Welcome back to NHL Predictions. Every day Last Word on Hockey brings you a prediction and analysis of every game on the schedule. In the late-games edition of the February 29th (it’s leap year) NHL Predictions, we’ll cover six games. There will also be a featured game and that is must-watch hockey. The featured matchup is between the Winnipeg Jets vs Edmonton Oilers.
NHL Predictions
Colorado Avalanche vs Nashville Predators
Head-to-Head: Avalanche 1 – 0 Predators
The Colorado Avalanche are cresting towards the top of the Western Conference standings just five points behind the Blues with three games-in-hand. They have been playing well winning seven of 10 lately including four straight. This game will be a back-to-back affair with the Av’s taking on the Hurricanes on Friday night. Both of these teams are missing key players due to injuries. The Colorado club is missing their starting goalie, Philipp Grubauer, their star forwards, Mikko Rantanen, and Nazem Kadri. It just displays how good a hockey team they are to still be winning games.
The Nashville Predators squeezed out an overtime win on Thursday night against the Calgary Flames to use those games-in-hand to their advantage. With two games-in-hand against the Flames, they are in an ideal position to overtake them and move into the top wild-card spot… or better. The Preds have won three straight, so both of these teams are excelling at the right time to prepare for the playoffs. One mystery for the Nashville club has got to be… what is wrong with Matt Duchene? After scoring 70 points and 31 goals last season, he is sitting at only 39 points and 12 goals this season. For a seven-year $56 million investment the team made, he is not providing much in return.
Prediction: Avalanche win 3-1.
Carolina Hurricanes vs Montreal Canadiens
Head-to-Head: Hurricanes 2 – 0 Canadiens
The Carolina Hurricanes are another team hobbling with injuries and trying to survive to get to the postseason. They are missing both of their regular roster goalies and needed to recall two netminders to prevent using a zamboni driver again. That will be tough since they have back-to-back games Friday and Saturday nights. The ‘Canes have three games-in-hand on Columbus to gain the final wild-card spot but the New York Rangers are hot on their heels to do the same. Looks like the Carolina club just can’t catch a break.
The Montreal Canadiens are struggling to stay in playoff contention but games are slipping by and they have not gained much ground. While it’s not out of the realm of possibility, the Habs are nine points from a wild-card spot with just 16 games remaining. It doesn’t help their cause that they are a poor home team going just 13-16-6 this season. If they want to stay in the hunt, they will need this game to give them two very important points in the standings.
Prediction: Hurricanes win 5-2.
Buffalo Sabres vs Arizona Coyotes
Head-to-Head: Sabres 0 – 1 Coyotes
The Buffalo Sabres are ten points out of a playoff berth but still have 19 games remaining. They have been acting like they want to be a playoff team of late by going 6-3-1 in their last 10 contests. They’re coming off of two good wins against the Pittsburgh Penguins and Winnipeg Jets. The Sabres will play the hot Vegas Golden Knights Friday night, while the Coyotes haven’t played since Tuesday. Back-to-back games on the road are always tough especially when your road record is less than stimulating. Even with a superstar player like Jack Eichel, the Sabres may fall on the sword here. He has 35 goals, 42 assists but doesn’t get much help scoring with Sam Reinhart 27 points behind him.
The Arizona Coyotes are really struggling. They blasted a really good team beating the Tampa Bay Lightning 7-3, then lost to the Florida Panthers 2-1. Their lack of offence has been their downfall this season… well for numerous seasons, to be exact. Phil Kessel was expected to help in that area but with only 13 goals and 35 points he has not produced. He’s definitely a liability on defence as he leads the team with a putrid +/- of -21. Then, the only player producing offensively is Connor Garland with 22 goals. Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz have not contributed significantly. They’ve only tallied one more goal combined compared to Garland. The Coyotes are really in need of some wins now to make the playoffs. Other teams have valuable games-in-hand and that can hurt.
Prediction: Coyotes win 4-2.
Dallas Stars vs St. Louis Blues
Head-to-Head: Stars 1 – 3 Blues
The Dallas Stars are the best defensive team in the NHL with their goalies showing a stellar .925 save percentage and a 2.38 goals-against-average. If only they could score. The Blues have handed them three losses out of the four games they’ve played them. Colorado has surpassed the Stars for the second spot in the Western Conference even though the Stars are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games. This may be a playoff-level matchup as it was last season when the Blues managed to get by the Dallas club in seven games.
The St. Louis Blues were in a funk but when you can win six straight, things look much brighter. They have been showing that they are the reigning Cup winners and have been playing much better. It helps to have a goaltender like Jordan Binnington between the pipes when games count. His 29-11-7 record with a .910 save percentage in conjunction with a 2.60 goals-against-average says it all. Can he carry the Blues to another Cup? Don’t see why not.
Prediction: Blues win 4-3.
Winnipeg Jets vs Edmonton Oilers
Head-to-Head: Jets 1 – 0 Oilers
*This is the NHL predictions featured game.
The Winnipeg Jets are in the thick of a playoff fight and are close to a wild-card spot. Of course, so are four-to five other teams. They’ve got to be thrilled to have gained three of four possible points in a rare away and home series. The Jets are a very talented team with offensive weapons. Behind most successful teams is a premier goalie. For the Jets’ Connor Hellebuyck he has kept them in the running for a playoff berth. He’s gone 27-20-5 with a 2.67 goals-against-average and a stingy .920 save percentage. Do the Jets have enough fuel in their engine to get there? We’ll see.
The Edmonton Oilers are holding down the third spot in the tight Pacific Division and fortunate to have Leon Draisaitl as one of their offensive powerhouse players. His amazing 99 points with 37 goals leads the NHL. They also have this guy named Connor McDavid who is not bad either. He has 87 points and 31 goals. That’s some firepower for sure, yet the Oilers are just 5-3-2 in their last 10 games some of which McDavid was out with an injury. So, this game should be close… who will be victorious?
Prediction: Oilers win 5-4.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs San Jose Sharks
Head-to-Head: Penguins 0 – 1 Sharks
The Pittsburgh Penguins are in a four-game tailspin the last of which was a loss to the lowly Los Angeles Kings. The Pens are California dreamin’ with games against the Anaheim Ducks Friday night before this contest. Will the Sharks give them nightmares? You never know, this is the NHL. It’s just a rarity that a team as skilled as Pittsburgh loses four straight. The question will be can they nullify the collapse of late? No game is an automatic win and the Pens know it as much as any team. Look for Sidney Crosby to take over.
The San Jose Sharks have pretty much given up hope for this season. With a mere 58 points thus far they are looking to next season. That doesn’t mean the professionals on this team aren’t going to lay down for the Penguins. Yet, you know that the Pittsburgh group will be striving to get out of their losing streak, and San Jose will be standing in their way. Sorry Sharks, you’re going to be eaten alive!
Prediction: Penguins win 6-1.
That’s it for this edition of late games NHL predictions. Be sure to follow the early games as well.
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