Welcome back to another day of NHL Predictions. Each day, Last Word on Hockey takes a look at the games that are happening and gives our predictions for each one, breaking down head-to-head and other factors that may play in. We also have a featured game of the day, which is considered must-watch TV. Today’s featured game is the Edmonton Oilers vs Vancouver Canucks. Be sure to check out more NHL predictions in the coming days as the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs roll on.
NHL Predictions
Florida Panthers vs Boston Bruins
Series Head-to-Head: Panthers 3-1 Bruins
TV: ESPN, SN East, SNO, TVAS, Sportsnet, CBC
Our opening game of NHL predictions has the Boston Bruins hoping to stay alive in their series against the Florida Panthers. The Cats are trying to make the Eastern Conference Final for the second straight season. Sergei Bobrovsky is the starter for Florida, which has taken the last two games to take a hold of the series lead. Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk each have 13 points to lead the team this post-season. Carter Verhaeghe tops the team in goals with six so far this playoff campaign.
Jeremy Swayman is listed as the current starter, but always check social media before locking in a fantasy starter in goal. This could be an occasion where head coach Jim Montgomery decides to try Linus Ullmark in goal. However, Swayman has still played well despite the 3-1 deficit. Boston’s leading post-season scorer is Brad Marchand with 10 points. However, he missed a Game 4 after taking a shot from Florida’s Sam Bennett. Marchand did take the morning skate on Tuesday. However, nothing has been made official about his status.
Marchand’s status greatly improves the Bruins’ chances. However, Florida should close things out and advance to the last four.
Prediction: Panthers win 4-2.
Vancouver Canucks vs Edmonton Oilers
Series Head-to-Head: Canucks 2-1 Oilers
TV: ESPN, TVAS, Sportsnet, CBC
Our featured game of NHL predictions has the Canucks trying to grab hold of a 3-1 lead. Vancouver won a feisty affair, but it will be missing one of its defenceman. Carson Soucy was suspended for a game after a cross-check to the face of Connor McDavid. Noah Juulsen will likely draw into the lineup in place of the veteran defender. Latvian goalie Arturs Silovs had a Herculean performance of 42 saves in Game 3. He’ll likely get the start, which gives the Canucks more time to have regular starter Thatcher Demko heal up. Brock Boeser and J.T. Miller each have 11 points to lead the Canucks with Quinn Hughes dishing out eight assists.
Stuart Skinner will likely get the start after getting pulled in Game 3 for Calvin Pickard. Edmonton needs to find ways to keep high-flying Vancouver off the scoreboard. The Oilers’ defence has struggled at times in dealing with the multiple lines that the Canucks toss out. Edmonton also has to find a way beat Silovs if it wants to get back into the series. Leon Draisaitl and McDavid are first and second, respectively, in points for the entire post-season. However, the top players need support from the rest of the lineup if it wants to tie up the series.
Silovs has been playing well and the Oilers have been struggling on the back-end. Vancouver takes the lead in the series back home to British Columbia.
Prediction: Canucks win 5-3.
Prop Bets of the Night
Let’s take a look at a couple of prop bets for both games. Go with the Bruins’ goalie to make over +25 saves and take Barkov with the over on +0.5 points.
In the late game, go with Hughes to get the over on +0.5 assists while have Zach Hyman to get the over on +0.5 goals.
Main photo by: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports
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