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 much-watch TV. Today’s NHL Predictions featured game is the Colorado Avalanche vs Calgary Flames.
NHL Predictions: Colorado Avalanche vs Calgary Flames
New York Rangers vs Minnesota Wild
Head-to-Head: Rangers 0 – 0 Wild
Two of the NHL’s top teams in the 2022 season face off for the first of two meetings this season. Minnesota arrives at its season opener with arguably some of the most eager anticipation in the franchise’s history. For the Wild, this season provides a refreshing opportunity to dominate, after losing in round one last season despite coming off of the best regular season in franchise history by wins and points.
Even despite losing Kevin Fiala, the Wild still pack a punch at the front, with the line of Kirill Kaprizov, Ryan Hartman, and Mats Zuccarello showing no signs of regressing of a monster offensive season in 2021-22. Marco Rossi is a name to look out for, entering his third NHL game tonight and perhaps his first full NHL season.
The New York Rangers took the first game of their campaign against Tampa; their relative domination in 5v5 proved to be a statement win, given the poor 5v5 play and ensuing criticisms the Rangers experienced at times over the course of the 2021-22 season and the 2022 offseason. If their 5v5 octane continues into tonight, we can expect an exciting, offensively inclined matchup between both of these teams.
Prediction: Wild win 5-3
Dallas Stars vs Nashville Predators
Head-to-Head: Stars 0 – 0 Predators
Nashville returns to North America for their home opener, hoping to carry their momentum from Czechia across the sea. Nino Niederreiter had an excellent start to the year, with three goals in the first two games. Filip Forsberg, Matt Duchene, and Granlund also had stellar weekends in their own regard. Nashville comes in today having taken both games in Prague.
The Stars come into the night with a couple of new faces, including Colin Miller and Nils Lundkvist in the back end and Mason Marchment, whose signing could prove insanely valuable if his excellent form from last season continues, up top in the left wing spot on the second line. Wyatt Johnston, the 23rd overall pick in 2021 and leading point producer in the OHL last season, is slated to make his NHL debut tonight, centring Jamie Benn and Denis Gurianov.
Dallas and Nashville face off for the first of four meetings tonight. Perhaps, this could be a preview of the central race as a whole, with both teams projecting around the third and fourth spots in the division. Oettinger and Saros are expected in net for Dallas and Nashville respectively, with the potential for goaltending dual very much alive. Regardless, this should be an exciting, highly competitive game between two central teams.
Prediction: Predators win 3-1
Chicago Blackhawks vs Vegas Golden Knights
Head-to-Head: Blackhawks 0 – 0 Golden Knights
The Hawks and Knights face off in one of three matchups in this prediction with both teams having a game under their belt. Chicago was fairly outplayed against the Avalanche last night. A surprise to few for a team that seems to be more openly tanking. Patrick Kane appears to be much of an unassisted offensive engine, save maybe some generation from Max Domi. Otherwise, all aspects of the Blackhawks (especially defensively) leave the Hawks massively exposed.
For Vegas, this is the second game in a campaign promised to be a bounceback from 2021-22. By and large, the Golden Knights are healthy, aside from the important loss in net of Robin Lehner and the injury of Nolan Patrick on long-term injured reserve. Jack Eichel‘s individual bounce-back campaign is a storyline that could take several different shifts over the course of the season. Mark Stone‘s first game of the season, with the offseason to train and heal from his injury last season, may appear as a preview of just how valuable Stone will prove to be on all playing fronts for the Golden Knights.
While it wouldn’t make sense to predict every game to go against the Blackhawks, tonight is poised to, considering this game is the second of a road back-to-back, in which the first game was against the defending cup champions. Vegas, riding the high of the late Stone winner Tuesday night, will most likely run shop in the offensive zone.
Prediction: Golden Knights win 4-1
Seattle Kraken vs Los Angeles Kings
Head-to-Head: Kraken 0 – 0 Kings
While both teams lost their previous game, the fashion in which they did is quite different. Seattle controlled the pace of their game, but ultimately let goals slip late and dropped a point they arguably could have deserved otherwise. LA, on the other hand, struggled at points against Vegas and was seemingly outplayed at 5v5 for most of the game.
Both teams possess incredibly exciting top-six forward cores but noticeably lack defensive depth. Two top-heavy teams, with the aging Jonathan Quick expected in LA’s goal and the polarizing Martin Jones expected in Seattle’s, should create an octane Pacific matchup.
Players to watch for the Kings could include Kevin Fiala, Phillip Danault, and Gabriel Vilardi. For Seattle, Shane Wright plays in his second NHL game, with others to watch including Matthew Beniers and Andre Burakovsky.
Prediction: Kraken win 5-4
Colorado Avalanche vs Calgary Flames
Head-to-Head: Avalanche 0 – 0 Flames
And for our featured game for today’s NHL predictions, we have the Avalanche and Flames! The Calgary Flames open their season on home ice, with a level of optimism within the fanbase that many fans around the league would have scoffed at if suggested to them. The only way the Flames are able to near seamlessly transition from Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk is the fact that they acquired massive talent to replace them in the seemingly long term now. Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar, and Nazem Kadri will all make their Flames debuts to much anticipation from the Calgary faithful.
Calgary brings back most of the d-core that brought them incredible results as a team defensively, including Chris Tanev and Rasmus Andersson on the right side. For the Flames, they have fielded a great high-end team with oozing promise in the Pacific.
Colorado enters the second of a back-to-back off a win. The Avalanche showed no signs of post-cup fatigue that many cup winners and finalists can become prone to. The forechecking game of Colorado’s was unrelenting, allowing them to sustain offensive pressure for large portions of last night’s matchup. Nathan MacKinnon, Artturi Lehkonen, Valeri Nichushkin, and Mikko Rantanen all had amazing performances last night.
Always hug your goalie.#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/fT7f3OQBQn
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) October 13, 2022
An incredible game is certainly in store, featuring two of the best the Western Conference has to offer. It is why we made it NHL Predictions featured game. While both teams possess great defences, the oozing offensive talents of both teams could ultimately take hold and perhaps even become an early game-of-the-year candidate. For the prediction, we have the Colorado Avalanche nudging the Flames in their home opener.
Prediction: Avalanche win 6-4
