Welcome back to another day of NHL Predictions. Each day, we will look at the games that are happening and give our predictions for each one. This is the second of three sets of predictions for Thursday, April 8th. Be sure to check out the other two sets of predictions for today as well. In addition, we also offer a featured game of the day, which is a game that we think is must-watch TV. With that, the Boston Bruins vs Washington Capitals matchup is our featured game.
NHL Predictions with Boston Bruins vs Washington Capitals
Boston Bruins vs. Washington Capitals
Head-to-Head: Bruins 2-2 Capitals
This marks the fifth matchup of the season between these two clubs. The Boston Bruins will head into the nation’s capital to take on the Washington Capitals. Two of their four meetings have gone into extra time. So, tonight’s matchup between two of the top teams in the MassMutual East Division should be a fun one.
With a win tonight, the Capitals could jump into first place in the division. Currently tied with the New York Islanders, who are also playing tonight, the Capitals could use all the separation in the standings that they can get. With just under 20 games left in the season, every team needs to collect as many wins as possible.
Even with some up-and-down goaltending, Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin have continued to dominate the East this season. On the other side of the ice, fresh off a hat trick against the Philadelphia Flyers, Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand look to continue their little road trip with another win. With both Tuukka Rask and Charlie McAvoy out for this game, the Bruins must emphasize defence first to make it out of this one alive.
Prediction: Capitals win 4-2
New Jersey Devils vs. Buffalo Sabres
Head-to-Head: Devils 3-3 Sabres
Tonight will be the last night that these two clubs play each other. As two of the lower teams in the league, the match-ups between the Buffalo Sabres and New Jersey Devils have all been relatively close. Yet, tonight’s game will be a little different than the ones in the past.
With the NHL Trade Deadline less than a week away, Taylor Hall has been held out in anticipation of a trade. Simultaneously, Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac were traded to the Islanders in the first big deal of deadline season.
For the Sabres, Sam Reinhart and Victor Olofsson have been doing their best to lead the Sabres through these difficult times. Working towards their first and only three-game winning streak of the season, the Sabres season has been one to forget. While on the other side of the ice, Jesper Bratt and Pavel Zacha will look to end the four-game losing streak the Devils currently find themselves in.
Prediction: Sabres win 3-1
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Rangers
Head-to-Head: Penguins 5-2 Rangers
This will also be the last meeting between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the New York Rangers. The Penguins have had the upper hand through the first seven games. But that was not the case on Tuesday night. After an 8-4 blow-out win over the Penguins, Adam Fox, Artemi Panarin, and the Rangers find themselves only five points out of a playoff spot.
While the Philadelphia Flyers are right there with them in the standings, the Rangers have played better than their records leads on to. Will they be able to fight their way into a playoff spot?
At the same time, the Pittsburgh Penguins have been everything you expect. With Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel leading the team upfront, Kris Letang and Tristan Jarry are pulling their weight on the back end.
After a shaky start to the season, the Penguins have turned it around with two separate win streaks, of at least five games, to put them into third place in the East. With the way Tuesday night’s game went, this time around should be much closer in the score and much more intense.
Prediction: Rangers win 5-3
Main Photo:
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