{"id":68862,"date":"2020-02-17T09:30:44","date_gmt":"2020-02-17T14:30:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/?p=68862"},"modified":"2020-02-17T08:26:26","modified_gmt":"2020-02-17T13:26:26","slug":"nhl-predictions-february-17th-including-tampa-bay-lightning-vs-colorado-avalanche","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2020\/02\/17\/nhl-predictions-february-17th-including-tampa-bay-lightning-vs-colorado-avalanche\/","title":{"rendered":"NHL Predictions: February 17th- Including Tampa Bay Lightning vs Colorado Avalanche"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome back to\u00a0NHL Predictions<\/a>. Every day Last Word on Hockey brings you a prediction and analysis of every game on the schedule. In the February 17th edition of NHL Predictions, we\u2019ll cover five games. Today\u2019s featured game is a battle between the Tampa Bay Lightning<\/a> vs Colorado Avalanche.<\/a><\/p>\n

NHL Predictions<\/h2>\n

New York Islanders vs Arizona Coyotes<\/h3>\n

Head-to-Head: Islanders 1-0 Coyotes<\/h3>\n

The New York Islanders<\/a> are hurting for goals right now as they’ve been shut out two games in a row. New York was blanked by the Vegas Golden Knights<\/a>, 1-0, on Saturday night. Brock Nelson<\/a> <\/strong>currently leads the team in goals and Mathew Barzal<\/a><\/strong> is tops in points with 48. Semyon Varlamov<\/a><\/strong> and Thomas Greiss<\/a><\/strong> have split time in net, but need offensive support.<\/p>\n

New York scores 2.86 goals a game and only allowing 2.72 per game. The Isles power play scores 18.6 percent of the time and they kill 80.1 percent of penalties. Defensively the Islanders got a little better as they acquired veteran defenceman<\/a> Andy Greene<\/a><\/strong> from the New Jersey Devils<\/a> on Sunday. But the team need still needs that scorer upfront.<\/p>\n

The Arizona Coyotes<\/a> are two points off of an automatic Pacific Division playoff spot after beating the Washington Capitals<\/a>, 3-1, on Saturday night. Antti Raanta<\/a> <\/strong>made 35 saves and he looks to be the number one as long as Darcy Kuemper<\/a> <\/strong>is out. Conor Garland<\/a><\/strong> leads the team in goals with 19.<\/p>\n

Arizona scores 2.70 goals a game and yields 2.66 goals a game. The Coyotes score 19.4 percent on the extra man and they stop 83.4 percent of opposing power plays.<\/p>\n

The Islanders desperately need to find some goals in a hurry. As the Isles cling to a playoff spot in the East and the Coyotes fight for a playoff spot in the West, both the teams are in desperate need of a win. The Isles won 4-2 in Long Island earlier this season and can take some of that to win against Arizona.<\/p>\n

Prediction: Islanders win 3-1.<\/p>\n

Florida Panthers vs San Jose Sharks<\/h3>\n

Head-to-Head: Panthers 1-0 Sharks<\/h3>\n

The Florida Panthers<\/a> are in danger of falling out of the Eastern Conference playoff race in losses of four of their last five. Florida lost 4-1 to the Edmonton Oilers<\/a> on Saturday. Jonathan Huberdeau<\/a><\/strong> leads the team in points with 70, but they need Sergei Bobrovsky<\/a> <\/strong>and the defence to find their game.<\/p>\n

Florida scores 3.41 goals a game and surrenders 3.36 goals a game. The Panthers score on 22.0 percent of power plays and struggle with killing penalties at 77.5 percent.<\/p>\n

The San Jose Sharks<\/a> have managed to win four of their last five despite a load of injuries. Martin Jones<\/a><\/strong> stopped 39 shots in a 2-0 win over the Minnesota Wild<\/a> while Dylan Gambrell<\/a><\/strong> and Melker Karlsson<\/a><\/strong> each added goals. Leading goal-scorer Evander Kane<\/a><\/strong> is suspended and leading point-getter Erik Karlsson<\/a> <\/strong>is out for the season.<\/p>\n

San Jose nets 2.59 goals a game and gives up 3.24 goals a game. The Sharks score 16.1 percent of the time on the power play and they kill 85.6 percent of opposing power plays.<\/p>\n

San Jose has played well, but injuries and suspension are running up against a desperate Florida squad that needs a win.<\/p>\n

