Welcome back to NHL Predictions, April 28th 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 April 28th, featuring the Toronto Maple Leafs vs Montreal Canadiens. Be sure to check out the other slate of games today.
NHL Predictions: Toronto Maple Leafs vs Montreal Canadiens
Vancouver Canucks vs Ottawa Senators
Head-to-Head: Canucks 6 – 2 Senators
For the last time this season, the Vancouver Canucks will faceoff against Ottawa Senators. The Canucks have outscored and dominated the Senators most of this season but have lost two of the three previous matches. Vancouver’s Brock Boeser leads his team with 17 goals but has hit the back of the net just three times in his last 10 games played.
Ottawa has won four of their last five games, allowing seven goals against while recording two shutout victories as well. During the teams’ five-game streak, Ottawa’s top three-point producers have produced six points each. Those players being Brady Tkachuk, Drake Batherson and Joshua Norris. A fun fact to add about Ottawa is, they are one for eight in their last nine Wednesday games.
Prediction: Canucks win 4-2
St. Louis Blues vs Minnesota Wild
Head-to-Head: Blues 2- 1 Wild
The St.Louis Blues head into tonight’s matchup, capturing two straight wins and look to overtake the series lead versus Minnesota Wild. The Blues have 10 games remaining on the schedule, and five of the games are against the Wild. Usually, St. Louis has been decent on the road this season as the team is 12-8-2. However, they have not won a road game in their last five. Ryan O’Reilly leads his team with 20 goals and shares a lead with David Perron in points with 45.
Minnesota has guaranteed themselves a spot in the playoffs and continues to impress the West division. However, this evening the Wild will look to avoid losing their sixth meeting out of seven versus the Blues. The team will more likely be focused on continuing the hot streak, as the team has a chance to pick up its eighth consecutive victory. Kirill Kaprizov has six goals and two assists during the seven-game run. The rookie also leads his team with 22 goals and 41 points.
Prediction: Blues win 3-1
Toronto Maple Leafs vs Montreal Canadiens
Head-to-Head: Leafs 4- 2 Canadiens
In the North lies our featured matchup for this evening, where two rivals will go head to head. The Toronto Maple Leafs currently sit on the throne in the North with a 30-13-5 record on the season, which is good for 65 points. In fourth-placed and looking extend the gap between the Calgary Flames is the Montreal Canadiens, who owns a record 21-17-9 for 51 points. These two teams will face each other two more this season, leaving a chance for Montreal to out even the season series.
Toronto and William Nylander will approach extending their winning/point streaks. Nylander skates into this one with an eight-game point streak, scoring five goals and adding seven helpers. Auston Matthews, who leads his team and the league with 34 goals, has scored four against Montreal this season. Jack Campbell has been great for the Leafs in net this season, winning 13 of 16 appearances made while posting two shutouts and a .922 save percentage. The Leafs rank 16th in the NHL for 29 power-play goals scored.
The Canadiens have two wins in their last five outings and need to be better to secure a playoff birth this season. Tyler Toffoli has scored a goal in each of his previous four matches. The 29-year-old also leads his team in goals scored with 25. Montreal ranks 15th in the NHL with 136 goals scored and 24th with 25 power-play goals scored. Goaltending this season has been decent for Montreal. Veteran Carey Price has done well at stealing games for his team this season. Price has 12 wins on the season, posting a .901 save percentage and capturing one shutout win.
Prediction: Maple Leafs win 5-3
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