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 Florida Panthers vs the Colorado Avalanche. Be sure to check out our other NHL Predictions to come later today.
NHL Predictions
Dallas Stars vs New York Islanders
Head-to-Head: Stars 1-0 Islanders
The Dallas Stars and New York Islanders meet for the final time this season on Long Island. Dallas collected a 5-2 victory over New York on November 19. The Stars come into the game fourth in goals for and and sixth in goals against. Dallas has won three of its last five, including a 5-1 win over Florida in its last outing. Expected starter Jake Oettinger is 18-6-3 so far this season for the Stars.
Ilya Sorokin likely gets the call in net for the Isles, but keep monitoring social media for your fantasy hockey needs. The Islanders are 11th in goals allowed and 10th on the penalty kill. However, their only weak point might be the offence that’s 16th in goals scored. New York will also have to contend with the strong Dallas special teams, which is fourth on the power play and penalty kill.
This should be a good one, but the Stars squeak out a road win.
Prediction: Stars win 3-2 in a shootout.
Calgary Flames vs St. Louis Blues
Head-to-Head: Flames 0-1 Blues
Both the Calgary Flames and St. Louis Blues have performed under expectations so far this season. The Blues won the first meeting 5-2 on December 16th. This will be the first game in a home-and-home set between the two teams. Jacob Markstrom is the expected starter, but he he was pulled for Daniel Vladar in the last game. Calgary is the bottom-half of the league in goals for, goals against and power play.
Both the Blues and Flames have won three of their last five games. However, St. Louis got a 3-0 shutout from Thomas Greiss over the Minnesota Wild on Sunday. Jordan Binnington is the projected starter in this one for the Blues. St. Louis has been pretty streaky this season when it looks great at times but lousy at others.
This game is a hard one to gauge since Calgary can put together a good game. However, the Blues will get the edge in this one.
Prediction: Blues win 4-3.
San Jose Sharks vs Arizona Coyotes
Head-to-Head: Sharks 1-0 Coyotes
The San Jose Sharks beat the Arizona Coyotes in the first meeting of the season, 3-2, on Dec. 13. Both teams are struggling with the Sharks losing four of their last five. James Reimer is the expected starter for San Jose, which is 28th in goals allowed.
Arizona is also on a losing run with five straight losses. However, there have been some signs of life for the Coyotes. Karel Vejmelka is the likely starter for Arizona in goal. The Coyotes are 21st or worse in the four major categories.
Both teams are struggling, but we’ll go Arizona getting the win.
Prediction: Coyotes win 4-3.
Florida Panthers vs Colorado Avalanche
Head-to-Head: Panthers 0-0 Avalanche
Our featured game has the struggling Panthers taking on the defending Stanley Cup champions. Sergei Bobrovsky is the probable starter in this one. Florida has losses in three of its last five games, but had won two straight before losing to Dallas in its last game. Matthew Tkachuk leads in goals (20) and assists (29) for the club this season. However, the team hasn’t been clicking under Paul Maurice.
The Avalanche snapped a losing streak with a 3-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers in their last game. Alexandar Georgiev is the expected starter in this game. He’s been decent with a .916 save percentage and 2.67 goals-against-average. The team has been dealing with a spate of injuries, but getting people like Nathan MacKinnon back. Mikko Rantanen has shouldered the load on offence with 26 goals and 22 assists.
Both teams have underperformed so far, but the Avalanche are more likely to put it together.
Prediction: Avalanche win 5-2.
