Heading out West tonight with predictions – including the Edmonton Oilers vs Winnipeg Jets – so let’s dive in!
April 28 Predictions with the Edmonton Oilers vs Winnipeg Jets
Colorado Avalanche vs Vegas Golden Knights
Head-to-Head: Avalanche 3 – 3 Golden Knights
The two top teams in the Honda West division duke it out in what should be a wildly entertaining match. The Vegas Golden Knights are four points up on the Colorado Avalanche, but the Avs have one game in hand. Win tonight, and the division lead is within reach. Unfortunately for Colorado, they are missing as many as TEN skaters for this premiere match. Joonas Donskoi might be back after a COVID-19 scare, but Mikko Rantanen, Bowen Byram, and Brandon Saad are going to sit this one out. Against Vegas, they have scored 13 goals in the six games; the Golden Knights have managed 12 in return. It’s close, is what we’re saying.
Prediction: They get to overtime, but Vegas gets the extra point, 3-2.
Anaheim Ducks vs Los Angels Kings
Head-to-Head: Ducks 2 – 3 Kings
Then there’s the other end of the spectrum. The Anaheim Ducks are just fighting for respect now. One of the few bright points being the emergence of goaltender Anthony Stolarz, who has managed to steal a few games. He has to because the Ducks are an offensive black hole right now, scoring the fewest goals in the league. The Los Angels Kings are comfortably above them in the standings, but part of that is because their last two wins came against the Ducks. This is the second of four in a row against Anaheim, and while it’s technically possible the Kings can reach the playoffs, getting to .500 by season’s end would be as high a victory as they should shoot for.
Prediction: Both teams are looking for positives this late. Harder to see them for Anaheim. LA wins, 5-1.
Arizona Coyotes vs San Jose Sharks
Head-to-Head: Coyotes 3 – 2 Sharks
The Arizona Coyotes have an actual shot at that last playoff spot, though they’ll need a good run to get it. They’re currently one point – and three games – back of the St. Louis Blues. Not impossible, but a good first step would be getting revenge for Monday’s 6-4 loss to the San Jose Sharks. The Sharks took advantage of a surprisingly shaky Darcy Kuemper, lighting him up for four goals on just 11 shots. Even then, Arizona almost completed the comeback until an empty-net goal by Evander Kane sealed it for them. These two teams tend towards surprisingly high-scoring affairs, so whoever wins, it’ll be quite the match!
Prediction: We know who wins. Arizona needs the game more, and takes it 5-4.
Edmonton Oilers vs Winnipeg Jets
Head-to-Head: Oilers 6 – 2 Jets
We head to to the Scotia North division for our featured match, the Edmonton Oilers vs Winnipeg Jets. All eyes are going to be on Connor McDavid for this one as he chases an amazing 100 points in just 56 games. He needs 19 more in just ten games, and if they were all against the Jets he just might do it. But this is their last match, and Winnipeg has been hearing all about his success against them and their star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. In their last two games, Edmonton has outscored Winnipeg 9-1, with McDavid getting six points in those games.
The only counter the Jets have found so far is to outscore the Oilers. Their two wins have been 6-4 and 6-5. The task is made all the harder with the absence of Nikolaj Ehlers, who had five total points in those two wins. They will also be missing Adam Lowry, who remains on concussion protocol and really helps fill the scoring depth on the Jets’ roster. Unfortunately for Winnipeg, they’ve only managed five goals total in their last four games against Edmonton. That success has let the Oilers take second place from the Jets, though the odds of either team catching the Toronto Maple Leafs is remote. Realistically, this is a playoff preview, and for the Jets to win, they need to score. A lot.
Prediction: They do. Hit the brakes on the Oilers machine – for now – Jets win 6-4.
Main Photo:
Embed from Getty Images
