With the large amount of games on tonight’s NHL schedule, it might be hard to know where to start. We at the Last Word on Hockey have helped narrow your focus to our best bets. This round of NHL Predictions will help condense the slate into three best bets and one prop bet of the night.
NHL Predictions
Boston Bruins vs Florida Panthers
Head-to-Head: Bruins 1-0 Panthers
TV: TNT; Max
Our first and featured game of NHL predictions has the Boston Bruins taking on the Florida Panthers. Boston is coming off a 5-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, but had won three of four prior. Linus Ullmark is the projected starter, but always check social media before locking in a fantasy starter. David Pastrnak has 12 goals and 17 assists and is already one away from 30. The Bruins are first in goals allowed and are tops on the penalty kill.
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Florida has won four of its last five games and has overcome the injuries of Aleksander Barkov and Brandon Montour. Sergei Bobrovsky is the likely starter in between the pipes for the Cats. Sam Reinhart leads the team in goals with 13 while Matthew Tkachuk has dished out 14 assists. Special teams has been a problem for the Panthers as they’re 23rd on the penalty kill and the power play.
This one should be a good one, but Boston comes away with the narrow win.
Prediction: Bruins win 3-2.
New York Rangers vs Pittsburgh Penguins
Head-to-Head: Rangers 0-0 Penguins
TV: MSG; Sportsnet Pittsburgh
It’s a Metropolitan Division battle as the New York Rangers take on the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Blueshirts had a rare bad game against the Dallas Stars last time out. However, the Rangers have responded after subpar performances. Igor Shesterkin is likely to get the call for New York. Artemi Panarin has put himself into the Art Ross race with 10 goals and 16 assists. The Rangers’ power play is lethal and second-best in the league while they’re also second in goals against.
Pittsburgh got a huge 3-0 win over the champion Vegas Golden Knights last time out. Tristan Jarry may get the start and he’s been fairly strong with three shutouts this season. Sidney Crosby has 12 goals and Jake Guentzel has 15 assists to start the campaign. However, there have been times where the Penguins have struggled on defence.
New York usually bounces back and they’ll do so here in a tough one against a divisional rivial.
Prediction: Rangers win 4-3.
San Jose Sharks vs Seattle Kraken
Head-to-Head: Sharks 0-0 Kraken
TV: NBC Sports California; Root Northwest
Our final game of NHL predictions has the San Jose Sharks visiting the Seattle Kraken. Some may think this game is a turkey, but you could be stuffing your bank balance if you play this right. Mackenzie Blackwood has faced a lot of vulcanized rubber over the season and is the projected starter. One thing about the Sharks is they will not quit and will battle until the end.
Joey Daccord is the likely starter for the Kraken, who are in fourth in the Pacific Division despite a slow start. Jared McCann and Vince Dunn have continued their strong play from last season for the Kraken. The two teams are last and second last in goals allowed this season.
This could be a fast and furious game, but the home team gets the win in this one.
Prediction: Kraken win 5-4.
Prop Bet of the Night
We’ll keep with the Seattle and San Jose matchup for our prop bet of the evening. The over/under on some sites is 6 and that is a tantalizing number. One worry is the Sharks are last in scoring offence and the Kraken have struggled to score at times. However, Seattle has scored four in two of the last three games. We like the over in this one.
Main photo by: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports
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