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
Pittsburgh Penguins vsNew York Rangers
Head-to-Head: Penguins 0-2 Rangers
TV: MSG; Sportsnet Pittsburgh; ESPN+
Our opening game of NHL predictions has the New York Rangers hosting the Pittsburgh Penguins. Tristan Jarry is the expected starter for the Penguins, who are 4-3-3 in the last 10 games. Pittsburgh is seven points off the last wild card spot with nine games left to play in the regular season. The Penguins are going to need to string some wins together and get some help if they want into the post-season. Bryan Rust has 24 goals and 22 assists for the Penguins. Drew O’Connor has four goals and three assists over the last 10 games.
Igor Shesterkin is the expected starter, but always check social media before locking in a daily fantasy starter. The Rangers are buzzing after a big 8-5 win over the Arizona Coyotes last time out. Chris Kreider scored his 300th career goal for the franchise and Alexis Lafreniere bagged his first career hat trick. Artemi Panarin has scored 44 goals with 61 assists for the Rangers. Vincent Trocheck has one goal and 12 assists over the last 10 games.
Pittsburgh is desperate, but the Rangers add to their five-game winning streak.
Prediction: Rangers win 5-2.
Florida Panthers vs Toronto Maple Leafs
Head-to-Head: Panthers 1-1 Maple Leafs
TV: Sportsnet; Bally Sports Florida; ESPN+
Our featured game of NHL predictions has the Florida Panthers visiting the Toronto Maple Leafs. Florida is projected to start with Sergei Bobrovsky in the blue paint. The Panthers are 4-5-1, but won the last time out against the Detroit Red Wings. Florida serves 13.6 penalty minutes per game to rank second in the league. Sam Reinhart has scored 51 goals with 35 assists for the Panthers. Matthew Tkachuk has two goals and six assists over the last 10 games.
Ilya Samsonov is the confirmed starter for the Leafs, who are 6-3-1 in the last 10 and have two straight wins. Toronto’s Auston Matthews reached the 60-goal mark once again with a marker in the 3-0 Saturday shutout of the Buffalo Sabres. The Maple Leafs have a 38-8-7 record in games they score at least three goals. William Nylander has six goals and five assists over the last 10 games.
Florida is struggling coming in, but matches up better with Toronto.
Prediction: Panthers win 4-2.
Colorado Avalanche vs Columbus Blue Jackets
Head-to-Head: Avalanche 1-0 Blue Jackets
TV: Altitude; Bally Sports Ohio; ESPN+
Our last game of NHL predictions has the Colorado Avalanche traveling to Ohio to battle the Columbus Blue Jackets. Justus Annunen might get the call in between the pipes for this one for Colorado, which is 8-1-1 in the last 10 games. The Avalanche rallied for an impressive win over the Nashville Predators last time out. Nathan MacKinnon leads the way in goals (47) and assists (80) this season.
Daniil Tarasov is the likely starter in the crease for the Blue Jackets, who are 2-6-2 in the last 10 games. Columbus is destined for the lottery again, but has dealt with a lot of injuries this season. Team captain and leading goal-scorer Boone Jenner missed Saturday night’s game against Pittsburgh. Johnny Gaudreau leads the team in assists with 44 this season.
The last meeting between the two teams was a rough one for the Blue Jackets. This one should be no different.
Prediction: Avalanche win 6-2.
Prop Bet of the Night
We’ll stay with the last game of the night for our prop bet of the evening. The over/under of the Avs-Jackets game is 6.5. We’ll take the over with Colorado’s potent offence.
Main photo by: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
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