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 Dallas Stars vs Minnesota Wild.
NHL Predictions: March 6th including Dallas Stars vs Minnesota Wild
Los Angeles Kings vs Buffalo Sabres
Head-to-Head: Kings 1-0 Sabres
This is the second and final meeting of the season for these two teams in what looks to be a fairly simple prediction. The Kings have continued to be quite solid, finding themselves in a playoff spot currently. As for the Sabres, while they are drastically improved from last season, they are still wildly inconsistent.
With the Kings likely to start Calvin Petersen in net against the Sabres, and the pretty major difference in their defensive ability for these two teams, look for the Kings to continue their winning ways.
Prediction: Kings win 3-2
St Louis Blues vs New Jersey Devils
Head-to-Head: Blues 0-1 Devils
The last time these teams met the Devils came away with a 7-4 win in one of their best, if not the best, offensive performances of the season. Outside of that game, they have been largely average offensively, sitting firmly in the middle of the pack for goal scoring. For the Blues, they are top 10 in the league in power play, penalty kill, goals scored per game, and goals allowed per game.
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Pair that massive disparity in statistical categories with the fact that the goaltending is an even larger difference and you have the making for a big Blues win. Look for Ville Husso to mind the net and to put in a respectable performance as the Blues look for payback from the last meeting.
Prediction: Blues win 6-2
Seattle Kraken vs Carolina Hurricanes
Head-to-Head: Kraken 1-0 Hurricanes
There is a trend developing in the day’s games, and that is that one team is substantially better than the other. This game is certainly no exception to that statement, as the Hurricanes are one of the best teams in the league and the Kraken are far from that.
Sebastian Aho, Teuvo Teravainen, and Andrei Svechnikov have given even the best of teams defensive fits this season, with all three at or around a point-per-game pace. The Kraken are certainly not one of the better defensive squads out there, allowing over three and a half goals per game. Expect Carolina to roll to a comfortable win.
Dallas Stars vs Minnesota Wild
Head-to-Head: Stars 1-1 Wild
The featured game of the day is the Dallas Stars vs Minnesota Wild, a game that could very easily have a plethora of goals scored. The first two meetings for these teams resulted in a 7-2 win for Minnesota back in November and a 7-4 win for Dallas just about a month later.
A major talking point in this one is that, at least on paper, you would expect to see the Wild win in a big way. But as of late, they have been quite poor, going 3-7-0 in their last 10 games. During that same stretch, Dallas has looked great, going 7-2-1 and winning the last three in a row. Dallas can thank the great performances in net from Jake Oettinger, who has gone 4-1-0 in his last five starts.
While Oettinger has been solid, it will still be very tough for Dallas to stop Kirill Kaprizov, Kevin Fiala, and Ryan Hartman, who have all continued to play very well this season. This could very easily turn into a who scores the last goal kind of game.
Prediction: Wild win 5-4
