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 Boston Bruins and the Tampa Bay Lightning.
NHL Predictions: Boston Bruins vs Tampa Bay Lightning
Detroit Red Wings vs Montreal Canadiens
Head to Head: Red Wings 1-1 Canadiens
The first game on our NHL Predictions is an Atlantic Division showdown. Fighting for points in the standings, the Detroit Red Wings travel to take on the Montreal Canadiens.
Montreal is down bad injury wise and the loss of Cole Caufield hurts their scoring. One player they’ll need to get going is Nick Suzuki. He has just one goal in his last 16 games.
Detroit has enough depth to outscore Montreal and they are led heavily by captain Dylan Larkin.
Prediction: Red Wings defeat Canadiens 4-3
Washington Capitals vs Pittsburgh Penguins
Head to Head: Capitals 0-1 Penguins
An extremely crucial matchup is on deck. Another chapter of Alex Ovechkin vs Sidney Crosby is in the works. Fighting for a playoff spot, this is a crucial game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Washington Capitals.
Washington returns home after a three-game road trip. They’ve dropped the last two games but still hold a wild card spot. The Penguins are coming off a thrilling victory, and the return of Kris Letang was a boost.
Prediction: Capitals defeat Penguins 4-3
Boston Bruins vs Tampa Bay Lightning
Head to Head: Bruins 2-0 Lightning
The final matchup on our NHL Predictions is an Atlantic Division showdown. Patrice Bergeron and the Boston Bruins continue their road trip against Steven Stamkos and the Tampa Bay Lightning. Boston has taken the first two games this season.
Defeating the Bruins has not been easy. They have only five regulation losses this season. But if there is any team that can slow them down it is the Lightning. They have elite scorers in Stamkos, Brayden Point, and Nikita Kucherov. This will have a playoff feel to it which will make for great hockey.
One great showdown will be between Linus Ullmark and Andrei Vasilevskiy. Ullmark has been playing Vezina calibre hockey all season long and leads the league in GAA, save percentage, and goals saved above expected. Vasilevskiy is no slouch either. He is 3-2 in his last five starts but is 0-2 against Boston this season.
One key area in this game is special teams. Both teams excel on the power play (Boston is 2nd, and Tampa is 3rd). But the other key is the penalty kill with the Bruins ranking third. This is a key road trip for the Bruins, and with the heavy travel and Tampa at home, defeat is on the horizon.
Prediction: Lightning defeat Bruins 4-3
Main Photo: Embed from Getty Images
