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 is the early game slate of NHL Predictions. Be sure and check out the late games of NHL Predictions too.
Several games were postponed today due to COVID-19 protocol. Now on to the predictions.
NHL Predictions
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Islanders
Head-to-Head: Islanders 1 – 0 Penguins
These East Division rivals will battle for the second time this season. The New York Islanders took the first meeting against the Pittsburgh Penguins by a score of 4-3 as they rallied from a 3-2 deficit. These two teams always play close games and this one on Thursday night will be no different. The Penguins have a lot of changes coming in with their front office hires. On the ice, the Penguins are playing better than they were at the beginning of the season. However, they will be battling the Islanders for the final spot in the East Division. Defensively the Penguins are still having issues but even the offence is struggling. The Islanders play a strict tight defensive game and will take advantage of turnovers. With Semyon Varlamov playing the way he is, the Islanders have a slight edge coming into this game.
Prediction: Islanders win 4-3
[pickup_prop id=”3088″]
Tampa Bay Lightning vs Florida Panthers
Head-to-Head: Lightning 0 – 0 Panthers
The battle of Florida between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers will sure be an interesting one. These two teams are battling for the top spot in the Central Division. With the Lightning sitting in first place while the Panthers sit in second. There is a natural built up rivalry between the two clubs playing in the same state. Both fan bases are hoping these teams meet finally in the playoffs. And it could happen this year. The Lightning enter the game on a six-game winning streak. While the Panthers have won four of the last six games. Both teams have highly skilled offences, but the question will be Florida can they stop the high-powered Lightning. Sergei Bobrovsky is starting to look like himself again which will make this game even more interesting. If the Panthers can get the goaltending where Bobrovsky matches Andrei Vasilevskiy then Florida will be in this game. If they can’t then the Lightning will run away with it.
Prediction: Lightning win 5-2
Edmonton Oilers vs. Montreal Canadiens
Head-to-Head: Canadiens 1 – 0 Oilers
This feels like a trap game for the Montreal Canadiens after coming off a game against their rival the Toronto Maple Leafs. It will be tough to get for the Oilers after playing their rival. We saw the same thing when they played Ottawa last week. The Edmonton Oilers are coming over back to back wins against the Senators, but they didn’t look overly impressive against a bad team. They will be ready to play against Montreal, a team that beat them 5-1 back in January. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl will not be held scoreless again. However, their defence and goalies are still weak. If Montreal can weather the storm early and get their legs under them, they have a chance to build a lot of momentum. The key to this game will be special teams. Montreal has to stay out of the box to win this game.
Prediction: Oilers win 3-1
[pickup_prop id=”4228″]
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Chicago Blackhawks
Head-to-Head: Blue Jackets 1 – 1 Blackhawks
It is a tale of two teams as the Columbus Blue Jackets take the Chicago Blackhawks. The Blackhawks are a surprise team in the Central Division as they are above .500 with a 6-4-4 record and currently sitting in the third spot of the division. Nobody expected the Blackhawks to do this and many do not expect them to remain there. Even with Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat playing the way they are. The Blue Jackets sit in the four slot right behind the Blackhawks and this is a big game in the division. These two teams split the first two games of the season. There is a lot of turmoil around the Blue Jackets with Mikko Koivu retiring and Patrik Laine stapled to the bench in the Blue Jackets last game. The Blue Jackets play a certain way as they always grind out games. We have yet to see the best the Blue Jackets have to offer. And we might just see it on Thursday night against Chicago.
Prediction: Blue Jackets win 2-1
Detroit Red Wings vs. Nashville Predators
Head-to-Head: Red Wings 0 – 0 Predators
It is the first matchup of the season between struggling teams in the Central Division as the Detroit Red Wings battle the Nashville Predators. While Detroit sits at the bottom of the division, they are not a team to take lightly. Nashville is a struggling team entering this matchup. The Predators are unsure of who they are right now. While they pride themselves in playing good defence, which they do, it is the same old story for Nashville, they cannot score goals. And it is the same players we continue to talk about not getting the job done. Johny Hynes decided to mix things up the other night, but that didn’t seem to work. They are hoping to get back on track against a Red Wings team that everyone expects to finish near the bottom of the division. However, if Nashville cannot get out of this funk they are in they could find themselves on the wrong side of the ledger in this one.
Prediction: Predators win 2-1
Main Photo:
Embed from Getty Images
