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 Seattle Kraken vs Dallas Stars. Keep checking our NHL predictions throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
NHL Predictions
Florida Panthers vs Toronto Maple Leafs
Series: Panthers 1-0 Maple Leafs
Our first game of NHL predictions has the Florida Panthers looking for a two-game series lead. Florida hardly showed any aftereffects of being through a seven-game series. Sergei Bobrovsky made some big saves at times and Matthew Tkachuk put in some tremendous shifts. Brandon Montour has turned into a solid defenceman ever since he went to South Florida. Carter Verhaeghe became the franchise’s all-time leading playoff goal-scorer after tallying in the opening game. Florida has been very good at forcing teams on the wall and making teams pay for mistakes. This is not the team that struggled to get into the big dance.
Ilya Samsonov will get the call in goal once again for the Toronto Maple Leafs, who dropped another home game. However, this Leafs group has shown plenty of fight this post-season. Toronto used to fold in tough situations, but know it has some heart and at least goes down with a fight. Matthew Knies scored his first career goal with the Leafs and Michael Bunting also scored. However, Toronto’s core group is going to have to get some goals to keep pace with a capable Florida team.
Toronto showed guts in rebounding from a Game 1 loss to Tampa Bay in the first round. These predictions have gone about as well as putting together the Death Star, but the Leafs even up the series.
Prediction: Maple Leafs win 3-2.
Seattle Kraken vs Dallas Stars
Series: Kraken 1-0 Stars
Our final and featured game has the upstart Kraken looking to get a 2-0 lead on the Stars. Seattle managed to win the longest Stanley Cup playoff game in their brief history with an overtime win in Dallas. Yanni Gourde connected for the OT-clincher for the second-year club. The Kraken also looked like it didn’t just survive in seven-game battle in the opening round. Seattle can goals from multiple and unlikely sources. Jaden Schwartz has also found another gear in this playoff run. Likely starter Philipp Grubauer may not wow you in goal, but he does just enough to keep the Kraken in games,
The Game 1 loss for Dallas certainly wasn’t on the shoulders of Joe Pavelski. “Captain America” returned after a long injury layoff to score four goals in the Stars loss. He became only the fourth player to score four goals in a post-season loss. Projected starter Jake Oettinger will have to play much better if Dallas wants to tie the series. Oettinger is usually one of the better goalies in the league, but was surprisingly shaky in Game 1 for the Stars. Roope Hintz and Jason Robertson were good in the opening round, but will need to help Pavelski in Game 2.
Dallas also lost the opening game of the first round earlier in the playoffs. The Stars also bounced back to take Game 2 just like the Leafs did. Dallas’ empire strikes back against the rebel Seattle forces.
Prediction: Stars win 4-2.
Main photo by: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
