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 Edmonton Oilers vs Colorado Avalanche.
NHL Predictions
Winnipeg Jets vs Minnesota Wild
Head-to-Head: Jets 0-3 Wild
Our first game on the NHL Predictions is a division showdown. Both Winnipeg and Minnesota enter the game off of instrumental wins last night; Minnesota is still in the race for higher seeding in the Central Division, while Winnipeg fought off a Nashville victory that eliminated the Flames with a 6-2 win of their own, maintaining their playoff position by three points. Since head coach Rick Bowness criticized the general lack of effort of the team, the Jets have won four of five, scoring six goals in three of those games. Winnipeg’s top stars Mark Scheifele, Nikolai Ehlers and Kyle Connor have played to standard in this stretch, with Ehlers in particular posting seven points in this stretch, with at least one point in every game. Still, the second-place wild-card position is a far cry from the team’s conference-leading position at the halfway point of this season.
Minnesota has seen the stellar play of Marcus Johansson and Matt Boldy together continue in the absence of Joel Eriksson-Ek; both players posted multi-point efforts while riding the surefire starter in Filip Gustavsson and his 21-save second-period last night. With a win tonight over the Jets, Minnesota could tie their divisional opponents in Colorado and Dallas at 104 points but would require results out of their destiny to elevate their position.
Prediction: 3-1 Wild
Edmonton Oilers vs Colorado Avalanche
Head-to-Head: Oilers 0-0 Avalanche
The next game on the NHL Predictions is a great one. Tonight’s featured game pits two of the NHL’s most octane on ESPN; the 105-point Edmonton Oilers and 104-point Colorado Avalanche. Edmonton’s trio of Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins challenges that of the great Neymar, Messi, and Suárez trio, each posting 100-points (or well above such) and becoming the first trio to do so since the Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr, and Ron Francis trio of the 1995-96 Pittsburgh Penguins. Colorado is certain to respond with their forward duo of Mikko Rantanen (who has 14 points in his last five games!) and Nathan MacKinnon, who have both played at top 10 levels for their positions this season.
Both teams pose excellent rush play and are models for the modern game, which should be reflected in tonight’s game. One challenge the Oilers will face in-zone defensively will be their retrievals and exits; Colorado’s punishing forecheck sustains the possession first garnered by the dynamic rush play-up top. Without Cale Makar and Bowen Byram, the Avalanche have turned to Devon Toews and Samuel Girard at the back-end for their offensive activation from the back-end.
Edmonton lies two points back of the Vegas Golden Knights for the top position in the Pacific Division and Western Conference with the same number of games remaining. Meanwhile, the Avalanche currently lead the Central Division by two points, largely fending off significant injuries to star players to continue playing at an elite level.
Between fights for top playoff positions and battles of two dynamic duos, this game could be considered war-like with the weaponry involved. Our prediction reflects as such, with the Avalanche taking a slight advantage.
Prediction: 6-4 Avalanche
Seattle Kraken vs Vegas Golden Knights
Head-to-Head: Kraken 1-1 Golden Knights
Our next game on the NHL Predictions is a division showdown. Seattle and Vegas begin the concluding home-and-home series that will finish their regular seasons, looking to develop serious momentum into the postseason while maintaining or improving their playoff positions. Seattle is mathematically able to surpass the Kings and take third in the division but must win out while requiring Los Angeles to lose their final game. Vegas, meanwhile, must defend their conference-leading spot from the 105-point Edmonton Oilers, who are also playing in game 81 tonight.
Vegas is looking to hit the 50-win mark for the first time since their inaugural season for the second time this season, losing to Dallas in a game providing such an opportunity. Currently, Jack Eichel leads the team in points with 66 in 67 games, looking for his first point-per-game season since 2019-2020. Jonathan Quick has played rather well since his trade from Los Angeles, rebounding from a poor season with the Kings with a 1.58 GSAx (goals saved above expected from Evolving-Hockey) with the Golden Knights.
Seattle has ridden an incredibly unexpected offensive performance this season, scoring at a rate far higher than they generate and ranking atop of the league in goals scored above expected. Jared McCann has hit 40 goals and 70 points, with four of those 40 coming in the last five games, while Daniel Sprong has finally blossomed into a legitimately effective middle-six forward, boosting a fairly deep top-six core in Seattle.
This game holds more implications than a game between two teams that have clinched generally do. Truthfully, this game should be incredibly close, but we give the firepower of the Kraken a slight edge.
Prediction: 4-3 Kraken (OT)
Vancouver Canucks vs Anaheim Ducks
Head-to-Head: Canucks 3-0 Ducks
Vancouver and Anaheim face off for the final time this season, with the Canucks looking for the ultimate four-game season series sweep. With both teams set to miss the postseason easily (and in lottery positions), the only factor that will drive this game is competitive pride and individual accolade. For example, Elias Pettersson is looking for the century mark in points for the first time in his career, needing just one point tonight to achieve such. Ducks forward Frank Vatrano, who has four goals in his last five games, is three away from a career-high with two games remaining, having already set a career-high in points.
Interestingly, the Ducks enter the night off of back-to-back 5-4 overtime losses, sitting at 58 points in 80 games (ranking 30th). Currently, their odds of acquiring the first overall pick via the draft lottery lie at 11.5 percent, with only Columbus set to play an extra game among teams in “contention” for the first overall pick.
With Vancouver 21 points above the Canucks despite being separated by just six standings slots, we don’t expect this game to be particularly close.
Prediction: 4-1 Canucks
Main Photo: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
