Welcome to NHL Predictions! Each day, Last Word On Hockey will break down every game and give our NHL predictions for each game. This will also include a featured game that should be must-watch hockey. Tonight’s featured game is the Colorado Avalanche vs. Edmonton Oilers. This is the late game slate of NHL predictions. Be sure and check out the early games too.
NHL Predictions
Colorado Avalanche vs Edmonton Oilers
Head-to-Head: Avalanche 0-0 Oilers
This our NHL predictions featured late game of the night.
This is the first of three matchups between the Colorado Avalanche and Edmonton Oilers. These teams play twice in three weeks with the final game coming later on in the season. The Avalanche are in the middle of a five-game road trip which began with a win Tuesday night against the Winnipeg Jets. The Avalanche lost goalie Pavel Francouz just 30 seconds into the game. Adam Werner came in to relieve Francouz and pitched a shutout. Their depth at the position will be tested as Philipp Grubauer recovers from a lower-body injury. Not to mention the team is still without Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog. However, Nathan MacKinnon continues to carry the team alongside Cale Makar. After misspeaking about the Avalanche depth on the roster, the secondary scoring has stepped up. If this was a year ago, the Avalanche might have been in trouble. Now they are winning games.
The Oilers had a two-game winning streak snapped on Tuesday night. For some reason or another, the Oilers can’t seem to win in San Jose. This will not be an easy game for the Oilers as the Avalanche are coming into Edmonton winners of three-straight. While the Oilers remain atop the Pacific Division, their play of late has been inconsistent at best. Even with the Oilers facing a third-string goalie Thursday night, Colorado is a dangerous team. The Oilers will have to come out flying and pressure Werner. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl continue to be one of the best duos in the league. And who would have thought James Neal would have 12 goals on the season? The rest of the team will need to pick things up for the Oilers to have a chance in this one.
Prediction: Avalanche 3-2
Dallas Stars vs Vancouver Canucks
Head-to-Head: Stars 0-0 Canucks
This is the first of two meetings within a week of each other between the Dallas Stars and Vancouver Canucks. The final game of this series happens later on in the season. Despite winning seven of nine games and getting points in eight of nine games, the Stars still find themselves on the outside looking him. Head coach Jim Montgomery called out Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn to be better. Both players acknowledged they need to be better in order for the Stars to have success. Look for both to have a bounce-back game. There are expectations on this team to make the playoffs. This will not be an easy game for the Stars, who are playing the second game of a four-game road trip.
Even though the Canucks had some struggles of late, they beat a good Nashville Predators team Tuesday night on home ice. Thatcher Demko has been solid for the Canucks all season. You wonder if he gets more of an opportunity to take over the starters role. Though the Canucks like to go with a platoon system. The Canucks have the weapons to give the Stars goaltending of Ben Bishop or Anton Khudobin fits. Vancouver’s power play is very good, so the Stars will want to stay out of the box. The Canucks will have to be aware of a strong start from the opposition. This is a close game that might need an extra session or two.
Prediction: Canucks Win 3-2 OT
San Jose Sharks vs Anaheim Ducks
Head-to-Head: Ducks 1-0 Sharks
This is the second of four meetings between the San Jose Sharks and Anaheim Ducks. The Ducks took the first meeting at the beginning of the season by a score of 3-1. This was a game early in the season and the Sharks were not playing near the level they are now.
While San Jose still sit near the bottom of the Western Conference, they have been playing well as of late. The Sharks have won four-straight games and they have looked good doing it too. A lot of this can be attributed to Radim Simek returning to the lineup and settling the defence out. Now Erik Karlsson and Brent Burns do not have to do so much as they have confidence in Simek to get the job done on his side of the ice. Not to mention the offence is coming alive as the Sharks are averaging four goals per game in the winning streak. The Ducks will certainly have their hands full.
With the Sharks trending up, the Ducks are trending down. Even though the Ducks are still within reach of a wild card spot, their play of late has not been good. The Ducks have one win in their last five games. John Gibson can do only so much. They need to figure out how to score to goals. Not having Hampus Lindholm in the lineup hurts their defence as well. The Ducks are a young team and in the middle of a rebuild that will take some time. This will be a good matchup between two California rivals that can go either way. With the way the Sharks are playing, the road team has a leg up in this one.
Prediction Sharks Win 4-2
Detroit Red Wings vs Los Angeles Kings
Head-to-Head: Red Wings 0-0 Kings
This is the first of two matchups between the Detroit Red Wings and Los Angeles Kings. This game could be deemed the battle for the first overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft. The Red Wings carry the green jacket when it comes to goal differential with a minus 29. The Kings are not far behind with a goal differential of minus 21. The Red Wings are in the midst of their California swing. They picked up a win Tuesday night in Anaheim and are winners of three straight. This will be a difficult opponent for the Kings. The Red Wings are a young team that is building with Steve Yzerman as the general manager. They are figuring out ways to win games when nobody thought they would or should.
The Kings need to go into full rebuild mode. It is time for the young players to have a chance on the big stage. Sell off the assets you have and build for a better future. Now the turmoil with Ilya Kovalchuk on whether he will be with the team going forward. The wins have been few and far between for the Kings this season. Behind Anze Kopitar, there is not a whole lot of depth at the centre position. It is just time to cut your losses. This game could go either way really. But the Kings are not the team they were and the Red Wings compete each night. Look for the road team to win this one.
Prediction: Red Wings Win 4-3 OT
That does it for NHL predictions for November 14th, check back tomorrow for another edition.
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Embed from Getty Images
