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
Colorado Avalanche vs Detroit Red Wings
Head-to-Head: Avalanche 0-0 Red Wings
TV: Bally Sports Detroit; Altitude 2; SNO; SN East; SN Pacific; ESPN+
Our opening game of NHL predictions has the Colorado Avalanche taking on the Detroit Red Wings. It’s not the fiery rivalry of the late 1990s, but it’s still a big game. Alexandar Georgiev is the projected starter for the Avalanche, but always check social media before locking in a fantasy starter. Colorado has won three of the last five games. Nathan MacKinnon is eight points away from 100 with 33 goals and 59 assists. The Avalanche are second in goals scored in the NHL.
Alex Lyon is the confirmed starter for the Red Wings, have also won three of the last five games. Lyon has filled in well while Ville Husso has been out injured. Team captain Dylan Larkin leads the team in goals with 24 while Lucas Raymond leads in assists with 30. Both teams are top 10 on the power play and the penalty kill.
The clubs are very similar statistically, but Colorado picks up the victory.
Prediction: Avalanche win 4-3.
Vancouver Canucks vs Seattle Kraken
Head-to-Head: Canucks 1-1 Kraken
TV: Root Sports Northwest; Sportsnet Pacific; ESPN+
It’s the final Battle of Cascadia when Seattle Kraken host the Vancouver Canucks. This is the final meeting between the two teams in the regular season. Thatcher Demko is the expected starter for the Canucks, who have lost three straight games. Vancouver has given up 17 goals in the last three games. Brock Boeser leads the team in goals with 31 while Quinn Hughes has 57 assists.
Joey Daccord is the expected starter for the Kraken, who have lost three of the last five. Seattle is trying to stay alive in race for a Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Kraken are three points off the last post-season spot in the Western Conference. Jared McCann is the team-leader in goals with 24 and Vince Dunn tops the assist category with 37.
Vancouver should be able to tighten things up against a team that’s 28th in goals for in the NHL.
Prediction: Canucks win 4-2.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs Vegas Golden Knights
Head-to-Head: Maple Leafs 0-0 Golden Knights
TV: TSN4; Scripps; ESPN+
Our final and featured game of NHL predictions has the Toronto Maple Leafs looking to make it six in a row. Morgan Rielly returns from suspension, but Toronto has been able to thrive without him. Auston Matthews eclipsed the 50-goal mark with a pair last night against the Arizona Coyotes. Martin Jones is the expected starter after Ilya Samsonov played the night before. The Leafs have scored at least four goals per game during this winning run.
Adin Hill is the likely starter for the Vegas Golden Knights, who have lost three of the last five. Vegas is up by two points on the Edmonton Oilers for second in the Pacific Division. However, the Oilers have three games in hand. Jonathan Marchessault is the Golden Knights’ leading goal scorer with 28 goals and Mark Stone is topping the assists category with 37.
Vegas has stopped long Canadian winning streaks before and should do so in this one.
Prediction: Golden Knights win 4-3 in overtime.
Prop Bet of the Night
Let’s go back to our first game of NHL predictions for our prop bet of the night. We’ll take Cale Makar getting +1.5 points for the Avalanche.
Main photo by: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
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