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
Buffalo Sabres vs Detroit Red Wings
Head-to-Head: Sabres 2-1 Red Wings
TV: Sportsnet 1; TNT; Max
Our opening game of NHL predictions is a must-win for both the Buffalo Sabres and Detroit Red Wings. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is the expected starter for the Sabres, who are 5-5 in the last 10. However, Buffalo has won two in a row to keep its Stanley Cup Playoff chances alive. Tage Thompson has 28 goals and 26 assists for the Sabres. German standout John-Jason Peterka has seven goals and three assists over the last 10 games. The Sabres are three points off the final wild card spot.
Alex Lyon is the confirmed starter for the Red Wings, who are a point off the last wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. Detroit is 4-4-2 in the last 10 games and need to keep getting points to stay alive. Defenceman Shayne Gostisbehere has 10 goals and 40 assists for the Red Wings. Lucas Raymond has scored six goals with one assist over the last 10 games.
Both teams need a victory to stay alive. Detroit pretty much knocks out Buffalo with this one.
Prediction: Red Wings win 4-3.
Minnesota Wild vs Chicago Blackhawks
Head-to-Head: Wild 2-0 Blackhawks
TV: NBC Sports Chicago+; Bally Sports North; Bally Sports Wisconsin; ESPN+
It’s a Central Division matchup as the Minnesota Wild visit the Chicago Blackhawks. Minnesota is likely finishing out the string and will give Jesper Wallstedt a start. The Wild have a -13 scoring differential, with 228 total goals scored and 241 allowed. Kirill Kaprizov has 39 goals and 47 assists for the Wild. Marco Rossi has three goals and one assist over the past 10 games.
Chicago is expected to go with Arvid Soderblom in between the pipes for this one. However, always check social media before locking in a daily fantasy starter. The Blackhawks are coming off a surprising 3-2 win over the Dallas Stars on Saturday. Philipp Kurashev has 16 goals and 36 assists for the Blackhawks. Connor Bedard has two goals and six assists over the last 10 games.
Minnesota will get a look to see what Wallstedt can do. The Wild pick up the win.
Prediction: Wild win 4-2.
Dallas Stars vs Colorado Avalanche
Head-to-Head: Stars 0-3 Avalanche
TV: ESPN; Sportsnet
Our final and featured game of NHL predictions has the Stars looking to stop the Colorado Avalanche. Dallas is coming off a puzzling loss to Chicago the day before. Jake Oettinger should get the call with Scott Wedgewood playing the day before against the Blackhawks. The Stars had their eight-game winning streak stopped and will want to start another one. Wyatt Johnston has 30 goals and 31 assists for the Stars. Jamie Benn has scored nine goals with four assists over the last 10 games.
Colorado is likely to go with Alexandar Georgiev in the blue paint for this game. The Avalanche are 6-3-1 in the last 10, but lost to the Edmonton Oilers last time out. The Avalanche have one of the best scoring differentials at +54. Hart Trophy candidate Nathan MacKinnon has 48 goals and 83 assists for the Avalanche. Mikko Rantanen has scored six goals with six assists over the last 10 games.
The Avalanche have surprisingly won all three meetings thus far. However, the Stars stay on top in the Central.
Prediction: Stars win 3-2.
Prop Bet of the Night
Let’s go back to our second game of the night for our preferred prop bet. Kaprizov has been playing well for Minnesota and we like the over on +1.0 points for him.
Main photo by: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
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