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 Boston Bruins vs Tampa Bay Lightning. Be sure to check out more NHL predictions in the coming days.
NHL Predictions
Ottawa Senators vs Buffalo Sabres
Head-to-Head: Senators 1-2 Sabres
TV: MSG-Buffalo; Sportsnet; ESPN+
Our opening game of NHL predictions has the Ottawa Senators visiting Western New York to play the Buffalo Sabres. Ottawa is going with Joonas Korpisalo in goal for this game. The Senators are 5-4-1 in the last 10 and won two straight overall. Brady Tkachuk has 31 goals and 30 assists for the Senators. Tim Stutzle has four goals and eight assists over the last 10 games. The winning team has scored at least five goals in the previous three matchups.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is the expected starter for the Sabres, who are also 5-4-1 in the last 10 games. However, always check social media before locking a starter. Buffalo is eight points off the last wild card spot in the Eastern Conference with 10 games left to play in the regular season. John-Jason Peterka has scored 24 goals with 19 assists for the Sabres. Tage Thompson has four goals and six assists over the last 10 games. Tyson Jost may be out of the lineup for this game against Ottawa.
The Senators have played better, but the Sabres are looking to hang onto their faint playoff hopes.
Prediction: Sabres win 5-3.
Boston Bruins vs Tampa Bay Lightning
Head-to-Head: Bruins 1-2 Lightning
TV: TNT; Max; NESN
Our final and featured game has the Bruins continuing their Sunshine State road trip against the Lightning. Boston rallied for a vital 4-3 win over the Florida Panthers the night before. Linus Ullmark is the likely starter with Jeremy Swayman playing the night before in Sunrise. Boston is 6-3-1 in the last 10 games and is in the mix of teams that are slugging it out for the President’s Trophy. David Pastrnak has 45 goals and 56 assists for the Bruins. Justin Brazeau has scored four goals with one assist over the past 10 games.
Tampa Bay will counter with confirmed starter Andrei Vasilevskiyin in the blue paint for this game. The Lightning are 7-1-2 in the last 10 games and are starting to get hot at the right time with the Stanley Cup Playoffs starting soon. Victor Hedman and Brayden Point are both day-to-day with lower-body injuries, but should likely play in this game. Nikita Kucherov has scored 41 goals with 82 assists for the Lightning. Steven Stamkos has five goals and nine assists over the past 10 games.
Boston is coming off a tough game against Florida. Tampa Bay is a little more rested coming into a possible Stanley Cup Playoff preview.
Prediction: Lightning win 4-2.
Prop Bet(s) of the Night
With the limited amount of action, we’ve got some prop bets that we want to hand out to make the games a little more exciting. Let’s do the first game of NHL predictions between the Senators and the Sabres. Jeff Skinner has been playing well in recent weeks and we’ll take him +1.0 points in this game. For a Senators bet, take Tkachuk +3.5 shots in this game.
In the last game of the night, Kucherov has been putting Hart Trophy-like numbers. We like the dynamic Russian scorer to get another goal to pad his stat totals. Take Kucherov +0.5 goals in this one. If you want a Bruins bet, go with Brad Marchand and the over on +0.5 assists.
Main photo by: Kim Klement Neitzel – USA TODAY Sports
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