL. The Devils have a bright future ahead of them but they are not gonna go out there and just tank games.
Prediction: Devils Win 3-2.
Montreal Canadiens vs. Washington Capitals
Head-to-Head: Canadiens 1 – 1 Capitals
The Montreal Canadiens find themselves in a peculiar spot as they are not good enough to compete for a playoff spot. That is why it was so strange to see Shea Weber and Paul Byron return to the lineup the other night. Montreal is so far out of a playoff spot they should have shut these players down for the rest of the season. But that is a proud locker room and they will not lay down for anyone. But losing four times to the Detroit Red Wings sealed the fate for the Canadiens. Montreal always plays Washington very tough, but this version of the Capitals are just too good for them to beat.
The Washington Capitals are sitting in second place in the Metro Division. After being passed by the Penguins, the Capitals are looking to get back on the winning track. Washington has lost four of five games. The quest for Alex Ovechkin to get 700 goals is clearly weighing him and the team down. They need to start focusing on winning games instead of the individual goal. Once he gets passed 700, Washington will be better off. Not having a player like Evgeny Kuznetsov in the lineup certainly does not help matters. The Capitals decided to add some defensive depth with Dillon. It would surprise anyone if the Capitals add even more pieces for another run at the Stanley Cup. Coming back from a road trip is always tough but the Capitals have the perfect team to play.
Prediction: Capitals Win 4-3.
Philadelphia Flyers vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
Head-to-Head: Flyers 3 – 0 Blue Jackets
This is a big Metropolitan Division tilt between the Philadelphia Flyers and Columbus Blue Jackets. This is the back-end of a home and home series. The Flyers are looking to take the season series from the Blue Jackets. In their previous meeting on Tuesday night, the Flyers dominated Columbus from the drop of the puck winning by a score of 5-1. In the first three games of the series, the Flyers have outscored the Blue Jackets by a 15-7 margin. The Flyers have found themselves sitting in third place in a tight Metro Division. Carter Hart is playing well for Philadelphia, not to mention the offence is picking up especially from Claude Giroux, Travis Konecny, and Sean Couturier.
After fighting their way back up the standings, the Blue Jackets find themselves in a tough situation. Columbus is sitting on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoffs. A win would get them back into the playoff spot, however, the Blue Jackets are going in the wrong direction. Injuries have caught up with the Blue Jackets as they continue to miss players like Seth Jones, Josh Anderson, Cam Atkinson, and Alexander Wennberg in their lineup. This should not be an excuse for a team that has overachieved this season. Is the clock about to strike midnight for this Cinderella team or can this team somehow overcome one more obstacle to make the playoffs?
Prediction: Flyers Win 3-2.
That does it for NHL Predictions for the early games for February 20th.
Main Photo:
Embed from Getty Images
