Welcome back to another day of NHL Predictions. Each day, Last Word on Hockey takes a look at the games that are happening and gives our predictions for each one. Breaking down head-to-head and other factors that may play in. We also have a featured game of the day which is considered must-watch TV. Today’s featured game is the New York Rangers vs. Vancouver Canucks. Check out our early predictions, as well.
NHL Predictions with New York Rangers vs Vancouver Canucks
Nashville Predators vs Calgary Flames
Head-to-Head: Predators 0-0 Flames
The Flames are coming in red-hot to start the season thanks to Jacob Markstrom, who has three shutouts this season. Markstrom also has a gaudy .957 save percentage and 1.33 goals-against average. Andrew Mangiapane and Johnny Gaudreau have also gotten off to great starts so things don’t all fall on Markstrom.
Tanner Jeannot is your unlikely goals leader for the Predators with four while Roman Josi leads with nine points. Juuse Saros has been better as of late in net, but it’s all task taking on the scorching Flames.
Prediction: Flames win 4-2.
New Jersey Devils vs Anaheim Ducks
Head-to-Head: Devils 0-0 Ducks
Anaheim is coming off a solid 4-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday night. The Ducks are 5-1 against the Devils in the last six games where they have two or more rest days. John Gibson will likely get the start for Anaheim.
Andreas Johnsson has settled in nicely as the team’s leading goal-scorer while Dougie Hamilton is tops in assists. It’s hard to tell what Devils team will come out, but we think they’ll get enough goaltending to win.
Prediction: Devils win 3-2.
New York Rangers vs Vancouver Canucks
Head-to-Head: Rangers 0-0 Canucks
New York is coming off an impressive performance from Igor Shesterkin in a 3-1 victory over the Seattle Kraken on Sunday. Shesterkin made 31 saves in helping the Blueshirts overcome a shaky second frame. The Russian netminder is 4-0 with a 0.99 goals-against-average in road games so far this season. Chris Kreider has seven goals so far this season, including five on the power play while Artemi Panarin has seven assists. New York also comes in with wins in four of the last five.
Vancouver has lost three straight after spoiling Seattle’s first-ever home game at Climate Pledge Arena. The Canucks have only scored four goals in their last three games, as their offence has struggled. Vancouver is in the bottom half of the standings when it comes to most of the league’s major categories. Bo Horvat leads the team in goals with four while former Ranger J.T. Miller has eight assists. Thatcher Demko has gotten the majority of games in net with a 2.55 goals-against-average and .924 save percentage.
The Rangers have been solid so far and there shouldn’t be much of a change from that.
Prediction: Rangers win 4-1.
Buffalo Sabres vs San Jose Sharks
Head-to-Head: Sabres 0-0 Sharks
Who would’ve thought that these two teams would be in the position this early in the season? It’s nice to see them rebound after lots of struggles the last few seasons. Buffalo is coming off a 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Halloween. Victor Olofsson leads the team in goals and Craig Anderson has found the fountain of youth with a 1.98 goals-against-average and .939 save percentage.
Timo Meier leads in goals and assists with five goals and 11 points for the Sharks. San Jose’s 2-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday night stopped a three-game losing streak. Adin Hill has struggled in recent games and he has a .893 save percentage.
This is a tough matchup to gauge, but the home team squeaks out a win in a shootout.
Prediction: Sharks win 3-2 in a shootout.
