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
Dallas Stars vs Buffalo Sabres
Head-to-Head: Stars 0-0 Sabres
TV: MSG Buffalo; Bally Sports Southwest; ESPN+
Our opening game of NHL predictions has the Dallas Stars shuffling off to Buffalo. The Stars have gotten healthy with the return of Miro Heiskanen and Jake Oettinger to the lineup. Oettinger is the expected starter for the Stars, but always check social media before locking in a fantasy goalie. Roope Hintz leads the team in goals with 22 and Jason Robertson has 33 assists. The Stars are third in goals scored in the NHL.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is the projected starter for the Buffalo Sabres, who have won three of the last five. Buffalo seems to be in the middle of another lost season. However, it can play spoiler for other teams. JJ Peterka leads the squad in goals with 18 and Casey Mittelstadt tops the assist category with 30. Buffalo is 19th in both goals scored and goals allowed.
The Sabres have played better, but the Stars are back on track after surviving some tough injury luck.
Prediction: Stars win 4-2.
Philadelphia Flyers vs Florida Panthers
Head-to-Head: Flyers 0-0 Panthers
TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia; Bally Sports Florida; ESPN+
The Philadelphia Flyers try to stop their five-gaming losing streak against the Florida Panthers. Samuel Ersson is the expected starter for the Flyers, who are having trouble stopping pucks from going in the net. Philadelphia has allowed at least three goals in each of those last five losses. Travis Konecny tops the team in tallies with 22 while Travis Sanheim has 23 assists.
Florida has four straight victories and is trying to chase down the Boston Bruins for first in the Atlantic Division. Sergei Bobrovsky is the expected starter for the Panthers, who have given up only two goals a game during the recent run. Sam Reinhart is first in goals with 37 and Aleksander Barkov has 37 assists. Special teams have been the bread and butter for the Cats, who are ninth on the penalty kill and 10th on the power play.
Philadelphia has been struggling and running into a red-hot Florida team isn’t helping.
Prediction: Panthers win 5-2.
Edmonton Oilers vs Vegas Golden Knights
Head-to-Head: Oilers 1-0 Golden Knights
TV: ESPN+; Hulu; Sportsnet West
Our featured game of NHL predictions has the Edmonton Oilers looking to win a record-tying 17th straight game. Stuart Skinner is the confirmed starter for Edmonton, who has been getting it done on both ends of the ice. Zach Hyman leads the team in goals with 30 while Connor McDavid has 47 assists. It’s been an amazing turnaround for the Oilers since Kris Knoblauch took over.
The Vegas Golden Knights is expected to go with Adin Hill in between the pipes. Vegas did lose its last game before the All-Star Break. However, the Knights did win three of the last four before that. Vegas is eighth in goals allowed and 11th in goals scored. Jonathan Marchessault leads the team in goals with 25 while Mark Stone has 34 assists.
This was a tough one to call, but Edmonton ties the streak in a tight affair.
Prediction: Oilers win 4-3 in a shootout.
Prop Bet of the Night
Let’s go back to the middle game of NHL predictions for our prop bet of the night. We’ll take Barkov getting the over on +0.5 power play points. The Flyers struggle on the penalty kill and the Panthers have a very good man-up unit.
Main photo by: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports
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