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
Detroit Red Wings vs Buffalo Sabres
Head-to-Head: Red Wings 1-0 Sabres
TV: MSG Buffalo; Bally Sports Detroit; SNO, SN East, SN Pacific; ESPN+
Our opening game of NHL predictions has the slumping Detroit Red Wings taking on the Buffalo Sabres. Detroit has lost five straight games and is really missing team captain Dylan Larkin. Michael Rasmussen also left Saturday’s game against the Vegas Golden Knights with an undisclosed injury. Alex Lyon is the expected starter, but always check social media before locking in a fantasy starter. Players like assist leader Lucas Raymond are going to have to step up.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is the projected starter for the Sabres, who are 6-3-1 in the last 10. Buffalo is seven points in back of Detroit for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Jeff Skinner leads the team in goals with 20 while Rasmus Dahlin is tops in assists with 32. Dahlin’s new defence partner, Bowen Byram, has gotten off to a good start since his trade from the Colorado Avalanche.
Detroit is desperate for a win, but so is Buffalo. The Red Wings scratch out a much-needed victory.
Prediction: Red Wings win 4-3 in a shootout.
San Jose Sharks vs Philadelphia Flyers
Head-to-Head: Sharks 1-0 Flyers
TV: NBC Sports California; NBC Sports Philadelphia; ESPN+
Our second game of NHL predictions has the San Jose Sharks visiting the Philadelphia Flyers. Devin Cooley is expected to make his NHL debut for his hometown team. The Sharks are back on the winning track with a 2-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators last time out. San Jose is led by Fabian Zetterlund, who has 16 goals on the season. The Sharks did beat the Flyers, 2-1, in the only meeting this season.
Samuel Ersson is the expected starter for Philadelphia, which is hanging onto the last automatic playoff spot in the Metropolitan Division. The Flyers will be without head coach John Tortorella, who is suspended for the next two games for not leaving the bench after getting ejected. Flyers assistant coaches Brad Shaw, Rocky Thompson and Darryl Williams are expected to run the team’s bench in Tortorella’s absence. Travis Konecny leads the team in goals with 27.
How will the Flyers come out? How will Cooley react to the pressure? Philly wins this one, but it’ll be close.
Prediction: Flyers win 3-2.
Florida Panthers vs Dallas Stars
Head-to-Head: Panthers 1-0 Stars
TV: Bally Sports Southwest; Bally Sports Florida; ESPN+
Our final and featured game of NHL predictions has Florida Panthers visiting the Dallas Stars in a possible post-season preview. Sergei Bobrovsky is the confirmed starter for the Panthers, who are 8-2 in the last 10 games. Sam Reinhart is closing in a 50-goal season to lead Florida in goals while Matthew Tkachuk has 51 assists. Florida made some key deadline acquisitions in Vladimir Tarasenko, who scored already for his new team.
Dallas is expected to counter with Jake Oettinger in between the pipes for this game. The Stars have won five straight games and are 6-3-1 in the last 10 games. Dallas also added Chris Tanev at the deadline to bolster a very good defensive group. Roope Hintz leads the team in goals while Jason Robertson has 43 assists so far this season.
This should be another close game, but Dallas picks up the home victory in a battle of two in-form teams.
Prediction: Stars win 3-2.
Prop Bet of the Night
We’ll stick with the last game of the night and go with Tkachuk getting the over on +0.5 points in this game.
Main photo by: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports
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