{"id":70882,"date":"2020-03-09T09:24:45","date_gmt":"2020-03-09T13:24:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/?p=70882"},"modified":"2020-03-09T09:24:45","modified_gmt":"2020-03-09T13:24:45","slug":"nhl-predictions-march-9th-including-vegas-golden-knights-vs-edmonton-oilers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2020\/03\/09\/nhl-predictions-march-9th-including-vegas-golden-knights-vs-edmonton-oilers\/","title":{"rendered":"NHL Predictions: March 9th- Including Vegas Golden Knights vs Edmonton Oilers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome back to\u00a0NHL Predictions<\/a>, where the Last Word on Hockey team provides insight into all of today\u2019s games. On Monday, March 9th\u2019s edition of NHL Predictions, we\u2019ll take a look at fifth games. Today\u2019s featured game is a battle between the Vegas Golden Knights<\/a> and the Edmonton Oilers.<\/a><\/p>\n

NHL Predictions<\/h2>\n

Washington Capitals vs Buffalo Sabres<\/h3>\n

Head-to-Head: Capitals 1-0 Sabres<\/h4>\n

The Washington Capitals<\/a> rebounded from a two-game losing streak with a key 5-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins<\/a> on Saturday night. Alex Ovechkin<\/a> <\/strong>is tied for the league lead in goals with David <\/strong>Pastrnak. John Carlson<\/a> <\/strong>is having a Norris Trophy-esque season with 60 assists and 75 points. Ilya Samsonov<\/a><\/strong> and Braden Holtby<\/a> <\/strong>have split time in net recently.<\/span><\/p>\n

Washington scores 3.44 goals a game and it allows 3.09 goals per game. The Capitals power play is 19.5 percent successful and they kill 82.8 percent of opposing power plays.<\/p>\n

The Buffalo Sabres<\/a> are having another one of their patent losing streaks. Buffalo has lost six straight games, including a 3-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers<\/a> on Saturday night. Jack Eichel<\/a><\/strong> is doing his best to carry the team with 35 goals, 42 assists and 77 points. Carter Hutton<\/a> <\/strong>has been getting a lot of the starts since Linus Ullmark<\/a><\/strong> went on injured reserve.<\/p>\n

Buffalo scores 2.81 goals a game and yields 3.13 per contest. The Sabres score 18.7 percent of the time on the power play and stop 74.5 percent of opposing penalties.<\/p>\n

Washington is a race for the Metropolitan Division title with Philadelphia. Expect the Caps to keep healthy against a Sabres team that’s in real trouble.<\/p>\n

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

Florida Panthers vs St. Louis Blues<\/h3>\n

Head-to-Head: Panthers 0-0 Blues<\/h4>\n

It’ll be the first meeting of the season between the St. Louis Blues<\/a> and Florida Panthers<\/a>, who are coming off a big 4-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens<\/a> on Saturday. Chris Driedger<\/a><\/strong> has returned and gave the Panthers a boost in net. Mike Hoffman<\/a><\/strong> leads the team in goals with 28.<\/p>\n

Florida scores 3.32 goals per game and surrenders 3.28. The Panthers score 21.0 percent of the time on the PP and kill 78.3 percent of penalties.<\/p>\n

St. Louis got a 2-0 win over the Chicago Blackhawks<\/a> on Sunday night thanks to 29 saves from Jake Allen<\/a>.<\/strong> The Blues have won five of their last six games as they look to stay atop the Central Division. David Perron <\/a><\/strong>leads in goals (25) and points (60) for the Blues. Jordan Binnington<\/a> <\/strong>will likely get the start with Allen getting the first part of the back-to-back.<\/p>\n

The Blues score 3.18 goals a game and give up 2.74 a game. St. Louis is 24.5 percent successful on the power play at 79.2 percent successful on the PK.<\/p>\n

Binnington would love to get the taste of Saturday’s loss to the New Jersey Devils<\/a> out of his mouth. Expect the Blues to keep up the pace in this one.<\/p>\n