Prediction: Panthers win 4-2<\/p>\n

Anaheim Ducks vs Calgary Flames<\/h3>\n

Head-to-Head: Ducks 0-2 Flames<\/h3>\n

The Anaheim Ducks<\/a> are coming off a 6-0 loss to the Calgary Flames<\/a> on Thursday night and have lost three of their last five. Adam Henrique<\/a><\/strong> leads the club in goals with 18 and John Gibson<\/a> <\/strong>gets most of the starts with a 16-22-4 record, 3.04 goals-against-average and .902 save percentage.<\/p>\n

Anaheim scores 2.47 goals a game and yields 3.12 goals a game. The Ducks score 14.0 percent on the power play and have a success rate of 77.6 percent on the Pk.<\/p>\n

Calgary is coming off its own drubbing with an 8-4 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks<\/a> on Saturday night. The Flames are tied on 66 points with the Coyotes, but own fourth due to the number of wins. Elias Lindholm<\/a><\/strong> is the leading goal-scorer with 27 and David Rittich<\/a><\/strong> is 22-15-5 with a 2.93 goals-against-average and .908 save percentage.<\/p>\n

The Flames score 2.80 goals a game and give up 3.08 a game. Calgary’s power-play scores 20.8 percent of the time and are 81.9 percent successful on the penalty kill.<\/p>\n

The Flames are trying to stay in the tight Pacific Division and have been tough against the Ducks. Look for that trend to continue.<\/p>\n

Prediction: Flames win 4-1.<\/p>\n

Washington Capitals vs Vegas Golden Knights<\/h3>\n

Head-to-Head: Capitals 1-0 Golden Knights<\/h3>\n

The Washington Capitals<\/a> have lost three of its last five and is only one point ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins<\/a> in the Metropolitan Division. Alex Ovechkin<\/a><\/strong> is still two goals away from reaching the 700-goal mark and has 40 so far this season. Braden Holtby<\/a><\/strong> made 29 saves in the loss to Arizona on Saturday.<\/p>\n

Washington’s offence scores 3.50 goals a game and their defence allows 3.02 a game. The Capitals power play scores 20.5 percent of the time and they kill 83.7 percent of penalties.<\/p>\n

Vegas got 19 saves out of Marc-Andre Fleury<\/a><\/strong> in their victory over the Islanders. Max Pacioretty<\/a><\/strong> leads the team in goals with 26 and Fleury is 22-14-5 with a 2.80 goals-against-average and .905 save percentage. The Golden Knights hold the last automatic playoff spot in the Pacific Division.<\/p>\n

Vegas scores 3.10 goals a game and allows 3.02 goals a game. The Golden Knights are 21.8 successful on the power play and they stop 78.4 percent of opponent’s power plays.<\/p>\n

The Knights haven’t been the dominant home team of old and the Capitals need wins to keep the Penguins at bay.<\/p>\n

Prediction: Capitals win 3-2 in overtime.<\/p>\n

Tampa Bay Lightning vs Colorado Avalanche<\/h3>\n

Head-to-Head: Lightning 0-1 Avalanche<\/h3>\n

*This the NHL Prediction Featured Game Of The Night\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

The Tampa Bay Lightning<\/a> are seeking its 11th straight win after beating the Philadelphia Flyers,<\/a> 5-3, on Saturday. Leading goal and point-getter Nikita Kucherov<\/a><\/strong> has been out the last two games and Steven Stamkos<\/a><\/strong> returned from his injury on Saturday. Andrei Vasilevskiy<\/a> <\/strong>has been excellent as of late with a 32-9-3 record and 2.42 goals-against-average.<\/p>\n

The Lightning has one of the best offences in the league with 3.54 goals a game and they allow 2.64 a game. Tampa also picked up<\/a> Blake Coleman<\/a><\/strong> from the New Jersey Devils<\/a> on Sunday for a first-round pick and prospect Nolan Foote<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Colorado is coming off an embarrassing 3-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings<\/a> in a Stadium Series game at the United States Air Force Academy. Philipp Grubauer<\/a><\/strong> and Matt Calvert<\/a> <\/strong>were both injured, so Pavel Francouz<\/a><\/strong> may get the start. Nathan MacKinnon<\/a> l<\/strong>eads the team in goals (32), assists (48) and points (80).<\/p>\n

The Avalanche have a great offence with 3.56 goals a game and they give up 2.79 a game. Colorado’s power play is 19.3 percent successful while they kill 78.9 percent of penalties.<\/p>\n

Colorado could come out fired up, but Tampa Bay is playing like they did last regular season. It should be a fun game, but the Lightning should continue their winning ways.<\/p>\n

Predictions: Lightning win 5-3.<\/p>\n

That does it for NHL Predictions for Monday, February 17th. Keep your eyes open for more NHL Predictions on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Main Photo:<\/p>\n

\n
Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n