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 St Louis Blues vs Tampa Bay Lightning.
NHL Predictions With St Louis Blues vs Tampa Bay Lightning
Colorado Avalanche vs Montreal Canadiens
Head-to-Head: Avalanche 0 – 0 Canadiens
After getting shelled by the Toronto Maple Leafs last night, you gotta think it can only go up from here for the Colorado Avalanche. The Avs seemed to have found their footing after their slow start to the year. So last night’s game looks like nothing more than a hiccup.
The Montreal Canadiens have been having hiccups of their own. They are these 6-3 win-type hiccups they mix into their long-losing streaks. The Canadiens mixed in a couple of those wins against the Nashville Predators and Pittsburgh Penguins in the last two weeks, but the season as a whole has been a consistent disaster. The constant losing streaks have also recently led to the firing of beloved general manager Marc Bergevin. All aboard the struggle-bus in Montreal. Colorado has a favourable matchup tonight to help them forget their blunderous performance last night.
Prediction: Avalanche win 5-2
Ottawa Senators vs Carolina Hurricanes
Head-to-Head: Senators 0 – 0 Hurricanes
The Dallas Stars smothered the Carolina Hurricanes a few nights ago, holding the potent Hurricane offence to just one goal. The Stars did the same thing to the Edmonton Oilers just a few nights before that. Why am I bringing up the Stars in a matchup that doesn’t even feature them? Well you see, the Hurricanes have only five regulation losses on the year. So losses are rare, and to stop them, you have to smother them. Dallas is a team that has become very good at that lately. The Ottawa Senators are NOT the Dallas Stars. Not even close.
This is a big mismatch on paper and on the ice. Carolina will have a field day with this one as they look to bounce back at home.
Prediction: Hurricanes win 5-1
Buffalo Sabres vs Florida Panthers
Head-to-Head: Sabres 0 – 0 Panthers
Speaking of absolute mismatches on the ice, here we have the free-falling Buffalo Sabres against the high-flying Florida Panthers. Florida is coming off a highly entertaining, come-from-behind win against the Washington Capitals, where they peppered the Caps with 26 shots in the third en route to a four-goal period to steal the win.
Florida is a team that can never be counted out. They have the most come-from-behind wins this season and have so much talent throughout their roster that they can score in bunches. Buffalo does not have the depth to compete with a team of this calibre. Buffalo will need their goalie to stand on his head tonight to snag a win here. It’s gonna be a long night for whichever Sabres netminder draws the short straw to start tonight.
Prediction: Panthers win 5-1
Chicago Blackhawks vs Washington Capitals
Head-to-Head: Blackhawks 0 – 0 Capitals
The Chicago Blackhawks have been a much different team under interim head coach, Derek King. The former Rockford IceHogs coach has his team playing more of the way we as fans expected the ‘Hawks to perform this year. They still need to tidy up their defensive play a bit, but the Blackhawks are looking more well-rounded as the season progresses.
Unfortunately, they have a very difficult matchup against a Washing Capitals team that had two points ripped away from them by the Florida Panthers. Washington knows that leaving points on the table is highly costly in the ultra-competitive Metropolitan Division. The Caps will be fired up and looking to seek vengeance in this game. Unfortunately for the Hawks, they just happen to be the unlucky recipient of the team caught in their tracks. This could get ugly.
Prediction: Capitals win 4-1
St Louis Blues vs Tampa Bay Lightning
Head-to-Head: Blues 1 – 0 Lightning
Speaking of teams looking to forget, the Tampa Bay Lightning have a chance to rebound against the St. Louis Blues after blowing a 3-0 lead to them the other night. Tampa jumped out to the three-goal lead in the first six minutes of their game but couldn’t put away the Blues, eventually losing 4-3 in a shootout.
Tampa has seemed to lack that killer instinct inputting games away this year. In the last two seasons, a three-goal lead by the Bolts meant almost always a win for the back-to-back champs. We can’t imagine that Tampa lets two games get away from them from the same opponent. No word yet on whether Steven Stamkos will return to the lineup tonight as he and his wife await the arrival of their second child. With Stamkos out of the lineup, the Lightning will be hard-pressed to come away with the offence needed to beat Jordan Binnington and this deep Blues team. This is a close one but The Blues haven’t been the same team while on the road as they are at home. Lightning will sneak this one out.
Prediction: Lightning win 2-1
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