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’s featured game is between the Colorado Avalanche and the Minnesota Wild. Be sure to check out our other set of NHL Predictions for Wednesday.
NHL Predictions
Chicago Blackhawks vs Toronto Maple Leafs
Head-to-Head: Blackhawks 0-0 Maple Leafs
This is our first game of NHL Predictions. It’s the first of two meetings in five days between the Chicago Blackhawks and Toronto Maple Leafs. Chicago will go with Petr Mrazek in goal after playing on Tuesday night. The Blackhawks are dead-last in goals scored and 23rd in goals allowed. Both the penalty kill and power play also struggle for Chicago. The team is ready to tear it down soon.
The Leafs have been stewing after an embarrassing loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday night. Ilya Samsonov will likely get the start but always check online before deciding on your fantasy lineup. Toronto has the seventh-best offence and eighth-best in goals allowed. Toronto’s power play is also fourth in the league. William Nylander leads the team in goals.
The Leafs are going to be in a bad mood after a terrible loss that coach Sheldon Keefe called them out on. Toronto may reach the over of 6.5 by themselves.
Prediction: Leafs win 6-2.
Tampa Bay Lightning vs Arizona Coyotes
Head-to-Head: Lightning 1-0 Coyotes
The Tampa Bay Lightning will be going into the back end of back-to-back games when it plays the Arizona Coyotes. Tampa Bay was in a dogfight with the defending champion Avalanche on Tuesday night. Brian Elliott should get the call for Tampa in goal on back-to-backs. The Lightning are fifth in goals scored coming into Tuesday’s games.
Karel Vejmelka should get the start in net for the Coyotes, which lost to the Lightning on New Year’s Eve. The Coyotes 24th-ranked penalty kill will have a hard team dealing with the Lightning’s second-ranked power play. Arizona is also 24th in converting power play chances.
It’s always hard to gauge how teams do on back-to-backs. However, the Lightning should take care of business.
Prediction: Lightning win 4-2.
Detroit Red Wings vs Edmonton Oilers
Head-to-Head: Red Wings 0-1 Oilers
The Detroit Red Wings are five games out of the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference going into Tuesday night’s action. Detroit will likely go with Ville Husso in goal. The Wings 18th-ranked penalty kill will have a hard time dealing with the Edmonton Oilers’ top-rated power play. Detroit started with a lot of promise, but it has fallen off in the last month.
Stuart Skinner is slated to be the starter for the Oilers. Connor McDavid is only three points away from 100 points once again. Edmonton is also the highest-scoring team in the league. The Oilers are 4-1 in the last five games against the Wings when they have two or more days of rest. Edmonton has won three of its last five games, but lost its last time out.
The Oilers offence should be too much to handle in this one. It may be worth a play to have McDavid reach the 100-point mark in this game.
Prediction: Oilers win 5-3.
Colorado Avalanche vs Minnesota Wild
Head-to-Head: Avalanche 1-0 Wild
Our featured game of NHL Predictions is a Central Division matchup for teams jockeying for third place and an automatic playoff spot. Colorado will likely go with Jonas Johansson in net with the team playing on back-to-back days. The Avs have been playing better since the start of the calendar year. Mikko Rantanen has tallied 34 goals going into Tuesday’s games. Nathan MacKinnon tops the team in assists with 42. Colorado’s power play has risen to ninth in the league in regular games.
Minnesota has confirmed that Marc-Andre Fleury will draw the start in goal. The Wild have the 10th-best power play in the league and the 11th-ranked penalty kill. Kirill Kaprizov has 30 goals and 33 assists to lead Minnesota in both categories. Both teams don’t do well in 5-on-5 play but can cash in their chances when up a man. The Wild have lost four of their last five games.
This should be a good one, but the Avs should pull this out.
Predictions: Avalanche win 4-3.
Be sure to check out our NHL Predictions in the upcoming days.
Main photo by: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
