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 Calgary Flames and the Washington Capitals.
NHL Predictions
Carolina Hurricanes vs Boston Bruins
Head-to-Head: Hurricanes 0 – 0 Bruins
The Carolina Hurricanes and the Boston Bruins meet for the first time since the Hurricanes defeated the Bruins in Game 7 of last spring’s first-round playoff matchup. The Hurricanes dominated Boston last year during the regular season. However, each team won their home games in the seven-game series.
Carolina is expected to go with goaltender Antti Raanta for the matinee game. Starting goalie Frederik Andersen remains sidelined with a lower-body injury. Martin Necas leads the Hurricanes with nine goals and 14 assists for 23 points in 20 games. Over their last five games, Carolina has a measly record of 1-1-3, most recently losing 4-0 to the Arizona Coyotes. Over the five-game stretch, the Hurricanes have scored just nine goals while allowing 16.
Boston embarks on possibly the most challenging season scheduling and dropped their most recent game 5-2 against the Florida Panthers. Jeremy Swayman started against the Panthers, allowing four goals on 30 shots. Before suffering an injury, Swayman had already been off to a shaky start as he has a 3.07 goals-against average to go along with a subpar .885 save percentage. Swayman will be serving as Linus Ullmark‘s backup for today’s contest.
Considering Boston’s exit at the hands of the Hurricanes last spring and being served a loss to the Panthers on Wednesday, expect the Bruins to come out flying today.
Bruins win 3-1
Colorado Avalanche vs Nashville Predators
Head-to-Head: Avalanche 0-0 Predators
This game has been postponed due to a busted water main in the arena. An updated date for the game will be announced later. We will be sure to cover it in a future NHL Predictions article.
Montreal Canadiens vs Chicago Blackhawks
Head-to-Head: Canadiens 0 – 0 Blackhawks
This matchup features two teams heading in a similar direction, albeit the Montreal Canadiens are further along in their rebuild. Additionally, the contest marks the first game for Canadiens forward Kirby Dach against his former team.
Montreal is still above 500. with a 10-9-1 record for the season, he is sitting in sixth place in the Atlantic division. However, promising young gun Cole Caufield has not disappointed in his sophomore season. Caulfield has the natural scorer’s touch and has scored a team-leading 12 goals in 20 games.
The Chicago Blackhawks had busy off-season trading assets to accumulate draft picks and replenish their prospect pool. With a 6-10-3 record, superstar Patrick Kane and long-time captain Jonathan Toews names have been swirling in the rumour mill as potential to be traded.
Expect the rejuvenated Dach to have a big outing as Montreal exposes the Blackhawks’ weak goaltending.
The Canadiens win 4-2
Toronto Maple Leafs vs Minnesota Wild
Head-to-Head: Leafs 0 – 0 Wild
The Toronto Maple Leafs and Minnesota Wild will be head-to-head for the first time this season. As was their goaltending, the Maple Leafs’ blueline has been hampered by injuries. Leafs’ goalie Ilya Samsonov remains sidelined; however, off-season addition Matt Murray has played solid since returning to action. The Leafs will have some momentum as they most recently ended the New Jersey Devils‘ 13-game winning streak.
Minnesota finally has an offensive outbreak in their most recent game. This season, a common theme for the Wild has been the struggle to find the back of the net. The Wild are 9-8-2 and sit in fifth place in the Central. On Wednesday night, Minnesota picked up a massive 6-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets.
Maple Leafs win 6-4
Calgary Flames vs Washington Capitals
Head-to-Head: Flames 0 – 0 Capitals
Today’s feature matchup for NHL Predictions is the Calgary Flames vs the Washington Capitals. Jacob Markstrom is expected to get the start for Calgary, while Darcy Kuemper will get the nod for the Capitals. This is the first meeting of the season between the two cross-conference franchises. Last season the teams split their two games, each picking up a win apiece. This could be a tight contest, as both teams scored eight goals in the last year’s two games.
Calgary most recently suffered a shootout loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Jonathan Huberdeau has seven goals and 17 assists in 25 career games against Washington. A more successful powerplay will go a long way to the Flames picking up the win on the road.
On the other side of this Matinee game are Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals. Ovechkin has 29 career points against the Flames. This season “Alex the Great” is leading the Capitals with ten goals and nine assists for 19 points in 21 games. Unfortunately, Washington has an 8-10-3 record, which is subpar to the Capitals we’ve seen through the Ovechkin era.
Washington looks to get its season back on the right track, and a win today over the Flames will be a good starting point.
Capitals win 6-4
The third period of the hockey game.
📺 @NHL_On_TNT pic.twitter.com/x0p2GeEQ5I
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 24, 2022
