{"id":107782,"date":"2021-04-22T12:40:36","date_gmt":"2021-04-22T16:40:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=107782"},"modified":"2021-04-22T12:40:36","modified_gmt":"2021-04-22T16:40:36","slug":"nhl-predictions-april-22-with-new-jersey-devils-vs-pittsburgh-penguins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2021\/04\/22\/nhl-predictions-april-22-with-new-jersey-devils-vs-pittsburgh-penguins\/","title":{"rendered":"NHL Predictions: April 22 with New Jersey Devils vs Pittsburgh Penguins"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome back to <\/span>NHL Predictions<\/span><\/a>, April 22nd edition! Each day, the Last Word On Hockey team will break down every game and give our NHL predictions for each game. This is the second slate of NHL Predictions for April 22nd, featuring the New Jersey Devils vs Pittsburgh Penguins. Be sure to check out the other two slates of games today.<\/span><\/p>\n

NHL Predictions: New Jersey Devils vs Pittsburgh Penguins<\/b><\/h2>\n

Carolina Hurricanes vs Florida Panthers<\/b><\/h3>\n

Head-to-Head: Hurricanes 5 – 1 Panthers<\/b><\/h4>\n

The Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes are first and second, respectively, in the Central Division. Both enter tonight\u2019s contest having put up dominant wins in their most recent games. The Hurricanes bounced back to defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning<\/a> in the second half of a back-to-back, while the Panthers extended their three-game streak with a victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The head-to-head is decidedly in the Hurricane\u2019s favour. Florida hasn\u2019t won against Carolina since January, and the teams\u2019 last three meetings were all regulation victories for the Hurricanes. However, several Panthers have been heating up recently. Anthony Duclair<\/a> and Jonathan Huberdeau<\/a> both recorded points in five or more consecutive games. Sam Bennett<\/a>, whom Florida picked up at the trade deadline<\/a>, has five points in his three games with the team. Tonight\u2019s contest should be competitive – you\u2019d expect no less from teams as good as these – but the Panthers, with momentum and consistent offence on their side, should eke out a win.<\/span><\/p>\n

Prediction: Panthers win, 4-3<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

New Jersey Devils vs Pittsburgh Penguins<\/b><\/h3>\n

Head-to-Head: Devils 2 – 4 Penguins<\/b><\/h4>\n

Two days ago, the New Jersey Devils mounted a massive but futile comeback effort<\/a>, scoring six goals in the third period only to fall short to the Pittsburgh Penguins by a single goal. Tonight\u2019s rematch gives New Jersey another shot at ending its season-high losing streak.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Devils\u2019 loss on Tuesday can largely be attributed to horrendous goaltending. As a whole, New Jersey didn\u2019t face an overwhelming amount of shots on goal, but netminders Scott Wedgewood<\/a> and Aaron Dell<\/a> still gave up seven goals on those 32 shots. Granted, the Penguins\u2019 Tristan Jarry<\/a> also let in a slew of goals in the third – but as he\u2019d shut out the Devils in the two periods prior to that, it\u2019s likely that undisciplined defence was more to blame than him.<\/span><\/p>\n

In tonight\u2019s game, the Devils have a chance of winning if they can manage to cut down on goaltending mishaps and maintain their offensive momentum from the late stages of Tuesday\u2019s contest. But New Jersey\u2019s netminders are far from reliable and scoring so many goals in a period is usually more a result of rare luck than extremely clutch skill. It\u2019s more likely that the Penguins will clamp down on defence to hand New Jersey another loss.<\/span><\/p>\n

Prediction: Penguins win, 4-1<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Dallas Stars vs Detroit Red Wings<\/b><\/h3>\n

Head-to-Head: Stars 5 – 1 Red Wings<\/b><\/h4>\n

Currently, the Dallas Stars are just barely out of the Central Division\u2019s final playoff spot, sitting behind the<\/span> Nashville Predators<\/span><\/a> by two points. A win in tonight\u2019s game would make postseason hopes a lot more realistic. The Detroit Red Wings, on the other hand, have a<\/span> better chance<\/span><\/a> of winning the draft lottery than making the playoffs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Aside from Detroit\u2019s lone win in March, all of these two teams\u2019 meetings have gone Dallas\u2019s way. Interestingly, the Red Wings actually outshot Dallas in Tuesday\u2019s game, recording a good number of high-danger chances as well. But whether a result of bad luck or solid goaltending from the Stars\u2019 Jake Oettinger<\/a>, Detroit was unable to convert on many of its opportunities. If history is any indication, Dallas should come out on top in this meeting as well.<\/span><\/p>\n

Prediction: Stars win, 4-2<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>