{"id":137130,"date":"2023-04-29T13:47:54","date_gmt":"2023-04-29T17:47:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=137130"},"modified":"2023-04-29T13:47:54","modified_gmt":"2023-04-29T17:47:54","slug":"nhl-predictions-april-29-w-new-jersey-devils-vs-new-york-rangers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2023\/04\/29\/nhl-predictions-april-29-w-new-jersey-devils-vs-new-york-rangers\/","title":{"rendered":"NHL Predictions: April 29 w\/ New Jersey Devils vs New York Rangers"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><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 New Jersey Devils vs New York Rangers. 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>Toronto Maple Leafs vs Tampa Bay Lightning<\/h3>\n<h4>Series: Maple Leafs 3-2 Lightning<\/h4>\n<p>This is our opening game of NHL predictions. The fear factor is real for the Toronto Maple Leafs, as they&#8217;re 0-11 in trying to close out a team since 2004. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/h\/hollju01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2023-04-29_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Justin Holl<\/a> has become a problem on the defensive end and seems to be on the ice for a large majority of Toronto&#8217;s goals. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/s\/samsoil01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2023-04-29_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ilya Samsonov<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyfaceoff.com\/starting-goalies\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">will get the start<\/a> once again with the Maple Leafs, who are feeling the pressure. One can argue that the Leafs have to win this game or else face the weight of another Game 7 at home against the Tampa Bay Lightning. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/m\/matthau01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2023-04-29_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Auston Matthews<\/a> has been solid this series, but will need more help to get Toronto into round two.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/v\/vasilan02.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2023-04-29_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Andrei Vasilevskiy<\/a> played like a Stanley Cup winning goalie in Game 5. He&#8217;s been suspect at times, but can always string a great game together. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/p\/paulni01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2023-04-29_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Nick Paul<\/a> was the hero of the day for the Lightning in Game 5 with another goal to break hearts on the Leaf&#8217;s home ice. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/k\/kucheni01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2023-04-29_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Nikita Kucherov<\/a> may not be potting the goals, but he&#8217;s been distributing the puck very well.<\/p>\n<p>There&#8217;s a temptation to pick the Leafs to vanquish the demons. However, we won&#8217;t pick it until we see it.<\/p>\n<p><em>Prediction: Lightning win 4-3.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3>New Jersey Devils vs New York Rangers<\/h3>\n<h4>Series: Devils 3-2 Rangers<\/h4>\n<p>Our featured game of NHL predictions has the Devils looking to close out the Rangers.\u00a0 Likley starter <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/s\/schmiak01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2023-04-29_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Akira Schmid<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2023\/04\/28\/new-jersey-devils-goalie-akira-schmid-making-difference-in-the-series\/\" target=\"_self\">has been the reason<\/a> that the Devils have bounced back from an 0-2 hole. New Jersey has also tightened the game up on the defensive end. The Devils penalty kill has been spectacular since those dreadful opening two games. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/search\/search.fcgi?pid=hugheja03,hugheja02&amp;search=Jack+Hughes&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2023-04-29_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jack Hughes<\/a> has played like a number-one pick and been a catalyst on the offensive end. The Devils are smelling blood and have a great chance to end their archrival&#8217;s season.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/s\/shestig01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2023-04-29_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Igor Shesterkin<\/a> has been one of the few bright spots in goal and he&#8217;s getting frustrated. The Rangers have gone 0-for-9 with the extra man since Game 2. New York hasn&#8217;t been able to generate traffic in front of the net and make it hard for Schmid to stop the puck. Blueshirts head coach <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/g\/gallage01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2023-04-29_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Gerard Gallant<\/a> has been all over his team and knows anything short of a deep post-season run would be a disappointment. New York&#8217;s line combinations could be put into a blender.<\/p>\n<p>The Rangers have lost a pair of close games home, but they force Game 7.<\/p>\n<p><em>Prediction: Rangers win 3-1.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3>Edmonton Oilers vs Los Angeles Kings<\/h3>\n<h4>Series: Oilers 3-2 Kings 2<\/h4>\n<p>The final game of today&#8217;s NHL predictions has the Edmonton Oilers trying to close out the Los Angeles Kings. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/s\/skinnst01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2023-04-29_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Stuart Skinner<\/a> is the projected starter, but the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/c\/campbja01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2023-04-29_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jack Campbell<\/a> question is always looming. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/d\/draisle01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2023-04-29_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Leon Draisaitl<\/a> has been the beneficiary of the Kings being worried about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/m\/mcdavco01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2023-04-29_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Connor McDavid<\/a>. Edmonton&#8217;s power play was humming on all cylinders and Los Angeles needs to stay out of the box.<\/p>\n<p>The Kings will go with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/k\/korpijo01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2023-04-29_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Joonas Korpisalo<\/a> once again in goal despite being chased in Game 5. We could see <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/c\/copleph01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2023-04-29_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Pheonix Copley<\/a> in between the pipes if things get bad again. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/k\/kempead01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2023-04-29_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Adrian Kempe<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/k\/kopitan01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2023-04-29_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Anze Kopitar<\/a> lead the team in points with seven. Los Angeles has been able to score with Edmonton at times, but will need a complete effort to stay alive.<\/p>\n<p>Edmonton seems to have rallied after that<a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2023\/04\/24\/the-oilers-vs-kings-series-through-four-games\/\" target=\"_self\"> Game 4 comeback<\/a> and should finish things up.<\/p>\n<p><em>Prediction: Oilers win 5-3.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Main photo by: Vincent Carchietta-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 New Jersey Devils vs [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2352,"featured_media":137131,"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":[4524,4547,13,14,4548],"tags":[6079,48,6122],"class_list":["post-137130","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nhl-predictions","category-hockey","category-devils","category-rangers","category-nhl","tag-new-jersey-devils-predictions","tag-new-york-rangers","tag-new-york-rangers-predictions"],"modified_by":"Dan Mount, Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/137130","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=137130"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/137130\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/137131"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=137130"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=137130"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=137130"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}