Welcome back to NHL Predictions, April 10th edition! Each day, the Last Word On Hockey team will break down every game and give our NHL predictions for each. This is the third and final set for April 10th, featuring the Edmonton Oilers vs Calgary Flames. Be sure and check out the first and second set of NHL Predictions, too.
NHL Predictions Feat Edmonton Oilers vs Calgary Flames
Minnesota Wild vs St. Louis Blues
Head-to-Head: Wild 1 – 1 Blues
The Minnesota Wild will end their two-game road trip versus St. Louis Blues as the teams face just for the third time this season. Both teams will head straight to Minnesota following tonight’s contest, where the Wild will hold a four-game home-stand. On home ice, the Wild have been excellent, whereas away they have struggled their last seven. In last night’s game, the Blues Ryan O’Reilly recorded his second career hat trick to help his team win 9-1.
Cam Talbot will start tonight as one of Minnesota’s recognition this season has been the surprising performances from the goaltending duo. Talbot has earned himself two shutouts this season and owns a 2.44 goals-against average with a .923 save percentage. He has recorded a 7-4-2 career record against the St. Louis Blues with a .918 save percentage.
Ville Husso has one win in his last five starts and tonight the netminder will look for his seventh win this season. The Finnish netminder owns a .888 save percentage with six wins on the season. Blues forward David Perron has tallied nine points in his last ten games played. The forward also leads his team in assists and points.
Prediction: Minnesota Wins: 5-3
Edmonton Oilers vs Calgary Flames
Head-to-Head: Oilers 5 – 2 Flames
In our featured game, two team’s with a heated history will suit up for a battle. The Battle of Alberta has leaned towards the Edmonton Oilers this season as they have dominated Calgary, outscoring them 24-19. The Oilers are back in the second spot in the North with a 25-14-2 record. The Oilers have worked up two straight wins, also winning seven of their recent 10 outings. The Calgary Flames sit sixth in the North with a record of 16-21-3. Unfortunately for Calgary, the hiring of Darryl Sutter wasn’t what the team needed to improve. In Calgary’s previous 10 games played, the team has won two games. The flames are currently on a four-game losing streak.
The goaltending matchup will provide former Flame netminder Mike Smith. Edmonton’s netminder has been solid for the team this season, owning a 14-3-2 record with a .922 save percentage. Since Smith’s late start to the season, the 39 nine-year-old has nudged Mikko Koskinen out of the number one starting role. In southern Alberta, Jacob Markstrom has played well, giving Calgary opportunities to steal games this season, yet the team effort has lacked. Markstrom owns a .898 save percentage with a 12-14-2 winning record.
Calgary’s top performer Elias Lindholm leads his team with 33 points while cashing in nine goals. Lindholm has been on a steady pace all season as the 26-year-old has one goal with three assists over his last five games. Johnny Gaudreau is the Flame’s leading goal scorer with 13 on the season but finds himself scoreless in three games.
In Leon Draisaitl‘s last contest, the 25-year-old recorded his fifth career hat trick to give him 22 goals on the season. Connor McDavid has 10 points over his previous five games and leads the Oilers with 23 goals and 69 points. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have both hit five consecutive seasons of scoring 20 or more goals. He also leads his team with 23 goals and 69 points.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will not be in the lineup due to an undisclosed injury.
Prediction: Edmonton Wins: 4-2
Los Angeles Kings vs San Jose Sharks
Head-to-Head: Kings 1 – 6 Sharks
The Los Angeles Kings will collide with the San Jose Sharks in a divisional battle where the Sharks have dominated the Kings. Anze Kopitar has five points versus the Sharks this season and, Drew Doughty has six points against San Jose. Doughty has reached 30 points in the year and ranks seventh in points for defensemen. Jonathan Quick has won six of his last eight starts as his current performance has been subpar.
San Jose has been playing well as of late, winning six out of their last ten games. Evander Kane is having a great season and providing offence for the Sharks. The right-winger has registered six points in five games, scoring 17 goals and 18 assists on the season. In the seven meetings between the two team’s Kane has tallied eight points. Martin Jones has started in net for San Jose in six straight games and played last night. The veteran netminder Devan Dubnyk will defend the crease tonight. Dubnyk holds a .898 save percentage with three wins on the season.
The Sharks are playing much better hockey, winning four out of their last six games. San Jose has been much better defensively as the Kings are decaying offensively.
Prediction: San Jose Wins: 6-3
Main Photo:
Embed from Getty Images
