{"id":134844,"date":"2023-01-22T08:00:36","date_gmt":"2023-01-22T13:00:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=134844"},"modified":"2023-01-22T11:38:51","modified_gmt":"2023-01-22T16:38:51","slug":"nhl-predictions-january-22-penguins-devils","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2023\/01\/22\/nhl-predictions-january-22-penguins-devils\/","title":{"rendered":"NHL Predictions: January 22 Including Pittsburgh Penguins vs New Jersey Devils"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome back to another day of NHL Predictions. Each day, Last Word on Hockey takes a look at the games that are happening and gives our predictions for each one, breaking down head-to-head and other factors that may play in. We also have a featured game of the day, which is considered must-watch TV. Today\u2019s featured game is the Pittsburgh Penguins<\/a> and the New Jersey Devils<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

NHL Predictions: Vegas Golden Knights vs Arizona Coyotes\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

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

Head-to-head: Penguins 0-1 Devils<\/h4>\n

The first game on our NHL Predictions is a Metropolitan Division showdown. These teams saw each other for the first time this season just over three weeks ago. The Devils claimed a 4-2 victory over the Penguins led by Jack Hughes<\/a>‘ 19th and 20th goals of the year. Hughes is now on the verge of his 30th goal and has scored three times in the last five games. His 56 points lead the Devils, followed by\u00a0Jesper Bratt<\/a> 10 points behind. Bratt has a four-game point streak returning from New Jersey’s Pacific Division trip. The team went 3-0-1 in the four games and outscored their hosts 18-11.<\/p>\n

The Penguins might be just the right team to give the Devils’ hot offence a challenge. Kris Letang<\/a> didn’t play for Pittsburgh in the teams’ first meeting and remains the biggest remaining absence in Pittsburgh. He was placed on long-term injured reserve on Friday due to an injury originally sustained on December 28th. The Penguins used extra cap room to activate Jeff Petry<\/a> who had been out since December 10th and Tristan Jarry<\/a> who was injured during the Winter Classic. Both played that night and were crucial to the Penguins’ 4-1 win over the Ottowa Senators. Petry led the team with over 25 minutes of action, including appearances on both special teams; Jarry made 44 saves, his season-best.<\/p>\n

The home team has hot hands and the visitors just saw major boosts on defence. Both projected goalies have save percentages well above the league average. Could see an unstoppable force versus an immovable object play out in New Jersey.<\/p>\n

Prediction: Devils defeat Penguins 3-2.<\/em><\/p>\n

Los Angeles Kings vs Chicago Blackhawks<\/h3>\n

Head-to-head: Kings 1-1 Blackhawks<\/h4>\n

Both these teams will play the second day of a back-to-back when they meet for the third time this season. Chicago will return home from St. Louis to a United Center where they have gone 9-15-2. The Blackhawks are the second-to-last team in the NHL but have a 5-5 record and a two-game win streak in their past 10 games prior to puck drop on Saturday. Tired legs will not help the Blackhawks’ special teams, which are both ranked in the bottom-10.<\/p>\n

Los Angeles will depart for Chicago after facing the Nashville Predators. The Kings are in the top-three of their division but have lost two games coming into their six-game road trip. Pheonix Copley<\/a> starts in Nashville, so the Blackhawks are likely to face Jonathan Quick<\/a>. Quick has not played well in his starts this season the last time he had a save percentage above .900 was December 23rd. The Kings have the fourth-worst penalty kill in the League and allow more than 3 goals per game on average.<\/p>\n

Prediction: Kings defeat Blackhawks 4-2.<\/em><\/p>\n

San Jose Sharks vs Boston Bruins<\/h3>\n

Head-to-head: Sharks 0-1 Bruins<\/h4>\n

The Sharks are in the uncommon position of facing the last-place team and then the first-place team on back-to-back nights. The Sharks’ defense will be hard-pressed to hold off an offence that scores nearly four goals per game. They have allowed four or more goals in seven games this month and only have one win in that time. Erik Karlsson<\/a> is having a career year with over 60 points, including eight in his past five games.<\/p>\n

Boston Bruins: Embed from Getty Images<\/a>