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 Minnesota Wild vs the Dallas Stars.
NHL Predictions
Anaheim Ducks vs Winnipeg Jets
Head-to-Head: Ducks 0 – 1 Jets
The Winnipeg Jets host the Anaheim Ducks in this Sunday matinee. Vezina candidate and Jets workhorse Connor Hellebuyck is expected to start in goal for Winnipeg, while the Ducks are expected to start their backup netminder Anthony Stolarz. Anaheim is coming into the contest riding a five-game losing streak and holds the eighth spot in the Pacific division. Winnipeg lost in their last outing, ending their three-game winning streak. The Jets won the season’s first meeting between the two clubs by a score of 3-2.
Don’t expect the Jets to fumble an opportunity for two significant points as they look to keep up with the Dallas Stars, who currently lead the Central.
Jets win 4-1
Detroit Red Wings vs Columbus Blue Jackets
Head-to-Head: Red Wings 1 – 0 Blue Jackets
The Detroit Red Wings and Columbus Blue Jackets will meet for the second time this season. In the first matchup, the Red Wings prevailed, topping the Blue Jackets 6-1. The Red Wings are playing for the second consecutive night. Columbus enters with a little more rest since their last game, a 4-1 victory over Winnipeg on Friday night.
Detroit will turn to their backup goalie Alex Nedeljkovic while Joonas Korpisalo is expected to get the nod for the Blue Jackets. Both teams have lost three of their last five games, but Columbus gets the edge as Detroit had to travel immediately following last night’s game.
Blue Jackets win 5-3
San Jose Sharks vs Buffalo Sabres
Head-to-Head: Sharks 0 – 0 Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres and the San Jose Sharks are fighting to stay out of the basement of their respective divisions. This is the first meeting of the season between the two cross-conference squads. The Sharks have not been good since the puck dropped back in October, and while the Sabres enjoyed a good start, they have fallen down the standings in the ultra-competitive Atlantic Division.
The Sabres’ trouble doesn’t lie within their offence, as they average 3.7 goals per game. The other end of the ice is worrisome for Buffalo, who allows an average of 3.61 goals per game. While the Sharks boast the league’s number-one penalty kill, nothing else has been even remotely impressive this far into the season. Buffalo takes this one easily.
Sabres win 4-1
Chicago Blackhawks vs New York Islanders
Head-to-Head: Blackhawks 0 – 1 Islanders
This is the season’s second and final matchup between the Chicago Blackhawks and New York Islanders. In the first game, the Islanders skated away with a 3-1 victory. Chicago is coming off a big win on Saturday, while the Islanders picked up a 4-1 win on Friday. Chicago will turn to Arvid Soderblom in goal, while Islanders starter Ilya Sorokin will get the nod at the other end. The Islanders have a home record of 8-4-0, and the Blackhawks are 3-5-2 on the road. No surprises in this one as the Islanders pick up the victory to sweep the season series against the Blackhawks.
Islanders win 3-2
Minnesota Wild vs Dallas Stars
Head-to-Head: Wild 0 – 0 Stars
Our featured game for NHL Predictions should be a good one. This is the season’s first meeting between these two Central division foes. The Dallas Stars are currently holding the top spot in the division mainly due to the goal-scoring prowess of Jason Robertson and goaltender Jake Oettinger‘s stellar season, posting an 8-2-3 record to go along with a 2.52 GAA and a .917 SV%. Marc-Andre Fleury is confirmed to start in goal for the Minnesota Wild, and he has been shaky at times throughout the season. Minnesota is led offensively by Russian star Kirill Kaprizov. Kaprizov has scored 13 goals and added 14 assists for 27 points in 21 games.
In their most recent outing, Minnesota picked up a 5-4 shootout win over the lowly Anaheim Ducks. The Stars’ most recent win also came over the Ducks, although they didn’t require a shootout, topping Anaheim 5-0. Robertson picked up a hat trick in the game and is riding a 17-game point streak heading into today.
Anything can happen when these two rivals get together, so don’t be shocked if it takes some overtime or a shootout to find a winner today.
Wild win 4-3 in Shootout
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