With the large amount of games on tonight’s NHL schedule, it might be hard to know where to start. We at the Last Word on Hockey have helped narrow your focus to our best bets. This round of NHL Predictions will help condense the slate into three best bets and one prop bet of the night.
NHL Predictions
New York Rangers vs Ottawa Senators
Head-to-Head: Rangers 0-0 Senators
TV: MSG; TSN5; ESPN+
Our opening game of NHL predictions has the New York Rangers battling the Ottawa Senators. The Rangers are coming off a wild 6-5 win over the San Jose Sharks on Sunday night. Igor Shesterkin is the projected starter, but always check social media before locking in a fantasy goalie. Artemi Panarin leads with 15 goals and 20 assists to be the main man in both categories. The Blueshirts are stingy in goals allowed with 59, which is second in the NHL.
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Anton Forsberg is the likely starter for the Ottawa Senators, who got a 2-0 win over the Seattle Kraken the last time out. Ottawa knows its been performing below expectations, but has put some big games together. Team captain Brady Tkachuk is tops in goals with 11 while Tim Stutzle has 18 assists.
Both teams are in the top 10 in defence, but the Rangers have been solid after subpar games.
Prediction: Rangers win 4-2.
San Jose Sharks vs New York Islanders
Head-to-Head: Sharks 0-0 Islanders
TV: NBC Sports California; MSGSN; ESPN+
We go to another New York team as the New York Islanders host the Sharks, who gave the Rangers a scare the other night. San Jose is still last in goals for and goals against, but has played better as of late. Kaapo Kahkonen is the expected starter for a Sharks team that is not lying down and playing hard for David Quinn.
Ilya Sorokin is the confirmed starter for an Islanders team that needs to turn it around. The seat surrounding head coach Lane Lambert might be getting a tad hot. However, the Isles have won three of their last five games. Brock Nelson leads the team in goals with 10 while Noah Dobson is first in assists with 16.
The Islanders have been getting done with goals, but they’ll get back to their defensive roots in this one.
Prediction: Islanders win 4-1.
New Jersey Devils vs Vancouver Canucks
Head-to-Head: Devils 0-0 Canucks
TV: MSG, MSGSN 2, NHL Network; Sportsnet Pacific; ESPN+
Our featured game of NHL predictions has the New Jersey Devils out west against the Vancouver Canucks. Vitek Vanecek is the expected starter for the Devils, who are coming off a surprising loss to the Sharks last time out. Tyler Toffoli leads the way in goals while Jack Hughes has 21 assists for the Devils.
Thatcher Demko is the likely starter in between the pipes for the Canucks, who have wins in three of their last five. Rick Tocchet has done a great job so far, but the Canucks know the teams around them in the Pacific Division are tough. Offence hasn’t been a problem with players like Quinn Hughes, Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser.
This should be a good one with some scoring, but the Canucks get the win in a game worth staying up for. The Hughes family reunion is already a fun time to watch.
Prediction: Canucks win 5-4.
Prop Bet of the Night
We’ll go back to the first game of NHL predictions for our prop bet of the evening. Mika Zibanejad has terrorized his old club plenty of times while in a Rangers sweater. We like him going over on 0.5 points if you feel like playing a prop tonight.
Main photo by: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
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