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
Pittsburgh Penguins vs Washington Capitals
Head-to-Head: Penguins 1-2 Capitals
TV: Sportsnet Pittsburgh; Monument Sports Network; Sportsnet (Canada); ESPN+
Our opening game of NHL predictions has the Pittsburgh Penguins visiting the Washington Capitals. The old rivalry returns and there are some large stakes attached to this game. Pittsburgh is three points off the second wild card spot that’s held by Washington. Alex Nedeljkovic is the confirmed starter for the Penguins, who are 5-3-2 in the last 10 games. Sidney Crosby has 39 goals and 45 assists for the Penguins. Bryan Rust has scored seven goals and added six assists over the past 10 games.
Charlie Lindgren is the confirmed starter for the Capitals, who hold the second wild card spot in the East. Washington is 6-3-1 in the last 10 games, but has lost three straight games. The Capitals routed the Penguins, 6-0, in the last meeting between the two clubs. Dylan Strome has 26 goals and 36 assists for the Capitals. Alex Ovechkin has scored eight goals with two assists over the past 10 games.
This is a critical game that could be a playoff decider. However, the Penguins have been just a bit better as of late.
Prediction: Penguins win 4-3.
Florida Panthers vs Ottawa Senators
Head-to-Head: Panthers 2-0 Senators
TV: TSN5; Bally Sports Florida; ESPN+
It’s another Tkachuk family reunion as the Ottawa Senators host the Florida Panthers. The Panthers will go with Sergei Bobrovsky in between the pipes for this game. Florida is 2-7-1 in the last 10 games and has dropped two in a row. This will be the first game back in Ottawa for Vladimir Tarasenko since the trade to the Panthers. Matthew Tkachuk has 23 goals and 57 assists for the Panthers. Sam Reinhart has six goals and four assists over the last 10 games.
Joonas Korpisalo is the expected starter for the Senators, but always check social media before locking in a fantasy goalie. Ottawa has played much better as of late with a 6-4 mark in the last 10 games. Claude Giroux has 20 goals and 39 assists for the Senators. Brady Tkachuk has been solid as of late with six goals and eight assists over the last 10 games.
Florida has been struggling, but needs to salvage something out of this trip.
Prediction: Panthers win 4-2.
St Louis Blues vs Nashville Predators
Head-to-Head: Blues 0-2 Predators
TV: ESPN+; Hulu
Our final and featured game has the St Louis Blues looking to keep their post-season hopes alive against the Nashville Predators. St Louis is five points off the second wild card spot and another point behind Nashville for the first spot. Jordan Binnington is the confirmed starter in goal for St Louis. Robert Thomas has scored 23 goals with 51 assists for the Blues. Pavel Buchnevich has two goals and seven assists over the past 10 games.
Juuse Saros will get the call once again for the Predators, who are losers of three straight games. Nashville has scored a total of 13 goals against St Louis in the first two meetings this season. Gustav Nyquist has scored 22 goals with 46 assists for the Predators. Filip Forsberg has racked up eight goals and nine assists over the last 10 games.
Nashville knows the importance of this game and a win would pretty much dash St Louis’ idea of catching the Predators.
Prediction: Predators win 4-3.
Prop Bet of the Night
Let’s go with our opening game for our prop bet of the night. We’ll take another multi-point night from Sidney Crosby with an over on +1.0 points against his old rivals.
Main photo by: Jeff Le-USA TODAY Sports
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