{"id":70421,"date":"2020-03-02T09:00:41","date_gmt":"2020-03-02T14:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/?p=70421"},"modified":"2020-03-02T12:40:23","modified_gmt":"2020-03-02T17:40:23","slug":"nhl-predictions-march-2nd-including-edmonton-oilers-vs-nashville-predators","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2020\/03\/02\/nhl-predictions-march-2nd-including-edmonton-oilers-vs-nashville-predators\/","title":{"rendered":"NHL Predictions: March 2nd- Including Edmonton Oilers vs Nashville Predators"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome to\u00a0NHL Predictions<\/a>! Each day, Last Word On Hockey will break down every game and give our NHL predictions for each game. In today\u2019s late-game NHL predictions, we\u2019ll cover the two games happening on March 2nd. Each piece will include a featured game that should be must-watch hockey. The featured game is the Edmonton Oilers<\/a> vs Nashville Predators.<\/a><\/p>\n

NHL Predictions<\/h2>\n

Colorado Avalanche vs Detroit Red Wings<\/h3>\n

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

The Colorado Avalanche<\/a> have won six in a row, including escaping with a 3-2 win over Nashville on Saturday. Erik Johnson<\/a> <\/strong>scored late in the third period to held the Avs hang on for the victory. Nathan MacKinnon<\/a> <\/strong>leads the club in goals (33), assists (52) and points (88). Pavel Francouz<\/a> <\/strong>made 30 saves in the last game to go to 19-5-3 with a 2.24 goals-against-average.<\/p>\n

Colorado scores 3.44 goals a game and allows 2.67 per game. The Avalanche power play scores 18.6 percent of the time and they kill 80.6 percent of opposing power plays.<\/p>\n

The Detroit Red Wings<\/a> are clearly going to get the most ping pong balls in the upcoming 2020 NHL Draft Lottery. Detroit lost 4-3 in a shootout on Saturday night to the Ottawa Senators.<\/a> Dylan Larkin<\/a> <\/strong>netted a goal and an assist in the loss. The Red Wings have lost five straight games after Saturday’s loss.<\/p>\n

Larkin leads the team in all offensive categories such as goals (18), assists (30) and points (48). The Red Wings offence is dead last in the league with 1.99 goals a game and they yield 3.78 a game. Detroit converts on 14.9 percent of its power plays and they stop 74.5 percent of penalties.<\/p>\n

The Avalanche are trying to get their hands on a Central Division crown and beat the Wings 6-3 in their previous meeting. Expect more of the same from the Colorado offence.<\/p>\n

Prediction: Avalanche win 6-1.<\/p>\n

Edmonton Oilers vs Nashville Predators<\/h3>\n

Head-to-Head: Oilers 2-0 Predators<\/h4>\n

Leon Draisaitl<\/a><\/strong> has been on a tear ever since Connor McDavid<\/a> <\/strong>went down due to injury. The German scored twice in the Oilers’ 3-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets<\/a>. He leads the team in goals (39), assists (63) and points (102). Mike Smith<\/a> <\/strong>is 18-10-6 with a 2.87 goals-against-average.<\/p>\n

The Oilers score 3.11 goals a game and surrender 3.06 goals a game. Edmonton scores at a blistering 29.3 percent on the power play and stop 84.2 percent of opposing extra-man chances.<\/p>\n

Nashville has found life under new coach John Hynes and own the second wild card spot at this time. The Predators take on the Oilers in the first game of a back-to-back as they play the Minnesota Wild<\/a> on Tuesday. Juuse Saros<\/a> <\/strong>has gotten the starts with the injury to Pekka Rinne<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Roman Josi<\/a><\/strong> leads the team in points with 60 and Filip Forsberg<\/a> <\/strong>is tops in goals with 18. Nashville scores and gives up 3.14 goals a game. They score 16.3 percent of their power plays and struggle on the kill at 74.6 percent.<\/p>\n

Both teams love playing offence, but the uncertainty in the Nashville net gives Edmonton the edge.<\/p>\n

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

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