Welcome back to another day of NHL Predictions. Each day, we will take a look at the games that are happening and give our predictions for each one. This is the early set of predictions here on Sunday, April 4th. Be sure to check out out the late predictions as well. In addition, we also offer a featured game of the day, which is a game that we think is must-watch TV. Today’s featured game is the Columbus Blue Jackets vs Florida Panthers.
NHL Predictions: Columbus Blue Jackets vs Florida Panthers
Detroit Red Wings vs Tampa Bay Lightning
Head-to-Head: Red Wings 1 – 4 Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning has been playing host and, it will come to an end tonight. As a four-game homestand wraps up, Tampa Bay holds a 14-3 record at home this season. However, the Detroit Red Wings continue to struggle on the road with just three wins. Brayden Point has been a weapon against Detroit this season, amassing five points in the meetings. The Detroit Red Wings enroll in the fourth game of a four-game road trip tonight, losing seven straight on the road. Filip Hronek, the 23-year-old has received well against Lightning this season. The defenceman has earned four points in four games versus Tampa Bay. Hronek is beginning to prove himself, to be possibly one of the top players on his team, leading Detroit with 21 points.
Prediction: Tampa Bay Wins: 6-1
Washington Capitals vs New Jersey Devils
Head-to-Head: Capitals 7 – 0 Devils
Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals seem to be on a bit of a tear lately. Ovechkin has scored eight goals in his last 10 games played and, his team has won seven of their last 10. Washington owns a 24-9-4 record which is good for 52 points and first in the East Division. On the other side of the rink, the New Jersey Devils are seventh in the east with 32 points, yet 12 points up on the league’s last-place Buffalo Sabres.
Although the Devils have won just one out of their last five games, only once did they get badly outplayed or not register a goal. The teams leading scorer, Miles Wood, has 11 goals on the season. Yet, Wood faces a scoring drought as he has found the back of the net just three times in his last 10 matches. Onto the brighter picture of things in New Jersey, Ty Smith is third among all rookies this season with 19 points, scoring two goals. He is the only rookie inside the top 10 that is a defenceman.
Prediction: Washington Wins 5-2
Columbus Blue Jackets vs Florida Panthers
Head-To-Head: Blue Jackets 1 – 4 Panthers
In our featured game for the early segment, the Columbus Blue Jackets remain on the outside looking in for a playoff spot. With a record of 1-5 in their last six, the drop continues for the struggling Blue Jackets. Columbus has recorded just one win in its former outings against the Florida Panthers this season. Part of the blame focusing on the team’s offensive struggles, which ranks 22nd in goals scored. The team has been struggling to face more defensively, compact teams. The Blue Jackets’ last four games lost have been against candidates that have allowed two or fewer goals.
Goaltending for each team has been considered very reliable throughout the season so far. Columbus netminder Elvis Merzlikins has been the better part of the goaltending duo lately, sharing the crease with Joonas Korpisalo. Merzlikins has earned a 3-1-1 career record versus Florida and, a respectable .932 save percentage comes along with it. Sergei Bobrovsky has had a bounce-back season recording a 14-5-2 record this season with a .907 save percentage. He is 4-1-1 against Columbus all-time with a save percentage of .925.
Oliver Bjorkstrand leads Columbus with 30 points over 38 games played this season. The 25-year-old also leads his team with 13 goals and 17 assists. He also has four points in his last five games played. Another note to add is Oliver Bjorkstrand and Carter Verhaeghe lead their teams over the season series with three goals and one assist. Carter Verhaeghe also leads the Florida Panthers in goals with 17. Jonathan Huberdeau for the Panthers leads his team with 28 assists and 42 points in 37 games played.
Prediction: Florida Wins 4-1
Dallas Stars vs Carolina Hurricanes
Head-To-Head: Stars 1 – 4 Hurricanes
The Dallas Stars are fresh off their first win against Carolina Hurricanes this season. However, Carolina favours Dallas in this competition all day long this season. The Hurricanes are scoring 3.23 goals per game on average and allowing 2.51 goals per game. Dallas is not scoring enough as their 2.76 goals per game hardly outweigh their 2.56 goals allowed per game.
The Hurricanes special teams are much better as the team owns the number one ranked power-play in the league, converting 29.6 percent of the advantages. Dallas has had success on the power-play, converting on 24.6 percent of their man advantages. The penalty kill for Dallas this season has struggled as the team has navigated to 76.7 percent, and the Hurricanes have the league’s seventh best penalty kill with 82.9 percent. Carolina is a much stronger team than Dallas this season and, it clearly shows, Dallas comes up short tonight.
Prediction: Carolina Wins: 3-2
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