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

Arizona Coyotes vs Winnipeg Jets<\/h3>\n

Head-to-Head: Coyotes 1-0 Jets<\/h4>\n

It’s a battle of teams that have both been the Winnipeg Jets.<\/a> The Arizona Coyotes<\/a> are coming off a pivotal 3-2 loss to the Calgary Flames<\/a> on Friday. Arizona and Winnipeg are in the fight for the second Wild Card spot. Connor Garland leads in goals, but he’ll be out due to an injury. Clayton Keller<\/a> leads the team in points with 44.<\/p>\n

Arizona scores 2.72 goals a game and allows 2.59 per game. The Coyotes score 19.3 percent of the time on the power play and have a PK success rate of 82.6 percent.<\/p>\n

Winnipeg got a 4-0 shutout over Vegas thanks to 29 saves for Connor Hellebuyck<\/a><\/strong>. The Jets have won three of their last four games thanks to the sixth shutout of the season by the former UMass-Lowell goalie. Kyle Connor<\/a><\/strong> is tops on the team in goals (36) and points (71).<\/p>\n

The Jets score 2.97 goals per game and yield 2.86 per game. Winnipeg’s power play converts 20.7 percent of the time and they kill 77.2 percent of opponent’s power plays.<\/p>\n

Winnipeg’s defence has played well and Arizona will miss Garland. The Jets should scratch out another win.<\/p>\n

Prediction: Jets win 3-2 in a shootout.<\/p>\n

Vegas Golden Knights vs Edmonton Oilers<\/h3>\n

Head-to-Head: Golden Knights 1-1 Oilers<\/p>\n

Vegas is trying to hang onto first place after a loss to Winnipeg on Friday. The Knights had won three of their last four prior to that. It looks like head coach Peter DeBoer is relying more on Robin Lehner<\/a> <\/strong>in recent weeks since the trade. Max Pacioretty<\/a><\/strong> leads the team in goals (31) and points (65).<\/p>\n

The Knights score 3.13 goals per game and allow 2.96 goals a game. Vegas converts 21.3 percent of power plays and stop 77.0 percent of opponent’s power plays.<\/p>\n

Edmonton has won four of its last five, including a 4-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Mikko Koskinen<\/a> stopped 45 shots in the victory to spell Mike Smith<\/a>, who’s taken over in recent weeks. Leon Draisaitl<\/a> is trying to stake his claim to the Hart Trophy with 43 goals and 110 points.<\/p>\n

The Oilers score 3.17 goals a game and surrender 3.01 a game. Edmonton has a deadly power play at 29.6 percent and they kill 84.8 percent of penalties.<\/p>\n

The first goal will tell the story of this one as will special teams. Vegas needs to stay out of the penalty box if it wants to win.<\/p>\n

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

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

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

The Colorado Avalanche are losers of two straight games, including a 6-3 defeat to the Vancouver Canucks on Friday. Colorado is led by Nathan MacKinnon<\/a> in goals (34), assists (56) and points (90). Pavel Francouz<\/a> and Michael Hutchinson<\/a> have gotten the starts since Philipp Grubauer<\/a> was injured.<\/p>\n

The Avalanche score 3.40 goals a game and give up 2.72 per game. Colorado converts 18.6 percent of the time on the PP and they kill 81.5 percent of penalties.<\/p>\n

The Los Angeles Kings are playing some of their best hockey of the season as they got a 7-3 win over the Minnesota Wild on Saturday. It was the fifth consecutive win for the Kings thanks to a hat trick by Dustin Brown<\/a>. Anze Kopitar<\/a> leads the team in all major offensive categories.<\/p>\n

Los Angeles scores 2.51 goals a game and allows 3.01 per game. The Kings are 17.1 percent successful on the power play and their PK is 77.0 percent successful.<\/p>\n

Colorado needs a win to keep pace in the division, but Los Angeles will make it tough.<\/p>\n

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

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