Welcome to NHL Predictions for Monday, November 4th! Each day, Last Word on Hockey will break down every game and give our NHL predictions for who will win. This will also include a featured game that should be must-watch hockey. Today’s featured game is the Pittsburgh Penguins vs Boston Bruins. We do our NHL Predictions daily.
NHL Predictions
Ottawa Senators vs New York Rangers
Head-to-Head: Senators 0-1 Rangers
The Ottawa Senators have lost six of their last eight games after losing 5-2 to the Bruins on Saturday. Ottawa got goals from Connor Brown and Anthony Duclair and Craig Anderson stopped 27 shots in the loss. The Senators got a scare when Scott Sabourin left the ice on a stretcher and Logan Brown won’t be with the team also. Ottawa is 25th in goals scored with 2.58 per game and 23rd in goals allowed with 3.42 per game. Vladislav Namestnikov will be playing his first game against his former team that traded him in early October. Anders Nilsson is expected to make the start in net for the Senators.
The New York Rangers beat Ottawa, 4-1, on October 5 thanks to a Mika Zibanejad hat trick. However, the Swede remains out with a neck injury and likely won’t play on Monday. New York has gotten points in their last six games and stole a key 2-1 win over the Nashville Predators on Saturday. Alexandar Georgiev made 33 saves in the win and will likely get his third straight start. The Rangers average 3.18 goals per game, which is good enough for 13th in the league. New York gives up 3.24 goals per game and that’s good for19th in the NHL.
The Rangers have played well despite the loss of their top centre and Georgiev has given Henrik Lundqvist a chance to rest. New York has tightened up its defensive game won five of the last seven against Ottawa.
Prediction: Rangers win 4-2.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs Boston Bruins
Head-to-Head: Bruins 0-0 Penguins
Pittsburgh is 2-0-1 in their last three, but lost to the Edmonton Oilers, 2-1, in overtime on Saturday night. Brian Dumoulin scored the only goal and Matt Murray made 26 saves in the loss. The Penguins have struggled on the powerplay recently as they’re 0-for-19 in their last eight games. However, the Penguins have Evgeni Malkin back in the lineup, who netted six shots. Malkin had missed the last 11 games due to injury, but the Pens will also be without Patric Hornqvist long term.
Boston downed Ottawa 5-2 on Saturday and have been on a nine-game point streak (7-0-2). David Pastrnak has an 11-game point streak with 13 goals and 27 points in that span. David Backes is unlikely to play after colliding with Scott Sabourin. Tuukka Rask is playing like the best goalie in the league with a 7-0-1 record, 1.49 goals-against average and .949 save percentage. The B’s have won five straight games to get out to a two-point lead over the Buffalo Sabres in the Atlantic Division.
Boston has been playing nearly perfect hockey and is playing like Stanley Cup contenders. It should be a great matchup and the Bruins have the tools to keep it going.
Prediction: Bruins win 3-2.
Nashville Predators vs Detroit Red Wings
Head-to-Head: Predators 0-1 Red Wings
Nashville was stunned by the New York Rangers on Saturday afternoon. Viktor Arvidsson provided the only goal but wasted three third-period power plays in the defeat. The Predators had won four in a row before losing to the Calgary Flames and the Rangers. Nashville’s offence is one of the best in the league as they sit second with 3.68 goals per game. The Preds are 19th in goals-against as they’ve given up 2.93 goals per game, but admit they need to tighten up defensively. Pekka Rinne should get the start in net. Nashville is 4-2 in their last six against Atlantic Division teams.
The Detroit Red Wings beat the Predators 5-3 on Oct. 5 thanks to Tyler Bertuzzi’s two goals and two assists. However, things have broken down for the Wings as they’re second-to-last in the Eastern Conference with nine points. The Florida Panthers blanked Detroit, 4-0, in the Wings’ last game. Detroit ranks dead last in goals scored with 2.20 per game and are 29th in goals allowed with 3.80 per game. The Wings are 1-9-1 in their last 11 and 1-4-1 in their last six at Little Caesar’s Arena. Jimmy Howard is expected to get the start and is 2-6-0 with a 3.67 GAA and .898 save percentage.
The Predators are motivated after a terrible loss to the Rangers. Rinne and Nashville need to get back on track at the start of a four-game road swing.
Prediction: Predators win 5-2.
Arizona Coyotes vs Edmonton Oilers
Head-to-Head: Coyotes 0-0 Oilers
The Arizona Coyotes are coming off one of their biggest wins of the season as Darcy Kuemper turned aside 33 shots. Phil Kessel posted a goal and an assist while Conor Garland and Christian Dvorak added goals for Arizona. Kuemper has come up large this season with a 1.67 GAA and .942 save percentage. Garland leads the team in goals and Nick Schmaltz leads the team in points with 12 for the Coyotes. Brad Richardson will be out for this game for Arizona.
Edmonton is coming off a big overtime win over Pittsburgh, which was the first time Connor McDavid beat the Pens in his career. Mike Smith stopped 51 shots in the win to get the Oilers the victory. Leon Draisaitl got the OT-winner and leads the team in goals (13) and points (26). The Oilers lead the Pacific Division with a 10-4-1 victory and have won three of their last five games.
The Oilers are coming off an emotional win and Ethan Bear was huge in stopping the Penguins’ big guns. Edmonton is 5-1 and that should continue Monday night.
Prediction: Oilers win 4-1.
PITTSBURGH, PA – MARCH 10: Boston Bruins Center Patrice Bergeron (37) and Pittsburgh Penguins Center Sidney Crosby (87) battle during the second period in the NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Boston Bruins on March 10, 2019, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
