With the large amount of games on tonight’s NHL schedule, it might be hard to know where to start. We at the Last Word on Hockey have helped narrow your focus to our best bets. This round of NHL Predictions will help condense the slate into three best bets and one prop bet of the night.
NHL Predictions
Vancouver Canucks vs Minnesota Wild
Head-to-Head: Canucks 1-0 Wild
TV: Sportsnet Pacific; Bally Sports North; Bally Sports Wisconsin; NHL Network
Our opening game of NHL predictions has the Vancouver Canucks looking to make it five straight wins. Thatcher Demko is the expected starter, but always check social media before locking in a fantasy starter in net. Brock Boeser‘s revival continues with him already at 22 goals and Quinn Hughes has 30 assists already. The Canucks are the top-rated offence in the entire NHL.
Filip Gustavsson is the confirmed starter for the Minnesota Wild, who have two straight victories. Things have stabilized a bit since John Hynes took over as head coach from Dean Evason. Kirill Kaprizov is starting to come alive and that helps out Joel Eriksson Ek and Mats Zuccarello. The latter two have been trying to shoulder the offensive load in the early part of the season.
Minnesota’s lack of scoring is worrisome and that will allow Vancouver to pick up the win.
Prediction: Canucks win 4-2.
New York Rangers vs Boston Bruins
Head-to-Head: Rangers 1-0 Bruins
TV: MSG; NESN; ESPN+
Our featured game of NHL predictions has the New York Rangers and Boston Bruins facing off in a top of the Eastern Conference showdown. Igor Shesterkin will get the start, but he’s struggled in recent games. The Blueshirts pulled away for a 5-1 victory on Friday night against the Anaheim Ducks. Chris Kreider reached a a pair of milestones and Artemi Panarin has been integral in the Rangers’ early-season surge.
Jeremy Swayman gets the call after Linus Ullmark weathered the New York Islanders in a 5-4 shootout win. David Pastrnak continues to be a wise investment with 17 goals and 24 assists for the Bruins. Boston is the best second-best defensive club in the league, but will be tested against the New York offence.
Shesterkin will play better, but Boston comes away with the victory.
Prediction: Bruins win 3-2.
Los Angeles Kings vs Seattle Kraken
Head-to-Head: Kings 0-0 Kraken
TV: KCAL; Root Northwest; ESPN+
Our last game of NHL predictions has the Los Angeles Kings taking on the Seattle Kraken. The Kings are road warriors and have a record of 11-1-1 away from home. Cam Talbot is the expected starter in between the pipes for the Kings. Trevor Moore has 13 goals to lead the team in that category while Kevin Fiala has handed out 20 assists.
Seattle has two straight wins after a long losing streak. Joey Daccord is the expected starter and has seemingly wrested the number one goalie job. The Kraken are in the 20s in goals scored and goals allowed. Seattle was hoping to build off it inaugural appearance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. However, this team has run into a myriad of problems this campaign.
The Kings have lost three straight, but this should be a get-right game for Los Angeles.
Prediction: Kings win 4-1.
Prop Bet of the Night
Let’s go to our featured game for our prop bet of the evening. Shesterkin has been struggling in goal for the Rangers, but this is a chance to get back on track. We said the Bruins would come away with the win, but the Rangers’ Russian goalie will get over 30 saves in this one. New York will need their star goalie to get back to his best if it wants to keep on top of the Metropolitan Division.
Main photo by: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
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