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 between the Anaheim Ducks and the Montreal Canadiens.
NHL Predictions: Anaheim Ducks vs Montreal Canadiens
Columbus Blue Jackets vs Tampa Bay Lightning
Head-to-Head: Blue Jackets 0-1 Lightning
The Columbus Blue Jackets visit the Tampa Bay Lightning, with the Lightning entering on a three-game winning streak. This will be the second meeting between these two teams this season. In the first matchup, the Lightning won by a score of 5-2. Columbus posted a season-low 28.9 Corsi For % in the game, showing how badly they were outplayed. Elvis Merzlikins will get the start for the Blue Jackets, while Andrei Vasilevsky will be in net for Tampa Bay. Expect the Lightning to continue rolling, and they will run over the Blue Jackets in this one.
Lightning win 5-1
Dallas Stars vs Washington Capitals
Head-to-Head: Stars 1-0 Capitals
The Washington Capitals play host to the Dallas Stars as captain Alexander Ovechkin is coming off a huge milestone. Ovechkin scored his 30th career hat trick over the Chicago Blackhawks to become the third player in NHL history to score 800 goals. The Capitals captain now trails “Mr. Hockey” Gordie Howe by just one goal for second place all-time. Dallas enters the game coming off a 4-1 win over the New Jersey Devils. Dallas won the first meeting with the Capitals 2-0. Jake Oettinger is expected to start for the Stars, and Charlie Lindgren is expected to go for Washington. Look for the Capitals to be fired up over Ovechkin’s latest milestone and pick up the win over the Stars.
Capitals win 4-2
Los Angeles Kings vs Boston Bruins
Head-to-Head: Kings 0-0 Bruins
The Boston Bruins remain undefeated in regulation at home this season with a 15-0-1 record at the TD Garden. They look to continue the trend as they host the Los Angeles Kings in a cross-conference matchup. Boston most recently picked up a shootout win over the New York Islanders. The Kings got trounced 6-0 by the Buffalo Sabres in their last outing. Jonathon Quick will get the start for the Kings, while the Bruins will give Linus Ullmark his third consecutive start. Expect the Bruins to continue their winning ways at home and extend their lead in the Atlantic Division standings.
Anaheim Ducks vs Montreal Canadiens
Head-to-Head: Ducks 0-0 Canadiens
Today’s feature game has no shortage of young talent. With a youthful roster, however, comes many bumps in the road before seeing consistent winning results. Our featured game teams sit in the lower tier of the NHL standings. The Anaheim Ducks and the Montreal Canadiens meet for the first time this season. The Ducks have a league-worst 17 points with a 7-20-3 record. Can you picture Connor Bedard skating alongside Trevor Zegras and Troy Terry in the future? It is possible, as the Ducks have become the front runners in the draft lottery sweepstakes. Montreal has played themselves out of that spot to this point in the season.
Cole Caulfield and Nick Suzuki are growing into bonafide top-line players in the NHL this year with 25 and 29 points, respectively. The two young stars lead the Canadiens’ offensive attack. Jake Allen will start in goal for Montreal, and John Gibson will go for Anaheim. The Ducks are awful on the road this season, with a 2-13-3 record. Montreal is just .500 on home ice. Look for the low-flying Ducks to surprise the Canadiens and pick up a rare win tonight.
Ducks win 4-3 in Shootout.
Main photo:
Embed from Getty Images
