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 Seattle Kraken vs San Jose Sharks. Be sure to check out more NHL predictions in the coming days.
NHL Predictions
Columbus Blue Jackets vs St Louis Blues
Head-to-Head: Blue Jackets 1-0 Blues
TV: Bally Sports Midwest; Bally Sports Ohio; NHL Network
Our opening game of NHL predictions has the Columbus Blue Jackets taking on the St Louis Blues. The hits keep on coming in a bad way for the Jackets. Columbus has lost four of the last five and will be without Adam Fantilli due to a laceration. Forward Patrik Laine has entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. Daniil Tarasov is the expected starter for Columbus, but always check social media before locking in a daily fantasy stater. The Jackets will be in their final game before the All-Star Break, which can’t come soon enough.
Jordan Binnington is the expected starter for St Louis, which has won five straight games. The Blues are the first team to win four straight games by a score of 4-3. Pavel Buchnevich and Robert Thomas lead the team in goals with each having 17. Thomas is topping the assist category with 35. The St Louis defensive group may have some injury concerns as Justin Faulk has been out of the lineup and Scott Perunovich left Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Kings.
Drew Bannister has done a great job rallying St Louis and Columbus will be feeling blue after this one.
Prediction: Blues win 4-2.
Seattle Kraken vs San Jose Sharks
Head-to-Head: Kraken 1-0 Sharks
TV: NBC Sports California; Root Sports Northwest; ESPN+; Sportsnet 360
Our featured game of NHL predictions has the Kraken looking to close out the first half on a high note. Seattle needs to get two points to stay in the race in a muddled Western Conference. Jared McCann leads in goals with 20 while Vince Dunn has 29 assists. Philipp Grubauer is the expected starter as he tries to play his way back into shape for the Kraken. Seattle is 10th in goals allowed, but 25th in goals scored. The Kraken have lost three of the last five games.
Mackenzie Blackwood is the confirmed starter in between the pipes for the Sharks. San Jose had its three-game winning streak snapped in a 5-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres. Keep an eye on the team’s leading goal-scorer Tomas Hertl, who left Saturday’s game. Defenders Henry Thrun and Mario Ferraro have also been placed on injured reserve in the last week.
San Jose has played better, but Seattle has Dunn back. The Kraken won the first meeting between the two teams, 7-1.
Prediction: Kraken win 5-2.
Prop Bet(s) of the Night
With the limited number of games this week, let’s take an extended look at some side bets for the two games. Let’s keep rolling Jordan Kyrou in this one like we did on Sunday’s NHL predictions. We like another multiple-point night for Kyrou, so take the over on +1.0 points for the forward.
In the late game, we’re feeling another multiple-point night for someone. However, it’s someone for the Kraken. Jordan Eberle had a goal and an assist against the Blue Jackets last time out. We like him closing out the first half with another mutli-point outing to round out the first half.
Main photo by: Steven Bisig – USA TODAY Sports
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