Welcome to another day of NHL Predictions! Each day, the Last Word on Hockey takes a look at every game and gives our predictions for the score. There is also a featured game for each slate of games. Today\u2019s featured game is the New York Rangers vs Washington Capitals. Be sure to check out the late-game article for NHL predictions today too.<\/p>\n
Washington held off New York for a 5-4 win o<\/span>n Sunday thanks to a pair of Tom Wilson<\/a> goals. The<\/span> Capitals have won two of the last three against the Rangers. <\/span>Igor Shesterkin<\/a><\/span><\/span> gets the start after Keith <\/span>Kinkaid struggled in the second period. New York does seemingly match up well against Washington.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Capitals are in a dogfight with the New York Islanders<\/a> for first place in the East Division. <\/span>Washington is third in goals for with 117 going into Monday night’s games. <\/span>The ageless Alex Ovechkin<\/a> has <\/span>the team lead in goals with 18.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n New York has to stay out of the penalty box if they want to win, since Washington\u2019s power play is killer.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Prediction<\/strong>:<\/strong> <\/span>Capitals win 3-2 in a shootout.<\/em>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [pickup_prop id=”5805″]<\/p>\n Every game has been decided by a single goal if you count the Bruins <\/span>season-opening <\/span>shootout win<\/span>.<\/span> The Devils have won the last four games, including <\/span>Mackenzie Blackwood<\/a> preserving Sunday\u2019s 1-0 <\/span>win with a last-second save.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n All of these games have been tight, low-scoring affairs as both teams are in the bottom 10 of goals scored. New Jersey is 29<\/span>th<\/span> in goals scored while Boston is ranked 27<\/span>th<\/span>. <\/span>Tuukka Rask<\/a> will still be out for <\/span>the Bruins, so Jaroslav Halak<\/a> makes the start.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Boston is still dealing with injuries, but doesn\u2019t want to get dragged into a fight for its playoff life.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Prediction:<\/strong> Bruins win 2-1.<\/em><\/span>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n It\u2019s the first of a back-to-back set with the playoff opponents. Columbus has been struggling with four straight losses. The Jackets have <\/span>only mustered five goals during that losing skid. <\/span>It\u2019s now or never for the Jackets as teams like the Nashville Predators<\/a> are making a rise in the standings.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Tampa Bay has suffered back-to-back 4-3 losses to the Dallas <\/a><\/span>Stars<\/a> and Carolina Hurricanes,<\/a> respectively. Carolina is right on Tampa Bay\u2019s heels in the Cent<\/span>ral Division as they trail by one point with a game in hand. These two teams will play each other four times over the next two weeks.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Lightning need space in the standings and the wounded Blue Jackets are just the tonic.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Prediction:<\/strong> Lightning win 4-2.<\/em><\/span>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Both teams are coming in with two-game winning streaks, but the Panthers are without Aaron Ekblad<\/a> for the rest of the season.<\/a> Florida did manage to beat Dallas, but it\u2019s going t<\/span>o be a lot harder to win without the Norris Trophy candidate. <\/span>Sergei Bobrovsky<\/a> could get the start with Chris Driedger<\/a> starting on Sunday.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Detroit has played a lot better as of late, but is still stuck to the bottom of the division. <\/span>The Red Wings did squeak out <\/span>a <\/span>2-1 win<\/span> thanks <\/span>Mathias Brome<\/a>\u2019s goal. This back-to-back set is the last two meetings between the teams this season.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s going to be tough for the Panthers to find wins, but they\u2019ll get an emotional lift and narrow win.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Prediction:<\/strong> Panthers win 3-2.<\/em><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Main Photo:<\/p>\nNew Jersey Devils vs Boston Bruins<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n
Head-to-Head: Devils <\/span>4-1 Bruins<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n
Columbus Blue Jackets vs Tampa Bay Lightning<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
Head-to-Head: Blue Jackets <\/span>1-1 <\/span>Lightning<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n
Detroit Red <\/span>Wings<\/span> vs Florida Panthers<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
Head-to-Head: Red Wings <\/span>2-4<\/span> Panthers<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n