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 Chicago Blackhawks vs Philadelphia Flyers.
NHL Predictions With Chicago Blackhawks vs Philadelphia Flyers
It’s quiet…too quiet.
Or at least that’s how it feels. We’re coming down the stretch on the 2021-22 regular season. And still with so much to determine before the playoffs, tonight’s one-game slate feels especially empty. The fact this matchup features two non-playoff teams only furthers that feeling. Yes, teams already punched their tickets for all eight playoff spots out east, and really only one more team will fall out of the race out west. But who plays who in the first round remains up in the air.
But for one night, all that gets paused. Hockey fans everywhere must either take the night off or tune into this game.
Chicago Blackhawks vs Philadelphia Flyers
Head-to-Head: Blackhawks 0 – 1 Flyers
The Flyers enter tonight after facing off against the Pittsburgh Penguins yesterday. The Blackhawks, on the other hand, had the day off yesterday. They have the home-ice advantage as well, so if the rest makes the difference tonight Chicago should be the victors. Philly picked up their 25th win a day ago, and they hope tonight makes it 26.
Tough Years in Chicago and Philadelphia
The last time these clubs met, the Flyers won 4-3. But in the last 30 days, their record sits at a measly 4-11-0. The team is really beat up right now, too. Ryan Ellis, Sean Couturier, Cam Atkinson, Patrick Brown, Samuel Morin, Rasmus Ristolainen, Carter Hart and Cam York all had announcements at various points this year confirming they’ll miss the remainder of this season. Really, that leaves Travis Konecny and James van Riemsdyk as the sole healthy threats offensively. In goal, Martin Jones appears not to be a viable answer either. The team, simply put, is in shambles.
The Blackhawks, for a plethora of reasons, also went through hell in 2021-22. Between the nightmare revelations surrounding the team’s recent history and disastrous public relations moments from their ownership group, the Hawks had one of the most distracting seasons in recent memory. Through all that, the team maintained their focus on rebuilding, even as Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews publicly stated their desire to win and win now. That being said, their on-ice product does seem to be heading in a clear direction. That direction will mean a few more years without a playoff appearance, more than likely, and probably will mark the end of the Kane/Toews era as well. For now, they’re not quite there, but those changes seem inevitable.
So let’s all tune in tonight to watch these beaten down and broken teams fight one another. May the best team win, even if “best” doesn’t really mean much.
Prediction: 3-2 Blackhawks win
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