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 Carolina Hurricanes vs Tampa Bay Lightning.
NHL Predictions with Carolina Hurricanes vs Tampa Bay Lightning
Carolina Hurricanes vs Tampa Bay Lightning
Head-to-Head: Hurricanes 1-0 Lightning
The last time the two teams played, the Hurricanes won 2-1 in overtime on November 9 with goals from Martin Necas and Teuvo Teravainen.
The Hurricanes are on a four-game losing streak. The Hurricanes are led in scoring by Sebastian Aho, who has 61 points in 59 games. Next, Andrei Svechnikov has 54 points in 59 games.
The Lightning lost their last game. Captain Steven Stamkos leads the team with 66 points in 60 games. Victor Hedman is second with 61 points in 61 games.
Both the Hurricanes and Lightning are in playoff positions. The Hurricanes lead the Metropolitan Division with 88 points in 62 games, and the Lightning are in second place in the Atlantic Division with 84 points in 61 games. This will be a battle of two of the best teams in the NHL, and the Hurricanes will look to get back on track.
Prediction: 3-2 Hurricanes
New Jersey Devils vs. New York Rangers
Head-to-Head: Rangers 2-0 Devils
The last time they played each other, the Rangers won 3-1 on March 4. Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad led the way with two points each. The Rangers also beat the Devils 4-3 in a shootout on November 14.
The Devils have lost their past three games. Jesper Bratt leads the Devils with 60 points in 57 games. Jack Hughes is next with 47 points in 42 games. Nico Hischier has 42 points in 53 games.
The Rangers are on a two-game winning streak. Artemi Panarin leads the Rangers with 72 points in 58 games. Zibanejad has 63 points in 63 games, and Adam Fox has 62 points in 60 games.
The Rangers are second in the Metropolitan Division, while the Devils likely won’t make the playoffs.
Prediction: 2-1 Rangers
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
Head-to-Head: Penguins 2-0 Blue Jackets
The last time they played the Penguins won 3-2 on February 27. Evgeni Malkin and Bryan Rust both had two points. They also beat the Blue Jackets 5-2 on January 21.
The Penguins have won their past two games. Jake Guentzel and Sidney Crosby both have 61 points for the Penguins. Guentzel’s played in 57 games, while Crosby’s played in 51. Kris Letang has 52 points in 59 games, and Rust has 48 points in 41 games.
The Blue Jackets are on a three-game winning streak. The Blue Jackets are led by Patrik Laine and Oliver Bjorkstrand, who both have 48 points. Laine has played in 44 games, while Bjorkstrand has played in 61. Jakub Voracek, Boone Jenner and Zach Werenski all have 40 or more points.
The Penguins are third in the Metropolitan Division, while the Blue Jackets are on the outside looking in at the wild card race.
Prediction: 3-1 Penguins
Washington Capitals vs. St. Louis Blues
Head-to-Head: Capitals 1-0 Blues
The last time the teams faced off, the Blues won 5-1. Pavel Buchnevich led the way with two goals and one assist.
The Capitals lost their last game to the Dallas Stars. The Capitals are led by captain Alex Ovechkin, who has 76 points in 62 games. Evgeny Kuznetsov has 62 points in 61 games.
The Blues are on a three-game losing streak. The Blues are led by the league’s fastest skater Jordan Kyrou, who has 60 points in 57 games. Vladimir Tarasenko is next with 54 points in 55 games.
The Blues were in second place in the Central Division before Monday night’s games, while the Capitals were in the second wild card spot in the East. Both teams are in need of a win so it should be a pretty competitive game.
Prediction: 3-2 SO Blues
Detroit Red Wings vs. Philadelphia Flyers
Head-to-Head: Red Wings 2-0 Flyers
The last time they played each other, the Red Wings came out on top 4-2 on February 12 with Dylan Larkin leading the way with three points. On February 9, the Red Wings won 6-3.
The Red Wings lost their last game to the Seattle Kraken. Larkin leads the Red Wings with 59 points in 57 games. Tyler Bertuzzi is next with 49 points in 51 games, and rookie Lucas Raymond has 47 points in 62 games.
The Flyers won their last game. Cam Atkinson leads the team with 47 points in 62 games. Travis Konecny is next with 38 points in 60 games.
Both the Red Wings and Flyers are out of a playoff position. The Red Wings have 57 points in 62 games, and the Flyers have 51 points in 62 games.
Prediction: 2-1 Red Wings
New York Islanders vs. Ottawa Senators
Head-to-Head: Islanders 1-0 Senators
The last time the teams played each other, the Islanders won 4-1 on February 1. Scott Mayfield led the charge with two points.
The Islanders lost their last game to the Flyers 2-1 on Sunday. The Islanders are led by Mathew Barzal, who has 40 points in 51 games. Brock Nelson is right behind him with 39 points in 51 games.
The Senators lost their last game to the Montreal Canadiens 5-1 on Saturday. Captain Brady Tkachuk leads the Senators with 44 points in 59 games. Tim Stuzle is next with 37 points in 61 games. Joshua Norris and Connor Brown each have 36 points. Norris has played in 46 games, while Brown has played in 48.
While neither team is likely to make the playoffs, the Islanders are playing much better. They have 61 points in 60 games. The Senators have 49 points in 62 games.
Prediction: 4-1 Islanders
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