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
Buffalo Sabres vs Pittsburgh Penguins
Head-to-Head: Sabres 1-1 Penguins
TV: MSG Buffalo; Sportsnet Pittsburgh; ESPN+
Our opening game of NHL predictions is the rubber match between the Buffalo Sabres and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is the confirmed starter in between the pipes for this matchup. Fans in Western New York are hoping this is the second time a Buffalo-area team can get the last laugh on a black and gold team from Pittsburgh. The Sabres are 2-2 since coming back from the Christmas break.
Tristan Jarry is the confirmed starter for the Penguins, who have won four of the last five games. Pittsburgh’s defence has been concerning the last two games as it’ has allowed nine goals in that time frame. Sidney Crosby leads the team in goals with 22 to continue to show why he’s a Hall of Fame player.
Both teams can score goals, but the Penguins have just enough to get past the Sabres.
Prediction: Penguins win 5-4.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs San Jose Sharks
Head-to-Head: Leafs 0-0 Sharks
TV: NBC Sports California; Sportnet; CBC; ESPN+
The Toronto Maple Leafs continue their West Coast road trip against the San Jose Sharks. Martin Jones is the confirmed starter that will get to face his old team. Toronto has only allowed one goal in the two Western U.S. games. Auston Matthews and William Nylander have been great on the offensive end for the Leafs. Jones has kept the Leafs afloat with some strong goaltending.
Mackenzie Blackwood is the expected starter in the blue paint for the Sharks. However, always check social media before locking in a confirmed starter for fantasy purposes. The Sharks are on another 10-game losing skid and have struggled at both ends of the ice. San Jose is last in both goals for and goals allowed.
This smells like a game the Leafs could get tripped up on, but they are well aware of what the media would say if the Leafs did lose. Toronto gets a scare, but comes away with the win.
Prediction: Maple Leafs win 4-2.
Ottawa Senators vs Edmonton Oilers
Head-to-Head: Senators 0-0 Oilers
TV: CBC; Sportsnet; ESPN+
Our last and featured game of NHL predictions has the Ottawa Senators taking on the Edmonton Oilers. Joonas Korpisalo is the projected starter for the Senators, who are 2-3 since returning from the holiday break. Team captain Brady Tkachuk leads the club in goals with 16 and Tim Stutzle has 27 assists.
The Oilers have won six straight games and are just two points off the final Western Conference wild card spot. Projected starter Stuart Skinner has been great as of late and Connor McDavid has been revived under his old junior coach Kris Knoblauch. The Oilers have the sixth-rated power play and face the worst penalty kill in the league in this one. Edmonton is going to have to be opportunistic if it wants to continue its winning run.
Ottawa knows it has to stay out of the penalty box or it’ll be a long night. Edmonton continues its winning ways in this.
Prediction: Oilers win 4-2.
Prop Bet of the Night
Let’s go back to the first game of NHL predictions for our desired prop of the evening. Both the Sabres and the Penguins can score goals in bunches. The current number for over/under is 6.5 and we like the over in this game.
Main photo by: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
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