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 Winnipeg Jets vs Vegas Golden Knights.
NHL Predictions: Winnipeg Jets vs Vegas Golden Knights
Winnipeg Jets vs Vegas Golden Knights
Head-to-Head: Jets 0-0 Golden Knights
Last season ended the same for both of these teams, utter disappointment. Another common theme among these Western Conference teams is the two new faces behind the bench. Bruce Cassidy and Rick Bowness are both veterans in the league and both have their teams off to good starts. Once again another common theme, Connor Hellebuyck and Logan Thompson are both off to excellent starts being atop the league in most statistics. There is one area where they don’t compare. In their own end. The Winnipeg Jets are known to be just brutal defensively whereas the Vegas Golden Knights are thriving in their own end. The Jet’s task will be to shut down the Golden Knights top line who control 71% of expected goals and 79% of shots.
Both teams have won three straight so we’ll see who cracks their streak. Versus a good defensive team like this, the Jets will really want to focus on their transition game. Pairing a puck moving d pair with their dominant top line will be a way to get the edge. With the big bodies on their bench, Winnipeg will want to smother Logan Thompson as much as possible.
Predictions: Golden Knights win 4-2
New York Rangers vs Arizona Coyotes
Head-to-Head: Rangers 0-0 Coyotes
Well, this should be a fun one. The Rangers have been struggling to score lately with an exception vs Dallas. It seems they also can’t keep the puck out of their own net. New York is generating chances they just can’t put the puck in the net which is the opposite of last year. The Coyotes and Rangers are actually only separated by 3 teams when it comes to goals for per 60. Former Canuck Jaroslav Halak hasn’t had a good start as a Ranger but will look to redeem himself with a win. To many peoples surprise, the Coyotes have been good on the powerplay sitting at 27% for seventh in the league. Clayton Keller has had a hot start to the season collecting seven points in six games. Keller is a speedy guy who could surely make some moves against that Rangers defence. If the Rangers don’t manage to pull off a win I’m sure there will be many interesting things said.
Predictions: Rangers win 3-1
Toronto Maple Leafs vs Anaheim Ducks
Head-to-Head: Maple Leafs 0-0 Ducks
To finish our NHL predictions for tonight, let’s look at Toronto vs Ducks. Things in Leaf-land are not pleasant. Auston Matthews isn’t scoring, the Sheldon Keefe watch is supposedly on, and John Tavares seems to be their best player. The Ducks are having a season from their nightmares. They’ve gotten obliterated defensively and can’t score for the life of them. John Gibson isn’t helping them out in net either. The Leafs would absolutely love for this to be their getting in the groove win. Both teams currently have the same weakness which is scoring. Even generating chances the Leafs are 15th in the league which isn’t acceptable when you look at their star power. Against a team like Anaheim, Toronto should definitely go for quantity over quality. Limiting high danger chances against will be important with Erik Kallgren in net. Anaheim will want to wear down the Leafs if they want a chance of winning this game. Keeping Toronto to the outside and putting emphasis on their stars will be key.
Predictions: Leafs win 2-0
