Welcome back to the return 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 matchups 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 New York Rangers vs Detroit Red Wings. Be sure to check out more NHL predictions in the coming days as the 2024-25 season continues.
NHL Predictions
Vegas Golden Knights vs Tampa Bay Lightning
Time: 7 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
TV: Scripps Vegas; Bally Sports Sun; ESPN+
Our opening game of NHL predictions has the Vegas Golden Knights making the trip to the Sunshine State to play the Tampa Bay Lightning. Vegas is expected to go with Adin Hill in between the pipes. However, always check social media before locking in a fantasy starter. Ivan Barbashev has the team-lead in goals with three while Mark Stone and Jack Eichel are first in points with eight. The Knights are 3-1 to start the season.
Tampa Bay is slated to go with Andrei Vasilevskiy in goal. He’s been lights out in the first two games with a .958 save percentage. However, it’s been a team effort for the Lightning. Nikita Kucherov is off to a red-hot start with four goals and five points. Brayden Point and Jake Guentzel have also played well to start the campaign.
This should be a good game, but the Lightning get the victory.
Prediction: Lightning win 3-2.
Vancouver Canucks vs Florida Panthers
Time: 7 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
TV: SN Pacific; Scripps Florida; ESPN+
It’s the Roberto Luongo Bowl as the Vancouver Canucks play the Florida Panthers. Vancouver is winless, but has two overtime setbacks among them. Kevin Lankinen is slated to get the start for the Canucks. Brock Boeser and Conor Garland each have two goals and also share the team-lead in points with three.
Florida is making due without Aleksander Barkov and are projected to go with Sergei Bobrovsky in the blue paint. Sam Reinhart is leading in goals with four goals and eight points. Anton Lundell and Sam Bennett are also having good starts with five points.
Vancouver will likely turn it around. However, it won’t be against Florida.
Prediction: Panthers win 4-2.
New York Rangers vs Detroit Red Wings
Head-to-Head: Rangers 1-0 Red Wings
Time: 7:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
TV: ESPN+; Hulu
Our final and featured game of NHL predictions has the Rangers and Red Wings playing the back-end of a home-and-home series. New York got the win last time out, 4-1. Jonathan Quick is expected to get his first start of the season for the Blueshirts. Artemi Panarin leads the team in points with seven. However, keep an eye on the status of Chris Kreider, who could be out of the lineup due to illness.
Detroit has confirmed that Cam Talbot will get the call in goal. Dylan Larkin and Alex DeBrincat are both tied for first on the team with goals (2) and points (3). The Red Wings are trying to salvage something out of this home-and-home set with the Blueshirts.
It’ll be interesting with Quick getting his first start. However, the Rangers should pick up the victory.
Prediction: Rangers win 4-1.
Prop Bets for NHL Predictions
We have a couple of prop bets to round out NHL predictions. We’ll stick with the final game for the first prop bet of the night. Panarin as an anytime goalscorer at +145 at BetMGM seems like a smart play.
On the Detroit side of things, DeBrincat as an anytime scorer is a good idea at +200.
Main photo by: Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images
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