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 the Edmonton Oilers vs Vancouver Canucks. Be sure to check out more NHL predictions in the coming days as the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs roll on.
NHL Predictions
Florida Panthers vs Boston Bruins
Series Head-to-Head: Panthers 2-1 Bruins
TV: TBS, TruTV, Sportsnet, TVAS
Our opening game of NHL predictions has the Boston Bruins hoping to even up the series against the Florida Panthers. Boston has allowed 12 goals in the last two games and has struggled to keep Florida off the scoreboard. Jeremy Swayman is listed as the current starter, but always check social media before locking in a daily fantasy starter. This might be a time for head coach Jim Montgomery to give Linus Ullmark his first start in goal since Game 2 of the first round. However, the Bruins may have other issues to deal with. Brad Marchand could be out after a hit from Sam Bennett in Game 3. It’s not the ideal way to celebrate a 36th birthday.
Sergei Bobrovsky will once again get the start for the Panthers, who have been humming along on offence. Matthew Tkachuk leads the team in points 13 off four goals and nine assists. Carter Verhaeghe leads the Panthers in goals with six while Aleksander Barkov has 12 points this post-season. Florida has also tightened up things this last two games with just three goals allowed in Game 2 and 3 combined. The Panthers are starting to play like the defending Eastern Conference champions.
Not having Marchand could be huge and Florida should take advantage.
Prediction: Panthers win 4-2.
Vancouver Canucks vs Edmonton Oilers
Series Head-to-Head: Canucks 1-1 Oilers
TV: TBS, TruTV, TVAS, Sportsnet, SN 360
Our featured game of NHL predictions has the Canucks and Oilers looking to get the advantage in the series. Arturs Silovs is the projected starter, but Casey DeSmith could be waiting in the wings. Vancouver rallied in the series-opener, but couldn’t hold off Edmonton. J.T. Miller leads the team in points with nine while Brock Boeser has five goals for the Canucks. Nikita Zadorov and Dakota Joshua also have seven points so far in the post-season for Vancouver.
Stuart Skinner will once again get the call in the blue paint for the Oilers. Evan Bouchard scored the overtime-winner to help Edmonton even up the series. The Oilers have been one of the highest-scoring teams in the post-season with a number of players putting up big points. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are first and second in the entire league in Stanley Cup Playoff points. McDavid currently has 17 points while Draisaitl has 16. Zach Hyman has nine goals while Bouchard has picked up 11 points.
This could be another fun and high-scoring game, but the Oilers should get the series lead in this one.
Prediction: Oilers win 5-3.
Prop Bets of the Night
We’ve got some more prop bets to go along with the Mother’s Day slate of games. The over/under of the Bruins and Panthers game is 5.5. We think the Panthers recent scoring run is reason enough to go with the over in this one.
In the late game, the number of 6.5 might be a little harder to attain. However, both teams have been trending well on the offensive end. Go with the over on this one as well because both teams have been playing a wide-open game that doesn’t feel like playoff hockey.
Main photo by: Bob Frid – USA Today Sports
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