Welcome back to the return 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 matchups 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 New York Rangers vs Montreal Canadiens. Be sure to check out more NHL predictions in the coming days as the 2024-25 season continues.
NHL Predictions
Minnesota Wild vs Florida Panthers
Time: 6:45 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
TV: Scripps Florida; Bally Sports North; Bally Sports Wisconsin; ESPN+
Our opening game of NHL predictions has the Minnesota Wild facing the defending champion Florida Panthers. Keep in mind that there will be a number of staggered start times when setting your fantasy lineup. Filip Gustavsson has been off to a great start and he’s the confirmed starter with the Wild. Mats Zuccarello is leading the team in goals while Kirill Kaprizov is first in points with eight. The Wild have gotten points in all five games so far this season.
Sergei Bobrovsky is the expected starter for the Panthers, but check social media before choosing your fantasy goalie. Florida is first in the Atlantic Division with a 4-2-1 record and has picked up where it left off. Sam Reinhart is first in goals (5) and points (12) so far this season. Anton Lundell is also off to a great start with four goals and four assist.
This should be one of the better games, but Florida should get the win.
Prediction: Panthers win 3-2.
New York Rangers vs Montreal Canadiens
Time: 7:15 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
TV: MSG; TSN2; RDS; ESPN+
Our featured game has the Habs hosting the Rangers in an Original Six battle. New York is expected to go with Igor Shesterkin in between the pipes for this game. The Blueshirts haven’t suffered a regulation loss in their first five games. Artemi Panarin is off to a red-hot start with six goals and 12 points this season. Vincent Trocheck and Alexis Lafreniere are also doing well in the early stages of the seasons.
Sam Montembeault is the confirmed starter for the Canadiens, who are dealing with a spate of injuries. Montembeault is 2-2 with .932 save percentage and 2.30 goals-against-average. Cole Caufield is leading the way with six goals and seven points. However, Juraj Slafkovsky and Nick Suzuki are the joint-leaders in assists with five.
Montreal will come after the Rangers and play them hard. However, the Rangers have plenty of balance in their lineup.
Prediction: Rangers win 4-2.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs Columbus Blue Jackets
Time: 7:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
TV: TSN4; FDS Ohio; ESPN+
Our final game of this batch of NHL predictions has the Toronto Maple Leafs visiting the Columbus Blue Jackets. Toronto is coming off a win over the Tampa Bay Lightning the night before. Joseph Woll may make his season debut for Toronto in this game after Anthony Stolarz played the previous game. William Nylander is first in goals (5) and points (7). However, Max Domi and Mitch Marner each have six assists to be first in that category.
Columbus has gone through so much adversity this season. However, head coach Dean Evason has them playing hard. Daniil Tarasov is the projected starter at this time for the Blue Jackets. Yegor Chinakhov has been one of the few bright spots as he’s leading in goals (3) and points (7) for Columbus.
It will be interesting to see if Woll is rusty, but the offensive talent should carry the Leafs through.
Predictions: Maple Leafs win 5-3.
Prop Bets of the Night
We’ll take a look at a couple of prop bets for this heavy day of action. In the opener, Reinhart is a +700 to be the first goalscorer for the Panthers. The over/under is at 5.5 and FanDuel has the under at +106.
For the featured game, go with Trocheck is getting a +185 for an over of 1.5 points at Bet365. On the Montreal side, Caufield is getting +!00 on the over of 3.5 shots at Bet365.
Main photo by: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
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