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 for NHL Predictions is the Colorado Avalanche and the Dallas Stars.
NHL Predictions
Anaheim Ducks vs St. Louis Blues
Head-to-Head: Ducks 0 – 1 Blues
The Anaheim Ducks are off to a less-than-impressive start. At 5-12-1, the Ducks are the only team left in the NHL without a regulation win. They currently sit last in the league. However, despite the standings, the Ducks can still find some small victories. Trevor Zegras has potted eight goals and 16 points through 17 games, including an overtime, game-winning goal. Troy Terry is Anaheim’s only point-per-game player, sitting at 20 points.
The St Louis Blues are now on a six-game win streak after an eight-game losing streak. They are slowly but surely recovering from the slow start and sit in fourth place in the Central Division. Jordan Binnington has had a .941% save percentage in the last four games, stopping 134 of 142 attempts. These two teams did play two days ago, where the Blues got the victory. The score was 6-2.
Prediction: Blues win 5-2
Arizona Coyotes vs Nashville Predators
Head-to-Head: Coyotes 0 – 0 Predators
The Arizona Coyotes currently sit at the bottom of the Central Divison. This was the expectation for the team this season, but there was a point where they were sitting in a Wild Card spot. But anything can happen in hockey and we are a little shy of a quarter of the way through the season. However, despite the team results, Clayton Keller is off to a great start with 18 points in 17 games.
The Nashville Predators are 8-8-2, coming off a loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Nino Niederreiter is leading the team with nine goals. He was an off-season pick-up from the Carolina Hurricanes that is turning out to bode well for the Predators. Roman Josi, a Norris finalist last season, sits at 14 points. Nashville is tied for fourth in the Central Division.
Prediction: Predators win 4-1
Ottawa Senators vs San Jose Sharks
Head-to-Head: Senators 0 – 0 Sharks
The Ottawa Senators had a hot start but have now found themselves with a record of 6-10-1. Ottawa was busy this season, with two of their pickups being Claude Giroux and Alex DeBrincat. Giroux is leading the team in goals with eight. And captain, Brady Tkachuk is leading the team with 21 points.
The San Jose Sharks are currently 6-11-3, which is nothing to write home about. But Erik Karlsson is singlehandedly keeping the Sharks relevant at the moment. He has 11 goals, 17 assists, and 28 points in 20 games. That is third in the league, only behind Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. The Sharks have been open about shopping Karlsson, so he may not be keeping the Sharks relevant for long.
Prediction: Sharks 3-2
Vegas Golden Knights vs Vancouver Canucks
Head-to-Head: Golden Knights 0 – 0 Canucks
The Vegas Golden Knights are currently third in the NHL with 29 points. Only behind the Boston Bruins and the New Jersey Devils. Vegas is thriving under new head coach, Bruce Cassidy. They are getting great production out of Jack Eichel. He has ten goals and 22 points in 19 games. At the beginning of the season, goaltending was a big question mark for Vegas. But Logan Thompson has been surprisingly solid for them. He is currently 9-3-0 and holds a save percentage of .925% and a goals-against average of 2.27.
The Vancouver Canucks have been openly frustrated with how their season has gone thus far. They are sixth in the Pacific Division. They had an alarming amount of multi-goal-blown leads at the beginning of the season. Despite the lacklustre start to the season, the Canucks are getting quite a bit of production out of J.T. Miller, Bo Horvat, and Elias Pettersson.
Prediction: Golden Knights win 4-2
Colorado Avalanche vs Dallas Stars
Head-to-Head: Avalanche 0-0 Stars
In our featured game for NHL Predictions, the Dallas Stars are probably one of the most surprising teams this season. They have consistently been sitting at the top of the Central Division and are fourth in the NHL. With some additions this off-season and the resurgence of players like Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin, the Stars are making a name for themselves early. Seguin, who was named “the worst contract of the year” sits at 15 points in 18 games. But the captain, Benn, who did not record a point in the first five games, now has 20 points in 18 games.
And after missing training camp, Jason Robertson picked up right where he left off. Robertson has tallied 12 goals and 27 points in 18 games. He is fourth in the NHL in points. And he is on an 11-game points streak. Not only that but he and line-mates Roope Hintz and Joe Pavelski are the number one line in the NHL. Hintz, who missed the last game due to an injury has 22 points and Pavelski has 21.
The Colorado Avalanche didn’t get off to a super hot start but have quietly made their way back up to second place in the Central Division. The reigning Stanley Cup champions have had some injury issues early in the season. One of the difference makers in last year’s playoff runs, Valeri Nichushkin, has only played in seven games. In those seven games, he has scored seven goals and recorded 12 points.
Nathan MacKinnon has an impressive 21 assists. However, has only scored five goals thus far. Mikko Rantanen leads the team with 11 goals. And last year’s Norris and Conn Smythe winner has recorded four goals and 19 points. The Avalanche are getting some solid goaltending out of Alexandar Georgiev. He is 8-2-1 with a goals-against average of 2.45 and a save percentage of .930%. This will be a big game for both teams as they fight for first in the division.
Prediction: Stars win in OT 4-3
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