Welcome back to NHL Predictions, March 6th edition! Each day, the Last Word On Hockey team will break down every game and give our NHL predictions for each game. This is the late game slate of NHL Predictions for March 7th featuring the New York Rangers vs Pittsburgh Penguins. Be sure to check out the early game slate of NHL Predictions, too.
NHL Predictions Including New York Rangers vs Pittsburgh Penguins
Nashville Predators vs Dallas Stars
Head-to-Head: Predators 0 – 2 Stars
The Nashville Predators sit sixth in the Central Division with a 10-14-0 record and have lost 3 games in a row coming into this contest. The offence has not been able to get going in 2021, as they are 28th in the NHL in goals-per-game with just 2.35 per contest. Injuries to forwards Matt Duchene, and Luke Kunin as well as defenceman Ryan Ellis and goaltender Juuse Saros, will not help. Veteran backstop Pekka Rinne has lost his last 4 starts allowing 16 goals. Meanwhile, the Dallas Stars continue to disappoint a year after going to the Stanley Cup Finals. They sit in seventh place in the Central at 7-8-4 and are 13 points out of a playoff spot, albeit with six games in hand. They can ill afford to give up any points. The Stars have handily won both meetings this year outscoring Nashville 10-2. Anton Khudobin was in net for both victories stopping 49 of 51 shots. Look for Dallas to continue a late-season charge to the playoffs in this one.
Prediction: 4-2 Stars
Washington Capitals vs Philadelphia Flyers
Head-to-head: Capitals 0 – 1 Flyers
A key battle in the tight Eastern Division on Monday. Washington (13-6-4) sit in 2nd place but are just three points clear of 5th place Pittsburgh. They had a four-game winning streak snapped on Friday with a 5-1 loss to Eastern leading Boston Bruins. They also lost forward Tom Wilson, the team’s 4th leading scorer, for the next seven games. Wilson, a repeat offender, was suspended after the contest for an illegal hit to Brandon Carlo. His loss will be missed on the Capital’s top line with Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin.
On the other side of the ice, The Flyers are finally starting to get healthy. They are 12-6-3 and clinging to the final playoff spot in the East. Philadelphia will get a boost as approximately 3100 fans will be in the stands for the first time this season. They will cheer on an impressively balanced team that has nine players with 10 or more points on the season. These two teams’ only matchup this year was a fun one, with the Flyers winning 7-4. Ovechkin had 2 goals and 2 assists in the contest but was upstaged by Philadelphia’s Scott Laughton who recorded a hat-trick.
Prediction: 4-3 Flyers
New York Rangers vs Pittsburgh Penguins
Head-to-Head: Rangers 1 – 3 Penguins
A pivotal battle between two teams sitting just outside the Eastern Division playoffs. The sixth-place Rangers (10-9-3) have found their mojo, winning their last three scoring 15 goals, and allowing just five. First overall pick in the 2020 draft Alexis Lafreniere has points in his last 4 games and the young Rangers are looking dangerous. Pittsburgh on the other hand will rely on their veteran players in their battle for the playoffs. The two-headed monster of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin will be the challenge for the Rangers. Yet, it is defence and goaltending that have plagued the 2021 Penguins. They allow the fifth most goals per game in NHL (3.23 goals per game) and have the league’s 5th worst penalty kill (73.53 %). All three of Pittsburgh’s wins vs New York this year have come by one goal, with two going to overtime.
Prediction: Penguins 3-2
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Ottawa Senators vs Calgary Flames
Head-to-head: Senators 2 – 2 Flames
This young Ottawa Senators team has struggled to find their identity for most of the 2021 season. With an 8-17-1 record, they sit near the bottom of the NHL in most categories. Their top five scorers are all under the age of 24, including impressive 19-year-old rookie of the year candidate Tim Stutzle. A lack of defence and goaltending has been the real issues in Ottawa. The Calgary Flames (11-12-2) are not without their faults. They fired head coach Geoff Ward despite an impressive 35-26-5 record with the team. New/old coach Darryl Sutter was brought in with the hope of turning the season around and getting the Flames into the playoffs. They are currently fifth and four points shy of the final spot in the North Division. Calgary looked impressive in beating Ottawa Thursday 7-3 but came up short vs Edmonton last night 3-2. Playing back-to-back nights could hamper them against a young hungry Sens side.
Prediction: Calgary 4-3
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