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 Toronto Maple Leafs vs Carolina Hurricanes.
NHL Predictions: Toronto Maple Leafs vs Carolina Hurricanes
Detroit Red Wings vs New York Rangers
Head-to-Head: Red Wings 0-0 Rangers
The New York Rangers seem to have finally come back down to earth. The Detroit Red Wings are floating near. Coming off a tough loss vs the red-hot Bruins, the Rangers aren’t going to coast through this one. Neither team is exceptionally dominant at either end of the ice. To be fair, the Rangers have had some bad luck in addition to failing to capitalize on their chances. Detroit is by far one of the worst defensive teams in the league allowing close to 40 shots per game. This would be a good game for Chris Kreider to get his mojo back. After scoring a whopping 52 goals last year although unsustainably, he’s on pace for only 27. Special teams won’t have a huge impact, as both excel on the penalty kill and struggle on the powerplay. I’m torn on this one, I think the Red Wings’ youth propels them past the Rangers.
Prediction: Red Wings win 4-2
Florida Panthers vs Anaheim Ducks
Head-to-Head: Panthers 0-0 Ducks
The Anaheim Ducks haven’t had much fun to start the year. You can’t deny it, they sure can score when they want to but they cannot keep the puck out of their net. The Florida Panthers have been a great two-way team scoring at a generous rate while playing good defence. It helps that Ben Chiarot is gone, so long first-round pick. The possession game is strong in Florida. Once they get ahead, they don’t take their foot off the pedal. Anaheim on the other hand likes to run up the score and have some fun. Something we likely won’t see on Sunday in California. The bad thing for Anaheim is the Panthers are second in the league in shots per game while they’re first in the league for shots allowed per game with an average of 38. It is hard to see this game as anything else but a possible blood bath on Anaheim’s end. Wearing out and forechecking Florida hard will be all they can do.
Prediction: Panthers win 5-1
Toronto Maple Leafs vs Carolina Hurricanes
Head-to-Head: Maple Leafs 0-0 Hurricanes
It seemed once upon a time these two teams were cup favourites, that’s not the case anymore. Carolina is a cup favourite, Toronto is not. The reason being they simply can’t score. Generating the chances isn’t an issue for the star-led Maple Leafs, it’s the finishing aspect that they struggle with. Carolina is a very dominant team in all stat categories. Carolina creates a lot of their offence from their blue line with 40% of their shots coming from defensemen. Toronto is last in the league with only 23% of their shots coming from defensemen. Toronto is a quality-over-quantity team so they’ll really need to find the open lanes vs this very good defensive team.
A key point to that is Carolina hasn’t received fantastic goaltending from Frederik Andersen this year who will likely get the start vs his former team. Toronto will really want to contain Martin Necas who is on a hot streak of 10 points in six games. Toronto should look to expose the Hurricanes in their own end primarily in the center lane and the high-danger areas. What a matchup this will be. Carolina is firing on all cylinders right even without Max Pacioretty. Cup favourites and my favourites, Carolina should take this one.
Prediction: Hurricanes win 3-2
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