{"id":137081,"date":"2023-04-26T08:00:12","date_gmt":"2023-04-26T12:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=137081"},"modified":"2023-04-25T22:42:01","modified_gmt":"2023-04-26T02:42:01","slug":"nhl-predictions-april-26th-with-panthers-vs-bruins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2023\/04\/26\/nhl-predictions-april-26th-with-panthers-vs-bruins\/","title":{"rendered":"NHL Predictions: April 26th with Florida Panthers vs Boston Bruins"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span data-sheets-value=\"{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Welcome back to another day of Welcome back to another day of &lt;yoastmark class=\">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 Florida Panthers vs Boston Bruins. Keep checking our NHL predictions throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">NHL Predictions<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3>Florida Panthers vs Boston Bruins<\/h3>\n<h4>Series: Panthers 1-3 Bruins<\/h4>\n<p>Our first and featured game of NHL predictions has the Panthers <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2023\/04\/24\/boston-bruins-vs-florida-panthers-mid-series-analysis\/\" target=\"_self\">fighting for their playoff lives<\/a> in a very tough TD Garden. Florida has won in Boston, but this is an elimination game and the Bruins don&#8217;t mess around in those situations. Both <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/l\/lyonal01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2023-04-25_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Alex Lyon<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/b\/bobrose01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2023-04-25_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Sergei Bobrovsky<\/a> have struggled in recent game, so the starter may be hard to figure until we get closer to game time. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/t\/tkachma01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2023-04-25_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Matthew Tkachuk<\/a> has been one of the good spots for the Panthers, who try to stay alive.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/u\/ullmali01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2023-04-25_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Linus Ullmark<\/a> likely gets the start once again for the Bruins, who have three chances to close out the first-round series. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/b\/bergepa01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2023-04-25_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Patrice Bergeron<\/a> could be ready to come back soon, but does head coach <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/m\/montgji01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2023-04-25_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jim Montgomery<\/a> try buy some extra rest for his team captain? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/k\/krejcda01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2023-04-25_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">David Krejci<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FlutoShinzawa\/status\/1650871453099892737\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">did skate with the team<\/a> on the off day and could return to the lineup. Seeing Krejci return would be a big boost to Boston&#8217;s centre depth, but <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/z\/zachapa01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2023-04-25_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Pavel Zacha<\/a> has played well. The Bruins have buckled down and overcome some injuries to get itself into prime position.<\/p>\n<p>Boston is usually pretty efficient when it comes to eliminating teams and it should send Florida home. Montgomery will likely hold out Bergeron until Game 6 if the Panthers do extend the series.<\/p>\n<p><em>Prediction: Bruins win 4-2.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3>Seattle Kraken vs Colorado Avalanche<\/h3>\n<h4>Series: Kraken 2-2 Avalanche<\/h4>\n<p>Our final game of a light night of NHL predictions is a pivotal Game 5 between the Seattle Kraken and Colorado Avalanche. Seattle will need to <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2023\/04\/25\/seattle-kraken-forward-to-miss-game-5\/\" target=\"_self\">fill a big scoring hole<\/a> in the lineup as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/m\/mccanja01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2023-04-25_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jared McCann<\/a> is out. The Kraken withstood a rally to tie the series thanks to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/e\/eberljo01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2023-04-25_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jordan Eberle<\/a>&#8216;s overtime-winner. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/g\/grubaph01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2023-04-25_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Philipp Grubauer<\/a> will once again draw the start, as he&#8217;s played well facing his old team. Seattle has gotten goals from unlikely sources like Will Borgen and others to stay in the series.<\/p>\n<p>Colorado will face<a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2023\/04\/25\/colorado-avalanche-defenceman-to-have-hearing\/\" target=\"_self\"> their own missing player<\/a> as star defenceman <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/m\/makarca01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2023-04-25_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Cale Makar<\/a> is suspended. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/g\/georgal01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2023-04-25_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Alexandar Georgiev<\/a> will once again get the start for the Avalanche, who look to get the series lead. Colorado has been dealing with injuries the whole season, but are likely without <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/n\/nichuva01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2023-04-25_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Valeri Nichushkin<\/a> once again. The Russian forward&#8217;s health and safety are the most important things at this point. However, Colorado will miss him in the lineup after a great 2022 Stanley Cup Playoff run. An upset could be in the cards, but Colorado are the defending champions for a reason. The Avs can seemingly handle a lot of bad things thrown at them.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s a tough one to call, but Colorado finds a way to get the job done.<\/p>\n<p>Prediction: Avalanche win 4-3.<\/p>\n<p><em>Main photo by: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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 Florida Panthers vs Boston [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2352,"featured_media":137082,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4524,28,4547,4548,5369],"tags":[90,6081,6255],"class_list":["post-137081","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nhl-predictions","category-avalanche","category-hockey","category-nhl","category-seattle-kraken","tag-boston-bruins","tag-boston-bruins-predictions","tag-florida-panthers-predictions"],"modified_by":"Luiza Vidal, Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/137081","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2352"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=137081"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/137081\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/137082"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=137081"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=137081"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=137081"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}