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 Boston Bruins vs the Columbus Blue Jackets.
NHL Predictions: Boston Bruins vs Columbus Blue Jackets
Anaheim Ducks at Vegas Golden Knights
Head to Head: Ducks 0-0 Golden Knights
A matchup within the Pacific Division. And these two teams are on two different spectrums. The Vegas Golden Knights are off to a strong start under new head coach Bruce Cassidy. They are first in the Western Conference and first in the Pacific Division. A large part of their success is due to their stifling defense (1st in goals against per game with 2.00) and Logan Thompson. Thompson has a 3-2 record with a 2.03 goals-against average and .931 save percentage. He currently ranks 10th in goals saved above expected (3.4). Adin Hill has also filled in nicely with a 3-0 record and a 2.00 goals-against average.
This will pay dividends against an Anaheim Ducks team that struggles to put the puck in the net. Granted, they have a flux of young and electric talent, but they average 2.29 goals per game. As a result, they have lost their last four games. That will not be good enough against this smothering defence.
Prediction: Golden Knights defeat Ducks 4-1
Colorado Avalanche at New Jersey Devils
Head to Head: Avalanche 0-0 Devils
The defending Stanley Cup Champions are making their way through the metro area. Goaltender Alexander Georgiev got his revenge against his old team, and Vitek Vanecek bounced back after a brutal first start. Both teams are sitting pretty as the Devils (4-3) and Avalanche (4-2-1) are riding similar records.
This game will feature some great offensive talent. Two of the top point producers in the league enter play tonight. New Jersey Devils Jesper Bratt and Colorado Avalanche Valeri Nichushkin both have twelve points. Both have spearheaded the offensive attacks for both teams. The Devils have been a very dominant team at even strength and sit at the top of the league in that regard. Colorado is no slouch in that regard either, and in this game it will simply come down to goaltending. Colorado has the edge in that regard. The inconsistency in the Devils crease will be why they drop this game.
Prediction: Avalanche defeat Devils 4-2
New York Islanders at Carolina Hurricanes
Head to Head: Islanders 0-0 Hurricanes
This NHL predictions features a metropolitan division showdown on this lovely Friday evening. The lowly New York Islanders take on the first-place division leader Carolina Hurricanes. The Hurricanes are coming off a successful West Coast road trip where they took 7 out of 10 points. The Islanders were on a three-game losing streak before beating their rival New York Rangers.
This game features a potent offense against a good defence and goaltending. Carolina comes in as the best possession team and generates great chances with the second-best xGF%. The Islanders are the polar opposite. This team is led by Andrei Svechnikov (7 goals and 9 points) and star centre Sebastian Aho (9 points). The main factor carrying the Islanders is goaltender Ilya Sorokin. He’s rocking 2.26 goals against average, and a .931 save percentage, and he sits sixth in the league with 4.7 goals saved above expected. Sorokin has been excellent and has carried the Islanders this season.
This matchup will not bode well for the Islanders. The dominance of the Hurricanes will smother a team that relies on goaltending and struggles to score and generate chances.
Prediction: Hurricanes defeat Islanders 3-1
Boston Bruins at Columbus Blue Jackets
Head to Head: Bruins 0-0 Blue Jackets
Tonight’s featured game on the NHL Predictions slate is between the Boston Bruins and Columbus Blue Jackets. The high-flying Boston Bruins are rolling into town. They currently sit first in the Atlantic Division, while the Blue Jackets are in the basement of the Eastern Conference. Both teams had expectations go in separate directions. The Bruins have traded water despite two key players being out, while the Blue Jackets have been at the bottom despite landing the prized free agent. It’ll be an all-star affair featuring David Pastrnak vs Johnny Gaudreau.
The Blue Jackets enter this game as badly as they are. They have the league’s worst power play, 8th worst corsi for percentage, and have allowed the most goals at even strength. To counter they’ve scored the most goals at even strength, but weak goaltending has plagued the team (27th in team save percentage).
The Bruins are a different beast. They are the seventh-best team at even strength and have scored the second-most goals in all situations. As an offence, they average 4.14 goals per game. They have gotten contributions from everyone and have done with all without Brad Marchand. Even though he returned to action last night, gen is not slated to play tonight. If things ever did get out of hand, the Bruins’ 5th-ranked penalty kill will manhandle the Columbus power play. If the Blue Jackets want to escape with a win, they’ll want to keep the game at even strength. But despite the Bruins playing back-to-back, they will manage to take control of a Blue Jackets team looking to find their way.
Prediction: Bruins defeat Blue Jackets 4-3
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