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.
NHL Predictions
New Jersey Devils vs. Boston Bruins
Head-to-Head: Devils 1 – 1 Bruins
The New Jersey Devils are back in action after a two-week break because of COVID. The Devils won their first game back against the New York Rangers. But now have a tougher task against the Boston Bruins. The Devils were able to take three points in the first two games against the Bruins. But Boston was missing David Pastrnak in the lineup. Since his return, the Bruins have become a different team. The Bruins have only lost two games. When that top line is rolling, the Bruins play well. Except this time when the top line doesn’t score, the Bruins have the depth scoring to win games. But they have a fight against a hungry Devils’ team. And the key to this game will be Mackenzie Blackwood. He has the talent to win this game by himself. But the Bruins will be too much for them to overcome.
Prediction: Bruins win 2-1
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New York Rangers vs. Philadelphia Flyers
Head-to-Head: Rangers 0 – 0 Flyers
It is the first meeting between the Rangers and the Philadelphia Flyers. The Rangers are a different team without Artemi Panarin in the lineup. There is just no fire right now for the Rangers. A team that people pegged as a playoff team they are struggling and it has come at the worst time. Granted they have a young team, but injuries are piling up as Jacob Trouba will be out of the lineup for the next four to six weeks. The Flyers will be playing their first game in over a week as they dealt with COVID as well. The Rangers faced the same situation against the Devils, will they learn from that experience and carry it over against the Flyers? The Flyers are a more skilled team than the Devils and teams coming off a break have only lost twice. Not to mention, the Flyers are 9-1 in the last 10 games against the Rangers.
Prediction: Flyers win 4-2
New York Islanders vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Head-to-Head: Islanders 1 – 1 Penguins
The New York Islanders enter their game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on an eight-game point streak with wins in five of their last six games. The Islanders occupy the second spot in the East Division. They are expected to hold one of those four spots once the season is over. The Penguins on the other hand, will be fighting for that final spot. The last two games between these two teams ended with the final score being 4-3. In two games against the Islanders Evgeni Malkin has three goals including two in the first game. Expect another goal from him. Also look for Jordan Eberle to get on the scoresheet with two goals in two games. Expect this one to be another one-goal game.
Prediction: Islanders win 4-3
Nashville Predators vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
Head-to-Head: Predators 2 – 0 Blue Jackets
The Nashville Predators and Columbus Blue Jackets meet for the third time this season. The Predators took the first two games of the season over the Blue Jackets. In those games the Predators outscored the Blue Jackets by a score of 8-3. And both teams are struggling heading into this game. The Predators are struggling to find offence. While the Blue Jackets can’t stop the puck from going into their own net. A win for Columbus gets them back into the top-four. A win for Nashville may help turn around a dreadful season. These two teams will be battling all season long to see who gets into the playoffs. Look for Filip Forsberg to score in this one as he scored a goal in each of the previous two games.
Prediction: Predators win 3-1
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Ottawa Senators
Head-to-Head: Maple Leafs 2 – 2 Senators
There is something about playing your rival. The Ottawa Senators are always up to play the Toronto Maple Leafs. After a massive comeback in the first game of the week, the Senators kept things close against Toronto on Wednesday night. But the Maple Leafs found a way to grind out a 2-1 victory. Let’s see if they can carry the momentum into Thursday night’s game. Just the rest of the games he has played against the Senators, Auston Matthews will score a goal. It is a lock. He extended his point streak on Wednesday night and will do it again. You have to wonder if these games were trap games as the Montreal Canadiens were bookend to begin and end the week. Toronto needs to figure out how to hold leads that can be attributed to Montreal bringing the play to them. And Ottawa is doing the same thing.
Prediction: Maple Leafs win 4-1
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Main Photo:
Embed from Getty Images
