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
Edmonton Oilers vs Seattle Kraken
Head-to-Head: Oilers 3-0 Kraken
TV: Root Sports Northwest; Sportsnet; ESPN+
Our opening game of NHL predictions has the Edmonton Oilers going for the season-sweep of the Seattle Kraken. Stuart Skinner is the projected starter for the Oilers, but always check social media before locking in a daily fantasy goalie. Edmonton has won two straight and are 5-4-1 in the last 10 games. Zach Hyman has hit the 40-goal mark this season. Connor McDavid leads the team in assists with 72, but he broke a 10-game scoreless drought with an overtime winner against the St Louis Blues.
Philipp Grubauer is the expected starter for the Kraken, but Joey Daccord could get the nod as well. Seattle has also won two in a row and is 5-4-1 in the last 10 games. The Kraken are led by Jared McCann (25 goals) and Vince Dunn (32 assists). Seattle is seven points adrift for the final Stanley Cup Playoff spot in the Western Conference.
The Kraken need points badly, but the Oilers seemingly have their number.
Prediction: Oilers win 5-2.
New York Rangers vs Toronto Maple Leafs
Head-to-Head: Rangers 1-1 Maple Leafs
TV: Sportsnet; MSG; ESPN+
Our featured game of NHL predictions has the New York Rangers visiting the Toronto Maple Leafs. Igor Shesterkin is the expected starter for the Rangers, who are 9-1 in the last 10 games. Artemi Panarin leads in goals (35) and assists (47) for the 2023-24 season. New York is in the mix of teams that are jockeying for the President’s Trophy. The Rangers are one point off the lead jointly held by the Florida Panthers and Boston Bruins.
Ilya Samsonov is the confirmed starter for the Maple Leafs, who are 8-2 in their last 10. Auston Matthews leads the lead in goals with 53 while William Nylander has 50 assists this season. Both teams have dangerous power plays with the Rangers in sixth and the Leafs in second. Toronto and New York have combined for at least seven goals between them in the first two meetings.
Shesterkin has been locked in, but Toronto’s offence has been humming as of late.
Prediction: Maple Leafs win 4-3.
San Jose Sharks vs Dallas Stars
Head-to-Head: Sharks 0-0 Stars
TV: Bally Sports Southwest; NBC Sports California; ESPN+
Our last game of NHL predictions has San Jose Sharks visiting the Dallas Stars. Kaapo Kahkonen is the likely starter in the crease for the Sharks, who have lost five in a row. San Jose is paced by Fabian Zetterlund (15 goals) and Mikael Granlund (28 assists). Defencemen Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Ty Emberson could both be missing from the lineup for the reeling Sharks.
Jake Oettinger is the expected starter for the Stars, are 4-3-3 in the last 10 games. New acquisition Chris Tanev likely won’t debut with the team until next week due to getting his visa. Tyler Seguin is also week-to-week according to Stars radio. Roope Hintz leads the club in goals with 24 goals while Jason Roberston has 39 assists.
Both teams are feeling it on the injury-front. However, the Stars have more depth and talent.
Prediction: Stars win 4-2.
Prop Bet of the Night
Let’s go back to the featured game of the night for our preferred prop bet. Mika Zibanejad is a very good player in the month of March. He’s had some stellar games during the month. We like the Swedish playmaker to get +0.5 points during the first game of “Mika March.”
Main photo by: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Ages 21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
