Welcome back to NHL Predictions, March 9th 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 early game slate of NHL Predictions for March 9th featuring the New York Rangers vs Pittsburgh Penguins. Be sure to check out the late-game slate of NHL Predictions, too.
NHL Predictions Including New York Rangers vs Pittsburgh Penguins
New York Rangers vs Pittsburgh Penguins
Head-to-Head: Rangers 1 – 4 Penguins
The Penguins and the Rangers will meet for the sixth time this season on Tuesday. The Penguins snapped the Ranger’s three-game win streak on Sunday with a convincing 5-1 win. Kasperi Kapanen has found new life lately skating alongside Evgeni Malkin for the Pens, and both players have seen improvement. Over the past eight games, Kapanen has nine points (four goals) and Malkin has eight points (three goals). They combined for five points in the win on Sunday. New York will be without starting goalie Igor Shesterkin (groin) and Artemi Panarin (personal). Not ideal when you are 6th in your division and six points out of a playoff berth.
Prediction: 4-2 Penguins
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Boston Bruins vs New York Islanders
Head-to-Head: Islanders 3 – 0 Bruins
The Bruins travel to the old barn of Nassau Coliseum to face the Islanders. The Isles have not lost a regulation game in their ancient home this season, a streak spanning 12 games. This will be the fourth, and likely last, time Boston will visit in the regular season. They could not be happier. The Bruins have lost all three meetings this year by a combined score of 12-4. Boston is struggling as of late, winning just four games in the last ten. Injuries have plagued the defence and they will be without Jeremy Lauzon (broken hand) and Brandon Carlo (head) in this contest. The Islanders sit on top of the Eastern Division and would like nothing better than to put some distance between themselves and the favoured Bruins. Jaroslav Halak will start in goal for Boston in this one.
Prediction: 3-2 Islanders
Buffalo Sabres vs Philadelphia Flyers
Head-to-Head: Sabres 1 – 3 Flyers
The Buffalo Sabres are on a complete downward spiral with no sign of stopping. They are on a seven-game losing streak where they have been outscored 28 to 11. Dead last in the NHL point standings things cannot get much worse for Jack Eichel, Taylor Hall, and company. The Flyers could use some of the Buffalo slump buster right now. They have lost three of their last four giving up 15 goals in the process. They are also out of a playoff position, currently sitting 5th in the East division. Nothing seems to be clicking for Philly since their stars, Claude Giroux, Jakub Voracek, and Travis Konecny have returned from COVID-19. Carter Hart has also been less than stellar between the pipes. Expect some goals in this one.
Prediction: 5-3 Flyers
New Jersey Devils vs Washington Capitals
Head-to-Head: Devils 0 – 3 Capitals
Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals sit in 2nd in the East Division and have scored the most goals in the division (79). They have also given up the most (76) goals. Some feel they have been propped up with a soft schedule, feeding on the minnows of the division. Of their 14 wins, half have come against the bottom two teams. Four against the Sabres and three versus these Devils. They will be without the services of Tom Wilson as he serves yet another suspension (seven games). That’s good news for the Devil’s heads. New Jersey has been on an epic spiral themselves, winning just two games in their last ten. They did manage to stop a five game losing streak on Sunday with a yawning 1-0 win over the Bruins. Can Jack Hughes and this young, fast squad find a way to best the Caps? They haven’t this year, being outscored 12-7 by Washington in the last three games in the last 15 days.
Prediction: 3-2 Devils
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