{"id":434820,"date":"2023-12-03T10:00:05","date_gmt":"2023-12-03T15:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=434820"},"modified":"2023-12-03T10:41:58","modified_gmt":"2023-12-03T15:41:58","slug":"nhl-predictions-dec-3-avalanche-vs-kings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2023\/12\/03\/nhl-predictions-dec-3-avalanche-vs-kings\/","title":{"rendered":"NHL Predictions: Dec. 3 with Colorado Avalanche vs Los Angeles Kings"},"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 Colorado Avalanche<\/a> vs Los Angeles Kings.<\/a>\u00a0Be sure to check out more NHL predictions in the coming days.<\/p>\n

NHL Predictions<\/h2>\n

Chicago Blackhawks vs Minnesota Wild<\/h3>\n

Head-to-Head: Blackhawks 0-0 Wild<\/h4>\n

TV:<\/strong> NHL Network; Bally Sports North; Bally Sports Wisconsin; NBC Sports Chicago<\/p>\n

Our opening game of NHL predictions has the Chicago Blackhawks<\/a> taking on the Minnesota Wild<\/a>. Chicago is coming off a loss to the Winnipeg Jets<\/a> on Saturday night. Petr Mrazek<\/a> is the projected starter, but always check social media before locking a goalie. Connor Bedard<\/a> has 11 goals and is coming off a goal last night.<\/p>\n

[cta id=4013 type=cta]<\/p>\n

Minnesota has been through a lot this season with a coaching change<\/a>. However, the team has been struggling to produce goals. Joel Eriksson Ek<\/a> leads the team in goals with 10. The Wild have gotten two wins from the new coach bump with John Hynes behind the bench. Marc-Andre Fleury<\/a> is the likely starter in goal for the Wild.<\/p>\n

It’s hard to tell when the new coach momentum is going to run out. However, the Wild will win a low-scoring affair.<\/p>\n

Prediction: Wild win 3-2.<\/em><\/p>\n

San Jose Sharks vs New York Rangers<\/h3>\n

Head-to-Head: Sharks 0-0 Rangers<\/h4>\n

TV:<\/strong> MSG; NHL Network; NBC Sports California<\/p>\n

The San Jose Sharks<\/a> are actually winners of three of their last five games. Mackenzie Blackwood<\/a><\/span> is the projected starter for a Sharks team that’s been playing a lot better than the opening part of the season. San Jose is still last in goals for and goals against.<\/p>\n

The New York Rangers<\/a> are coming off a wild comeback over the Nashville Predators<\/a> last night. Chris Kreider<\/a> continues to be strong on the power play and has 14 goals already. Jonathan Quick<\/a> will get the start, but he’s not been a step down from Igor Shesterkin<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Things are going better for the Sharks, but the Rangers won’t overlook anyone after last night’s scare.<\/p>\n

Prediction: Rangers win 4-2.<\/em><\/p>\n

Columbus Blue Jackets vs Boston Bruins<\/h3>\n

Head-to-Head: Blue Jackets 1-0 Bruins<\/h4>\n

TV:<\/strong> Bally Sports Ohio; NESN: ESPN+<\/p>\n

The Columbus Blue Jackets<\/a> have a 5-2 win over the Boston Bruins<\/a> earlier in the season. Elvis Merzlikins<\/a><\/span> will likely draw the start for the Blue Jackets in this one. Columbus has wins in three of its last five games.<\/p>\n

Boston likely goes with Jeremy Swayman<\/a>, as Boston beat the Toronto Maple Leafs<\/a> last night. David Pastrnak<\/a> has 14 goals and 22 assists to lead the club in both categories. The Bruins are third on the penalty kill and in goals allowed.<\/p>\n

Columbus has been better as of late, but Boston seems to have tightened some things up.<\/p>\n

Prediction: Bruins win 4-2.<\/em><\/p>\n

Nashville Predators vs Buffalo Sabres<\/h3>\n

Head-to-Head: Predators 0-0 Sabres<\/h4>\n

TV: MSG Buffalo; Bally Sports South; ESPN+<\/p>\n

Nashville is stewing over the missed opportunity from last night against the Rangers. Juuse Saros<\/a> will get the start after the Predators have been playing on back-to-back evenings.<\/p>\n

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen<\/a><\/span> is the projected starter for the Buffalo Sabres<\/a>, who have given up six goals in two straight games. Injuries, defence and goaltending have made life miserable for Buffalo this season.<\/p>\n

The Predators feel like they let two points slip away, but they’ll cash in here.<\/p>\n

Prediction: Predators win 5-2.<\/em><\/p>\n

Colorado Avalanche vs Los Angeles Kings<\/h3>\n

Head-to-Head: Avalanche 1-0 Kings<\/h4>\n

TV:<\/strong> Altitude; Bally Sports West; ESPN+<\/p>\n

Our last and featured game has a Colorado club that has lost two in a row. Alexandar Georgiev<\/a> is the likely starter after playing the night before. The Avalanche are third in goals scored with 85. However, the teams power play has been less than spectacular.<\/p>\n

Los Angeles had a recent winning run stopped by the Washington Capitals<\/a> the last time out. Cam Talbot<\/a> is the projected starter for a Kings team that’s ninth in goals scored. LA is also tops in killing off penalties. Scoring depth has been solid for the Kings this season.<\/p>\n

Both teams are coming off a loss, but Colorado salvages the trip to So Cal with a win.<\/p>\n

Prediction: Avalanche win 4-3.<\/em><\/p>\n

Main photo by: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports<\/em><\/p>\n

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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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2352,"featured_media":434821,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_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":[4524,28,4547,24,4548],"tags":[6081,6233,6085,6083,6028,6012,6122,6060],"class_list":["post-434820","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nhl-predictions","category-avalanche","category-hockey","category-kings","category-nhl","tag-boston-bruins-predictions","tag-chicago-blackhawks-predictions","tag-colorado-avalanche-predictions","tag-columbus-blue-jackets-predictions","tag-los-angeles-kings-predictions","tag-minnesota-wild-predictions","tag-new-york-rangers-predictions","tag-san-jose-sharks-predictions"],"modified_by":"Dan Mount, Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/434820","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=434820"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/434820\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/434821"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=434820"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=434820"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=434820"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}