{"id":437703,"date":"2024-02-18T10:00:37","date_gmt":"2024-02-18T15:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=437703"},"modified":"2024-02-18T10:42:37","modified_gmt":"2024-02-18T15:42:37","slug":"nhl-predictions-feb-18-rangers-vs-islanders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2024\/02\/18\/nhl-predictions-feb-18-rangers-vs-islanders\/","title":{"rendered":"NHL Predictions: Feb 18 w\/ New York Rangers vs New York Islanders"},"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 New York Rangers<\/a> vs New York Islanders.<\/a> This is the second of two Stadium Series games at Met Life Stadium. Be sure to check out more NHL predictions in the coming days.<\/p>\n

NHL Predictions<\/h3>\n

New York Rangers vs New York Islanders<\/h3>\n

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

TV:<\/strong> ABC; ESPN+; Sportsnet<\/p>\n

Our first and featured game of NHL predictions has the Rangers and Islanders squaring off for the first time this season. Igor Shesterkin<\/a> is the expected starter, but always check social media<\/a> before locking in a fantasy starter. The Rangers have won six straight games. However, the loss of<\/a> Blake Wheeler<\/a> may prove costly. Artemi Panarin<\/a> leads the team in goals (31) and assists (40) this season.<\/p>\n

The Islanders will go with Ilya Sorokin<\/a> in between the pipes. New York has lost three of the last five games and are five points off the second wild card spot. New head coach Patrick Roy<\/a> has the Isles playing harder. However, the results have yet to materialize on a consistent basis. Brock Nelson<\/a> leads the club in goals with 22 while Noah Dobson<\/a> 48 assists.<\/p>\n

The Blueshirts have been playing well as of late. However, the lack of forward depth gives the Isles the edge.<\/p>\n

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

Arizona Coyotes vs Colorado Avalanche<\/h3>\n

Head-to-Head: Coyotes 2-1 Avalanche<\/h4>\n

TV:<\/strong> Altitude; Scripps; ESPN+<\/p>\n

The Arizona Coyotes<\/a> look to win the season-series against the Colorado Avalanche<\/a> in the fourth meeting between the two clubs. Karel Vejmelka<\/a><\/span> is the expected starter for the Coyotes, who have lost eight straight games. Clayton Keller<\/a> has been a bright spot this season with 21 goals and 28 assists to lead in both categories.<\/p>\n

Alexandar Georgiev<\/a> is the projected starter for the Avalanche, who have lost four of the last five games. Defence has been a problem during this recent run with allowing four or more goals during four of the last five games. Nathan MacKinnon<\/a> is putting up Hart Trophy numbers with 32 goals and 57 assists. The Avs are third in goals scored, but 23rd in goals allowed.<\/p>\n

Colorado has been limping along, but should get healthy against a faltering Arizona team.<\/p>\n

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

Los Angeles Kings vs Pittsburgh Penguins<\/h3>\n

Head-to-Head: Kings 0-1 Penguins<\/p>\n

TV: Sportsnet Pittsburgh; Bally Sports West; ESPN+<\/p>\n

Our last game of NHL predictions has the Los Angeles Kings<\/a> taking on the Pittsburgh Penguins.<\/a> The Kings got a big overtime-win against the Boston Bruins<\/a> on Saturday night. Cam Talbot<\/a> is the expected starter after David Rittich<\/a> played the day before. Los Angeles has actually won four of its last five games. Trevor Moore<\/a> leads the team in goals with 21 while Kevin Fiala<\/a> has 30 assists.<\/p>\n

Pittsburgh is slated to go with Tristan Jarry<\/a> in the blue paint for this one. The Penguins will be without Jake Guentzel<\/a> for an extended period due to injury. Pittsburgh stopped a three-game losing streak with a 4-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Sidney Crosby<\/a> leads the team in goals with 30 while Erik Karlsson<\/a> is tops in assists with 30. The Penguins do need some points in order to mount a charge at the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Pittsburgh is seven points off the playoffs.<\/p>\n

Coming off back-to-back games is tough, but the Kings are pumped after Brandt Clarke<\/a>‘s overtime-winner from yesterday.<\/p>\n

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

Main photo by: Kevin R. Wexler – USA TODAY Sports<\/em><\/p>\n

Ages 21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2352,"featured_media":437704,"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":[4547,17,14,4548,4524],"tags":[6018,6085,6028,6079,6122,3044,6123],"class_list":["post-437703","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hockey","category-islanders","category-rangers","category-nhl","category-nhl-predictions","tag-arizona-coyotes-predictions","tag-colorado-avalanche-predictions","tag-los-angeles-kings-predictions","tag-new-jersey-devils-predictions","tag-new-york-rangers-predictions","tag-nhl-stadium-series","tag-pittsburgh-penguins-predictions"],"modified_by":"Dan Mount, Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/437703","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=437703"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/437703\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/437704"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=437703"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=437703"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=437703"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}