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 between the New Jersey Devils vs the Carolina Hurricanes. Be sure to check out our other NHL Predictions to come later today.
NHL Predictions
Columbus Blue Jackets vs Tampa Bay Lightning
Head-to-Head: Blue Jackets 0-2 Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning host the Columbus Blue Jackets for their third matchup of the season. The Lightning won both previous games this season and have outscored the Blue Jackets 9-3 over the two games.
The Lightning have a 15-4-1 record on home ice. However, they are entering tonight’s contest following two straight losses. Tampa Bay has had three days since they dropped a 4-2 decision against the Winnipeg Jets. Brayden Point has lit the lamp six times in his last seven games. He leads the Lightning with 22 goals.
The Blue Jackets are 2-8 over their last 10 games, including a 1-0 loss to the Washington Capitals in their most recent outing. Johnny Gaudreau leads Columbus with 11 goals and 27 assists for 38 points in 39 games. However, after Gaudreau, there is a considerable drop off in offence as team captain Boone Jenner is second on the team with 22 points. In addition, Columbus hasn’t been getting enough goal-scoring, and their play on the defensive side is equally unimpressive.
Lightning win 4-0
Minnesota Wild vs New York Rangers
Head-to-Head: Wild 0-1 Rangers
Tonight marks the season’s final matchup between these two cross-conference teams. The New York Rangers picked up a 7-3 win spoiling the Minnesota Wild’s home opener on October 13th. The game featured a fight between Ryan Reaves and Marcus Foligno, now teammates, following a trade on November 23rd between the two clubs.
The Rangers are 6-2-2 in their last ten and most recently coming off a 4-3 overtime loss to the New Jersey Devils. The Rangers currently sit in 4th place in the Metropolitan Division. The Rangers are beginning a three-game home stand, although their record has been better while playing on the road this season.
Minnesota has lost two straight games, including being shutout 3-0 by the St.Louis Blues on Sunday. The Wild boasts a dangerous powerplay led by Kirill Kaprizov and former ranger Mats Zuccarello. Kaprizov has scored 11 powerplay markers, while Zuccarello has added six of his own.
Rangers win 5-2
Seattle Kraken vs Buffalo Sabres
Head-to-Head: Kraken 1-0 Sabres
The Seattle Kraken and the Buffalo Sabres are playing on the backside of a back-to-back. The two teams met once earlier this season, and it wasn’t close, as the Kraken won the game 5-1. Daniel Sprong had a goal and two assists in the contest, while Seattle scored twice on the powerplay to cruise to victory. The Kraken won their fourth straight with a 4-0 win over the Montreal Canadiens yesterday. Martin Jones picked up the shutout, indicating we could see Philipp Grubauer in goal for the Kraken tonight. He has had a tough season going 3-7-1 with a 3.53 GAA and a .881% SV%.
Buffalo lost 4-0 to the Philadelphia Flyers yesterday, as Swedish goaltender Samuel Ersson stymied the high-scoring Sabres. The Sabres have had the hot hand lately, going 8-2-0 in their last ten. Rasmus Dahlin is enjoying a breakout campaign with 12 goals and 32 assists for 44 points in 36 games. The Sabres get the edge in special teams, and they will look to take advantage of the Kraken’s 31st-ranked penalty kill.
Sabres win 7-4
Vancouver Canucks vs Pittsburgh Penguins
Head-to-Head: Canucks 0-0 Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins have slipped recently in the Metropolitan playoff race as they trail the fourth-place New York Rangers by five points with 46. The Penguins will try to pick up their second consecutive win as the Vancouver Canucks pay a visit to the PPG Paints arena. However, Vancouver will be looking to sweep the season series as they picked up a 5-1 win over the Penguins earlier in the season.
Pittsburgh is 3-5-2 in their last ten, including a loss in this year’s Winter Classic against the Boston Bruins. As he has for much of his career, Sidney Crosby leads the Penguins offensively with 20 goals and 27 assists for 47 points in 39 games. Vancouver is eight points out of the last wildcard position in the Western Conference. Most recently, the Canucks lost a 7-4 game against the Winnipeg Jets.
With a 10-4-4 record on home ice, Pittsburgh has been a much better team at home than on the road this season. The Canucks are 9-9-2 on the road.
Penguins win 4-3
Winnipeg Jets vs Detroit Red Wings
Head-to-Head: Jets 0-0 Red Wings
The Winnipeg Jets are flying into Detroit for a road game against the Red Wings. Winnipeg has now won five straight and has gotten some key players back from injuries during the stretch. Nikolaj Ehlers picked up a goal and two assists in his second game back since being sidelined on October 17th. Ehlers has game-breaking talent and will be a difference-maker for the Jets moving forward.
The Detroit Red Wings find themselves seven points out of the last wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference. While the Red Wings have made significant strides this season, they are 3-6-1 in their last ten and have lost three straight. Dylan Larkin leads the team in goals and points with 13 goals and 33 points in 37 games.
The offensive boost the Jets received with Blake Wheeler, Cole Perfetti and Ehlers returning to the lineup will be too much for the Red Wings to handle.
Jets win 3-1
New Jersey Devils vs Carolina Hurricanes
Head-to-Head: Devils 0-2 Hurricanes
Our featured game in our NHL Predictions is a clash between two Metropolitan Division rivals. The Devils visit the Hurricanes for their third season meeting. Carolina pulled off two victories over the Devils earlier this season, with one requiring overtime. The Hurricanes are on a three-game losing streak, most recently dropping a 4-3 shootout to the Blue Jackets.
The Hurricanes have activated Max Pacioretty from the injured reserve, and their significant offseason addition scored two goals in his second game back. Pacioretty will be huge for the Hurricanes and improve their 23rd-ranked powerplay. Pacioretty skated on the top line with Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis.
New Jersey had an incredible start to the season, taking a massive lead in the Metro, although their results have been mixed since the beginning of December. They have been 6-9-3 since December 1st. However, they remain within reach of Carolina for the top spot in the Division. Jack Hughes has reached new highs this season. He leads the Devils with 26 goals and 23 assists for 49 points in 40 games. Hughes has picked up eight goals and two assists in his last five games.
This will be a hard-fought game and should have a playoff-type atmosphere, as many of the Metropolitan matchups will have over the second half of the season. Carolina ends their three-game skid as Pacioretty gets his first win in a Hurricanes jersey.
Hurricanes win 3-2.
Thanks for checking out today’s NHL Predictions.
