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 New York Rangers vs Edmonton Oilers.
NHL Predictions with New York Rangers vs. Edmonton Oilers
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Winnipeg Jets
Head-to-head: Blackhawks 0-0 Jets
Tonight’s match-up between the Chicago Blackhawks and Winnipeg Jets will mark the first meeting between these two clubs of the 2021-22 season. With Chicago continuing their disappointing season, the additions of Seth Jones and Marc-Andre Fleury have not been what everyone expected. On top of that, Patrick Kane has returned to his superhero-like antics with 11 points in seven games. Yet, it has not been enough to save the Hawks from this devasting start to the season.
On the other hand, the Winnipeg Jets are playing exactly how you would expect. With Kyle Connor and Pierre-Luc Dubois leading the team charge on the offensive front and boasting one of the league’s better defenseman groups. The Jets are a threat in the central division every single night. If they can get their goaltending to turn things around, they will have no issue with tonight’s match-up or the rest of the season.
Prediction: Jets win 5-3
Arizona Coyotes vs. Anaheim Ducks
Head-to-head: Coyotes 0-0 Ducks
In another match-up where teams are meeting for the first time, we have the Arizona Coyotes against the Anaheim Ducks. With the Central race slowly slipping from Arizona’s hands and the Ducks still in contention. It is early enough in the season where either team could turn things around. With that, the Coyotes require a win big time. Still winless through the first ten games, we knew the Coyotes would have a rough season. But we may not have realized it would be this rough.
With Anaheim’s playing, they find themselves only three points out of first in the division. While we know the Pacific is lacking in some areas, someone has to win the division. With the young guys like Troy Terry, Isac Lundestrom, and Trevor Zegras assisting the veterans along. The Ducks have made quite the splash sp far this season. Going up against the Coyotes next, the Ducks should have no problem winning this game.
Prediction: Ducks win 3-1
Nashville Predators vs. Vancouver Canucks
Head-to-head: Predator 0-0 Canucks
A ton of question marks surrounded this team this season. They were going through a few up-and-down seasons over the past few years. Nashville finds itself in an odd situation. After some big trades that Nashville made during the off-season and the franchise’s face retiring in Pekka Rinne. The team is neither too good for playoffs but not bad enough for a lottery pick. A no man’s land, if you will. Yet, if the Predators can get support from the young guys on the team like they are hoping. This team could be a sneaky opponent in the Western Conference, mainly if Juuse Saros played how he did last year.
On the other side of the ice, the Vancouver Canucks come in as a more established team. Another team that has some big moves this offseason, the Canucks, actually has a chance to make some noise in the Pacific Division. With the addition of Conor Garland, who should be put into the top six, this offence will have no issues producing night in and night out; it will come down to the defence to bail them out.
Prediction: Predators win 3-2
New Jersey Devils vs. Los Angeles Kings
Head-to-head: Devils 0-0 Kings
Whenever these two teams play against each other, as little as it is, flashbacks from the magical 2012 Stanley Cup run by the Kings always come to mind—despite this being almost ten years in the making. With both teams struggling to maintain an even record, someone will have to win tonight. For the Kings, Anze Kopitar has been incredible so far. Scoring 13 points in ten games, Kopitar looks like he did back in 2012. If the Kings can get more consistent goaltending, this team may shock the west while continuing their win streak. We should be in for another great game.
Facing off against them, the Devils came into the season deemed one of the more improved teams. With most of the squad consisting of young guys, the Devils have played some decent hockey. But nothing to write home about. Now that Jack Hughes is out for a few weeks. Dawson Mercer, Nico Hischier, and Jesper Bratt need to step up to fill that gap. If they don’t do this quickly, the team could soon find itself at the bottom.
Prediction: Kings win 2-1
New York Rangers vs. Edmonton Oilers
Head-to-head: Rangers 0-0 Oilers
Last but certainly not least. As the night’s featured game, we will focus on the New York Rangers vs Edmonton Oilers. Heading into tonight’s game, we have a match-up that features two teams in the top ten of the league standings. Edmonton with 16 points and New York with 14, this match-up is enormous for both teams. Looking at Edmonton, they are looking to pick up where they left off. Their top six are set and ready to take this team to the next level. At the same time, the defence is also playing very well. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl continue to treat this league like a video game recording an insane amount of points. But is the goaltending enough?
Mike Smith is on the injured reserve list, again. Mikko Koskinen has been able to take over for now, but are either of these guys good enough to lead them to the promised land at the end of the day. The offence and defence are set; barring any significant injuries, they will have no issues on that end. But, until Mike Smith returns to healthy. This team may see a little bit of a skid after such a hot start.
They are coming into town for their second game of a western conference swing. The New York Rangers are looking to continue the play. Coming into the season, many analysts and experts saw the Rangers as a much-improved team, but they did not believe they would be a top team in the league. While it is still early on for the Rangers, everything they are doing is working. Adam Fox and Artemi Panarin are proving why they are both worth all that money. And the team’s young stud goaltender Igor Shesterkin has been playing incredibly well. With a 5-1-2 record, .943 save percentage and only 1.85 goals-against average. Shesterkin is the netminder of the future and will continue to prove why tonight with the New York Rangers vs Edmonton Oilers.
Prediction: Rangers win 4-2
