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 Tampa Bay Lightning vs Edmonton Oilers. Be sure to check out more NHL predictions in the coming days as the 2024-25 season continues.
NHL Predictions
Tampa Bay Lightning vs Edmonton Oilers
Time: 9 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)
TV: SN1; Fan Duel Sports Sunshine; ESPN+
We open NHL predictions with our featured game between the Lightning and the Oilers. Andrei Vasilevskiy is the expected starter for the Lightning, but always check social media before locking in a fantasy starter. Tampa Bay has two straight victories and is 6-3-1 in the last 10 games. Nikita Kucherov is continuing off his great last season with two goals and 11 assists over the past 10 games.
Stuart Skinner is the projected starter for the Oilers, who are also winners of two in a row and are 6-3-1 in the last 10. Connor McDavid has racked up 13 goals and 24 assists for the Oilers. Leon Draisaitl has been consistent with seven goals and seven assists over the last 10 games.
This should be a good one, but Tampa Bay gets the road victory.
Prediction: Lightning win 4-3.
Minnesota Wild vs Utah Hockey Club
Time: 9:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)
TV: ESPN+; Hulu
Our second game of NHL predictions has the Minnesota Wild visiting the Utah Hockey Club. Filip Gustavsson is the expected starter for the Wild, who are 7-2-1 in the last 10 games. Kirill Kaprizov is leading the team in goals (17), assists (25) and points (42).
Utah is expected to go with Karel Vejmelka in the blue paint. We’re seeing a Utah team that’s 5-4-1 in the last 10 games and winners of two in a row. Clayton Keller has posted seven goals with 17 assists for the Utah Hockey Club.
This should also be a good matchup, but we’ll also take the road team in this one.
Prediction: Wild win 4-2.
Florida Panthers vs Seattle Kraken
Time: 10 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)
TV: KHN; KONG; Scripps Florida; ESPN+
Our last game of NHL predictions has the Seattle Kraken hosting the Florida Panthers. Sergei Bobrovsky is the expected starter for the Panthers, who have taken the last two games and are 5-4-1 in the last 10 games. Matthew Tkachuk has 10 goals and 20 assists for 30 points this campaign.
Joey Daccord is projected to get the start for Seattle, which is 5-5 in the last 10 games. The Kraken are 7-6-1 in the home portion of their slate. Shane Wright has been great in the last 10 games with six goals and three assists for nine points.
Seattle hasn’t been very consistent this season and that’s something you don’t want to be against Florida.
Prediction: Panthers win 4-2.
Prop Bets of the Night
We close out NHL predictions with some prop bets. We’ll go to our featured game for our props. On the Tampa Bay side, Brayden Point is a +155 anytime goalscorer on Bet365. For Edmonton, go with Zach Hyman as an anytime goalscorer at +165 also at Bet365.
Main photo by: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
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