Welcome back to NHL Predictions, April 29th 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 29th, featuring the Dallas Stars vs Tampa Bay Lightning. Be sure to check out the other slate of games today.
NHL Predictions: Dallas Stars vs Tampa Bay Lightning
Dallas Stars vs Tampa Bay Lightning
Head-to-Head: Stars 1 – 4 Lightning
Let’s shoot out of the gates and get straight into today’s featured contest, including the Dallas Stars and Tampa Bay Lightning. The Lightning currently holds the third position in the Central Division and is fourth-placed in the NHL standings with 68 points. Dallas sits fifth in the Central with 54 points and 16th in the league. Two points out of a playoff spot with two games in hand on the fourth-placed Nashville Predators certainly casts hope. Tampa Bay has outscored Dallas 17-7 this season and also has shut them out twice. However, the Stars won the previous meeting 4-3.
The Stars are 8-9-4 while playing away from American Airlines Center and have recorded just two victories in their last five away games. In their previous game, the team was awarded four power-play chances and failed to capitalize on any of them. Dallas this season has converted on 24 percent of their power-play opportunities scoring 35 goals. Joe Pavelski continues to lead this team with 44 points. The Stars rookie Jason Robertson has produced 13 points over his last 10 games.
While playing at home this season, the Lightning is 19-6-0. Brayden Point commands the Lightning with a total of 45 points and 21 goals on the season so far. Tampa Bay’s winger Ondrej Palat has recorded nine assists over his last 10 games. The Lightning has scored 38 power-play goals this season, slotting the team in fourth place over the entire league. Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy has started 38 of Tampa Bay’s 49 games played this season, holding a .927 save percentage and earning four shutouts.
Prediction: Lightning win 4-1
Buffalo Sabres vs Boston Bruins
Head-to-Head: Sabres 0- 5 Bruins
The Boston Bruins ended a four-game skid with a dominant performance in their last outing. With that win, the Bruins now sit four points ahead of the New York Rangers, holding onto a ticket to the playoffs. This evening’s contest versus the Buffalo Sabres will be the first of two consecutive. Buffalo has won just one of their previous five games and currently holds the fourth spot with the fewest goals scored per game. The Bruins are scoring 2.81 goals per game this year while allowing the fifth less amount of goals. Brad Marchand leads the Bruins in goals scored for the season, tallying 26. Buffalo will face the difficult task of prying a win from Boston this season.
Prediction: Bruins win 3-1
Philadelphia Flyers vs New Jersey Devils
Head-to-Head: Flyers 3- 2 Devils
This matchup will consist of two teams that likely will not make the playoffs. The Philadelphia Flyers sit 11 points outside the fourth and final spot to advance to the postseason as things have not gone as planned. Philadelphia has averaged to score 2.2 goals per game and 3.7 assists per game while conceding 3.3 goals per game. Those numbers are not what a team is hoping to produce for a successful season. On the other side of the rink, the New Jersey Devils continue to battle their way through the season and show a glimpse of their future. Yegor Sharangovich has put up three goals and four helpers during his last 10 games for New Jersey.
Philadelphia dropped their previous contest to New Jersey with a score of 6-4. In the last two games versus the two teams, the Devils have been the better team.
Prediction: Devils win 5-2
New York Islanders vs New York Rangers
Head-to-Head: Islanders 4- 2 Rangers
In a high stake match for the New York Rangers, the team will need to put everything on the line to make a big push to catch the Boston Bruins. The Rangers have won their last three games and are 7-2-1 in their recent 10 games. The New York Islanders are coming off a shutout loss in their recent match and have won four of their previous 10 games.
There are a few players to watch tonight as they have been heating up in their last 10 games. For the Rangers, Mika Zibanejad has put up six goals and recorded nine helpers. Anthony Beauvillier for the Islanders has hit the back of the net twice and has four assists in the last 10 games. In the rival’s most recent matchup, the Islanders won 6-1.
Prediction: Islanders win 4-2
Main Photo:
Embed from Getty Images
