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 for NHL Predictions is between the Winnipeg Jets and the Edmonton Oilers.
NHL Predictions
San Jose Sharks vs Dallas Stars
Head-to-Head: Sharks 1 – 0 Stars
The San Jose Sharks make a trip to Dallas to take on the Central Division-leading Dallas Stars. This is the second meeting of the season between the two teams, as the Sharks picked up a 5-4 win over the Stars in the first matchup. The first game came in the early stages of the season, and both teams have been on opposite trajectories since. In the Stars’ most recent outing, they picked up a 4-1 win. Dallas is on a three-game winning streak and is 7-2-1 over their last ten.
Jason Robertson is showing last season was no fluke as he sits third in NHL scoring with 52 points. The Sharks dropped their last contest to the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 in overtime. While the Sharks are among the favourites for the Connor Bedard sweepstakes, one positive from their season is the resurgence of Erik Karlsson. Karlsson leads all defencemen in points with 50 points in 37 games. Expect Dallas to continue to roll in this one.
Stars win 4-1.
Vancouver Canucks vs Calgary Flames
Head-to-Head: Canucks 1 – 0 Flames
The Calgary Flames host the Vancouver Canucks in this New Years’ Eve tilt. The first meeting between the two required overtime before the Canucks could secure a 4-3 victory. Calgary most recently picked up a 3-2 win, catapulting the Flames into third place in the Pacific Division.
The Canucks have played better of late after an abysmal start to the season they are 6-4-0 in their last ten. Spencer Martin is expected to start for the Canucks, while Jacob Markstrom will be in between the pipes for Calgary. Elias Pettersson has been providing Vancouver with some high-powered offensive outbursts and leads the Canucks with 43 points in 33 games. Expect the Canucks to douse the Flames as they continue to make up lost ground in the Pacific.
Canucks win 6-4.
Winnipeg Jets vs Edmonton Oilers
Head-to-Head: Jets 0 – 0 Oilers
Our featured game of the night is another all-Canadian matchup. The Edmonton Oilers host the Winnipeg Jets in the first matchup of the season between the two. The Oilers are 5-3-2 over their last ten, most recently beating the Kraken in a 7-2 blowout. Captain Connor McDavid is on a 17-game point streak entering the game.
McDavid leads the league with an astonishing 72 points in 37 games. Leon Draisaitl sits second in the league-scoring race, ten points back from McDavid. The Jets will have Connor Hellebuyck starting in the net for them. Hellebuyck has been instrumental to the Jets’ success this season. Mark Scheifele picked up a hat trick in his last game and led the Jets with 23 goals on the season.
Tonight’s match-up will be highly entertaining as the Oilers still haven’t forgotten being swept by the Jets in the playoffs just two seasons ago. If you have no other New Years’ Eve plans, tuning into this game is a good choice. McDavid has the potential to create magic anytime he is on the ice, while Hellebuyck and the Jets will do everything in their power to keep him off of the scoresheet for the first time since November 23.
Jets win 4-3 in Overtime.
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