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 Washington Capitals vs LA Kings.
NHL Predictions with Washington Capitals vs LA Kings
Washington Capitals vs LA Kings
Head-to-Head: Capitals 0-0 Kings
As the Washington Capitals continue their hot start to the season so do the Los Angeles Kings. Recently just snapping a 7 game win streak, the Kings have depended on the big guns in Anze Kopitar and Jonathan Quick this season. Coming off of a tough loss to the Winnipeg Jets, the Kings look to rebound with a win in DC. On the other side, there is a man on a mission in Alex Ovechkin. Currently, with a whopping 26 points, up there with franchise player Connor McDavid, Ovechkin has absolutely dominated this season as he’s on target to smash the goal record.
These two teams match up defensively so it will be a goalie dependant game. The Capitals are a team that are all about shots, so the Kings will need to be tight on their d-zone coverage. LA is a team that isn’t all quality, meaning the shots they allow and get themselves are weak. After absolutely dominating the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday night with a 6-1 win, Washington looks to extend their winning streak to six games. This should be a really exciting matchup as these two teams battle it out as they both look to stay atop of their respected divisions.
Capitals win 3-1
Colorado Avalanche vs Vancouver Canucks
Head-to-Head: Avalanche 1-0 Canucks
After being steamrolled in the first game vs the Colorado Avalanche, the Vancouver Canucks will look to bounce back on the road as they play their second game of the series. The Canucks, and especially Elias Pettersson, have struggled immensely all season. Pettersson having only three goals in 15 games this season is a rough start for the star who recently re-upped with this young Canucks team. The one thing that will hold back the Avalanche is Thatcher Demko. Coming off a solid two seasons, Demko has been amazing this season, keeping the Canucks in the majority of their games. The Canucks are overall just bad at creating offence whereas the Avalanche are just above average.
Two areas we see that severely differ is the coaching. Canucks fans are calling for Travis Green’s head whereas Jared Bednar continues to be loved by Avs country as he remains a consistent Jack Adams candidate. Both teams have struggled defensively so this should be a game where the stars should have an offensive party but the goalies will keep it tighter than expected.
Avalanche win 3-0
Chicago Blackhawks vs Seattle Kraken
Head-to-Head: Blackhawks 0-0 Kraken
These two struggling teams meet up in their first clash of the season. The Chicago Blackhawks are currently on a three-game win streak being led by Patrick Kane and Alex Debrincat. The Seattle Kraken, on the other hand, have been led by Jaden Schwartz and Jordan Eberle. Both teams have been horrible offensively this season, being in the bottom ten in the league in expected goals for. One big area to focus on in this game will be the defensive play. Chicago is atrocious defensively whereas the Kraken are on a good defensive streak.
Chicago looks to extend Seattle’s losing streak to five games on Wednesday. These two teams have two of the worst goalies in the league so this could ultimately be a barn burner. This should be a pretty slow game but with the mediocrity, it could be some fun hockey to watch. Since the firing of Jeremy Colliton, the Blackhawks have seen an uptick in their performance, winning all three games since then. Both teams are pretty similar in their ability to generate chances and defend. A key in this game will be goaltending. In the Blackhawks’ three-game win streak, Marc Andre Fleury has been excellent which comes as no surprise as he’s now getting some help from the guys in front of him. Seattle’s goaltending duo has been by far one of the league’s worst. Like all the other games today, this one should be an exciting battle between two mediocre teams.
Prediction: Kraken win 5-2
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