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
Toronto Maple Leafs vs Columbus Blue Jackets
Head-to-Head: Maple Leafs 1-1 Blue Jackets
TV: Bally Sports Ohio; Sportsnet Ontario; ESPN+
Our opening game of today’s NHL predictions has the Toronto Maple Leafs and Columbus Blue Jackets wrapping up their season series. Toronto has confirmed it will go with Ilya Samsonov between the pipes. The Leafs won the last meeting between the clubs, 4-1. However, Toronto is coming off a loss to the Ottawa Senators where it blew a two-goal lead. Auston Matthews is two goals away from the 30-goal mark already while William Nylander has 30 assists.
Columbus suffered a big injury blow with the loss of Zach Werenski once again. Elvis Merzlikins is the expected starter, but always check social media before locking in a fantasy starter. Columbus has lost three in a row and four of the last five. However, that win was a 9-4 thumping of the Buffalo Sabres. Team captain Boone Jenner leads the team in goals with 13.
Toronto is wary of Columbus, but will get the win with the Carolina Hurricanes coming to town Saturday.
Prediction: Maple Leafs win 5-3.
New York Rangers vs Florida Panthers
Head-to-Head: Rangers 0-0 Panthers
TV: MSG 2; Bally Sports Florida; ESPN+
Our featured game has the New York Rangers taking on the Florida Panthers in the first of two in the Sunshine State. Igor Shesterkin is the expected starter for the Blueshirts, who have won four of the last five games. Artemi Panarin is one goal away from the 20-goal mark this season, but also leads the team in assists. The Blueshirts will have Jacob Trouba, who left the last game against the Washington Capitals. New York’s power play is best in the league, but faces the eighth-ranked penalty kill.
Florida is likely to go with Sergei Bobrovsky in the blue paint. The Cats have won three of the last five games heading into this one. Florida’s defence is fourth in goals allowed and has been pretty tidy at keeping pucks out of the net. However, the Panthers are 20th on the extra man and 25th in goals for. Sam Reinhart has done well with 21 goals, but will need some extra support.
Both teams are sound on defence, but the Blueshirts get over the hump with their scoring depth.
Prediction: Rangers win 3-2.
Philadelphia Flyers vs Seattle Kraken
Head-to-Head: Flyers 0-0 Kraken
TV: Root Sports NW; NBC Sports Philadelphia; ESPN+
Our last game of NHL Predictions has the Philadelphia Flyers battling the Seattle Kraken. Carter Hart is the expected starter after Samuel Ersson left last night’s 4-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks. Philadelphia has been one of the pleasant surprises with the young lineup flourishing under head coach John Tortorella. Nothing comes easy against the Flyers in these games. Travis Konecny leads the way with 16 goals.
Seattle is expected to counter with Joey Daccord in the crease. The Kraken have won three straight games and have only given up two goals or less in each of those victories. Scoring still seems like an issue for both clubs as the two sides are in the 20s in goals for this campaign. Jared McCann continues to enjoy life in the Pacific Northwest with 14 goals.
Defence is the name of the game in this one, and the Flyers get the road victory.
Prediction: Flyers win 3-1.
Prop Bet of the Night
That score leads us into the prop bet of the Friday slate. The over/under on a number of sites is six and we like both teams hitting the under in this matchup.
Main photo by: Brad Penner – USA TODAY Sports
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