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 Toronto Maple Leafs
Head-to-Head: Red Wings 1-1 Maple Leafs
TV: CBC; Sportsnet; Bally Sports Detroit; ESPN+
Our opening game of NHL predictions has the Detroit Red Wings just trying to stay alive against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Alex Lyon is the expected starter for the Red Wings, but always check social media before locking in a daily fantasy starter. Detroit is one point off the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with three games left to play. Lucas Raymond has scored 29 goals with 39 assists for the Red Wings. Dylan Larkin has six goals and five assists over the last 10 games.
Ilya Samsonov is the confirmed starter for the Leafs, who are 6-4 in the last 10 games. A win here would lock up the third spot in the Atlantic Division and a date with the Florida Panthers or Boston Bruins in the first round. Max Domi could miss tonight’s game due to an undisclosed injury. William Nylander has 40 goals and 56 assists for the Maple Leafs. Auston Matthews, who is two away from scoring 70 goals, has 10 and five assists over the last 10 games.
Toronto knows the Tampa Bay Lightning can still catch them for third in the division. A win here will go a long way to solidify the Leafs’ spot.
Prediction: Maple Leafs win 4-2.
Boston Bruins vs Pittsburgh Penguins
Head-to-Head: Bruins 1-1 Penguins
TV: ABC; ESPN+
The Pittsburgh Penguins host the Bruins in a key game for their playoff hopes. Pittsburgh is currently hanging onto the last playoff spot in the East coming into Saturday’s games. Alex Nedeljkovic is the expected starter for the Penguins, who are 7-0-3 in the last 10 games. Pittsburgh finds a way to get points no matter what late in the season. Sidney Crosby has 41 goals and 48 assists for the Penguins. Bryan Rust has six goals and seven assists over the last 10 games.
Boston is slated to go with Linus Ullmark in between the pipes for this game. The Bruins are 6-4 in the last 10 games, but are only one point ahead of the Panthers for first in the division. Team leading scorer David Pastrnak has 47 goals and 60 assists for the Bruins. Danton Heinen has scored three goals and added five assists over the last 10 games.
Both teams have a reason to win this game, but Pittsburgh gets the job done in overtime.
Prediction: Penguins win 4-3 in overtime.
Vancouver Canucks vs Edmonton Oilers
Head-to-Head: Canucks 3-0 Oilers
TV: CBC; Sportsnet; ESPN+
Our final and featured game of NHL predictions has the Vancouver Canucks looking to sew up the division against the Edmonton Oilers. The Canucks are 5-4-1 in the last 10 and are expected to go with Casey DeSmith in goal. Thatcher Demko is still out for Vancouver, which needs a regulation win in order to win the Pacific. J.T. Miller has scored 36 goals with 65 assists to reach the 100-point for the Canucks. Quinn Hughes has four goals and eight assists over the past 10 games.
Stuart Skinner is the likely starter with the Oilers losing the night before to the Arizona Coyotes. Edmonton is 6-2-2 in the last 10 games and needs at least an overtime loss to keep their division title hopes alive. German star Leon Draisaitl has 41 goals and 63 assists for the Oilers. Connor McDavid has five goals and 10 assists over the last 10 games.
It’s hard to sweep a team in the regular season and the Oilers are little miffed after last night’s loss.
Prediction: Oilers win 4-2.
Prop Bet of the Night
We’ll go with Jeremy Lauzon of the Nashville Predators getting the over on +3.5 hits against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Main photo by: Bob Frid – USA Today Sports
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