Welcome back to NHL Predictions, March 17th 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 first slate of NHL Predictions for March 17th featuring the Montreal Canadiens vs Winnipeg Jets. Be sure to check out the other two slate of games today.
NHL Predictions Including Montreal Canadiens vs Winnipeg Jets
Vancouver Canucks vs Ottawa Senators
Head-To-Head: Canucks 4 – 0 Senators
The Vancouver Canucks and Ottawa Senators will square off for the fifth time this year on Wednesday. Vancouver has dominated Ottawa winning all four meetings by a combined score of 19-5. Ouch. The Sens managed to keep it close in Monday’s game, losing 3-2 on J.T. Miller‘s OT winner for the Canucks.
The Senators have easily given up the most goals in the NHL this season allowing 127. Only one other team has allowed more than 100. That team is the Canucks, who have allowed 102. Unlike Ottawa who is 11 points out of a playoff spot, Vancouver has hope. They are just three points back of fourth-place Montreal in the North Division. The Canucks are winners of five of their last six games including two wins over the division-leading Toronto Maple Leafs. They cannot afford a hiccup here.
Prediction: 5-3 Canucks
Philadelphia Flyers vs New York Rangers
Head-To-Head: Flyers 2 – 1 Rangers
Two teams trying to keep pace in the East Division will battle it out at Madison Square Garden. The Philadelphia Flyers sit in fifth, just three points behind the Boston Bruins. The New York Rangers are sixth and need to start making up ground. Monday’s game between these two was a beauty, with the Philadelphia Flyers coming out on top 5-4 in overtime. Jakub Voracek notched the winner for the Broad Street Bullies.
All three games in this series have been one-goal games with two needing overtime to decide. Rangers’ defenceman Adam Fox missed Monday’s contest due to COVID-19 protocols. Carter Hart is expected to start for the Flyers and Alexandar Georgiev for the Rangers.
Prediction: 4-2 Flyers
Montreal Canadiens vs Winnipeg Jets
Head-To-Head: Canadiens 2 – 3 Jets
These two North Division rivals will meet for the sixth time in 20 days. It’s a log jam up north with just six points separating the second place Winnipeg Jets (17-9-2) and the sixth place Vancouver Canucks. The Montreal Canadiens (13-8-7) hold the fourth and final playoff birth.
There has not been much to separate both teams in this series. The Jets won the first three and the Canadiens the last two, including a 4-2 win on Monday. Carey Price was outstanding in the win stopping 34 of 36 shots. Montreal has a slight edge, outscoring Winnipeg 17 to 15 in the series. Kyle Connor scored two goals in Monday’s loss and has four goals and two assists in five games vs the Habs. This game could come down to goaltending between Price and defending Vezina trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck.
Prediction: 3-2 Jets
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