Welcome back to another day of NHL Predictions. Each day, we will look at the games that are happening and give our predictions for each one. We also offer a featured game of the day, a game that we think is must-watch TV. Today’s featured game is the Toronto Maple Leafs vs Ottawa Senators.
NHL Predictions with Toronto Maple Leafs vs Ottawa Senators
Toronto Maple Leafs vs Ottawa Senators
Head-to-Head: Maple Leafs 3-2 Senators
Ottawa has given the North Division leaders fits this season and have the advantage of not playing the night before. Brady Tkachuk leads the team with 10 goals and Thomas Chabot tops them in points with 20. However, the Senators defence struggles with a league-worst 4.03 allowed per game.
Toronto is coming off a tough 5-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday night. The Leafs offence averages 3.46 goals per game, which is good enough for second in the NHL. Ottawa has to deal with the two-headed monster of Auston Matthews (21 goals, 35 points) and Mitch Marner (11 goals, 37 points). The Leafs also have the second-ranked power play at 31-percent.
It’ll be closer than it should be, but Toronto should win.
Prediction: Maple Leafs win 4-2.
Arizona Coyotes vs. Minnesota Wild
Head-to-Head: Coyotes 1-2 Wild
Kirill Kaprizov got a hat trick and Cam Talbot recorded a 25-save shutout in the 4-0 win over the Coyotes. Kaprizov leads the club in goals (10) and points (23). Wild coach Dean Evason has the luxury of starting either Talbot or Kaapo Kahkonen in net.
Arizona is missing having former Minnesota goalie Darcy Kuemper in net. The Coyotes offence has struggled with only one goal in the last two games. Conor Garland leads the team in points with 22.
Minnesota is surprisingly doing well in the West, but there should be no surprises if Kaprizov stays hot.
Prediction: Wild win 3-1.
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Detroit Red Wings
Head-to-Head: Hurricanes 3-0 Red Wings
Carolina has only given up four goals in three meetings all won by the Canes. The Hurricanes are red-hot with seven straight wins and everything is rolling. However, they’ll be without top goal-scorer Vincent Trocheck, who is out with an injury. James Reimer and Petr Mrazek have formed a formidable duo in the net.
Detroit is coming off a stunning 6-4 win over the Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning, which stopped a four-game losing streak. The Wings are in the bottom-three in penalty kill, power play and goals against. Anthony Mantha got three points in the win over Tampa.
Carolina is on a roll and It should keep going against Detroit.
Prediction: Hurricanes win 3-0.
Los Angeles Kings vs. Colorado Avalanche
Head-to-Head: Kings 1-2 Avalanche 2
Philipp Grubauer got his fourth shutout of the year and was helped by goals from Mikko Rantanen and Nathan MacKinnon. Cal Petersen kept the game from getting out of hand with 44 saves. It’ll likely by Jonathan Quick vs. Hunter Miska for the goalie matchup. The Avs have won three out of five and are starting to look like themselves again.
Prediction: Avalanche win 2-1.
New York Islanders vs. New Jersey Devils
Head-to-Head: Islanders 4-1 Devils
It’s the second of three back-to-backs we’ll cover in this round of predictions. Kiefer Bellows scored twice as the Isles rallied in the third to take down the Devils. Ilya Sorokin will likely start against Scott Wedgewood for your goalie matchup. The first-place Islanders are showing that Barry Trotz is a master of defying expectations.
Prediction: Islanders win 3-1.
Dallas Stars vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
Head-to-Head: Stars 2-3 Blue Jackets
Zach Werenski got the overtime winner in the first half of the back-to-back set. We’ll probably see Anton Khudobin vs. Joonas Korpisalo in the net. It’s desperation time for the Stars if they want to get back to the playoffs. Both teams need points to catch up to the top three. Khudobin seems to be playing better as of late.
Prediction: Stars win 3-2 in a shootout.
