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 Los Angeles Kings vs Vegas Golden Knights.
NHL Predictions: March 19th including Los Angeles Kings vs Vegas Golden Knights
Dallas Stars vs New York Islanders
Head-to-Head: Stars 0-0 Islanders
In the first meeting of the season between these teams, both are coming off the back of a win and both are riding high, with Dallas and the Islanders going 6-3-1 in their last 10 games. Neither of these teams have been overly good offensively this season, with both being in the bottom half of the league in goals scored. With that being said, expect the difference maker to be whether Ilya Sorokin or Jake Oettinger plays better.
Prediction: Stars win 3-2
Chicago Blackhawks vs Minnesota Wild
Head-to-Head: Blackhawks 0-3 Wild
It is tough to see the Blackhawks getting anything out of this game. The Wild have won all three meetings this season, scoring five goals in two of them and four goals in the other game. Given the fact that Chicago is allowing 3.41 goals-per-game, it is an easy prediction to say that Kirill Kaprizov will continue to produce points at a fantastic rate in this one. Expect a big win for the Wild, again.
Prediction: Wild win 5-2
New Jersey Devils vs Edmonton Oilers
Head-to-Head: Devils 1-0 Oilers
It is clear to see that the Oilers have been very poor for large parts of the season. To their credit, that has been almost entirely related to goaltending and defensive inefficiencies. The Devils, however, have had some serious problems of their own, one of them also being goaltending. New Jersey has been without Mackenzie Blackwood and has been relying heavily on young goaltenders. This hasn’t exactly paid off in wins. With Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl coming to town, expect them to put the biscuit in the basket with regularity.
Predictions: Oilers win 5-3
St Louis Blues vs Columbus Blue Jackets
Head-to-Head: Blues 1-0 Blue Jackets
The last time the Blues and Blue Jackets played, it was one of the many games this season that Columbus has given up five-plus goals, with the Blues coming away 6-3 winners. While the score likely won’t be as high, expect the result to be the same. St Louis is one of the best offensive teams in the league, and Columbus has been porous defensively, meaning either Elvis Merzlikins or Joonas Korpisalo are going to get peppered with shots.
Predictions: Blues win 3-2
Pittsburgh Penguins vs Arizona Coyotes
Head-to-Head: Penguins 1-0 Coyotes
This is arguably the toughest game to predict on the day. That may sound like an odd statement given where each team is in the NHL standings, but that’s because the Coyotes have been very good as of late. They have gone 7-3-0 in their last 10 games, winning their two, and scoring big wins against the Colorado Avalanche and Toronto Maple Leafs along the way thanks to Nick Schmaltz and Lawson Crouse. With all that being said, the Penguins would have to do mostly everything wrong to lose this one.
Prediction: Penguins win 4-2
Los Angeles Kings vs Vegas Golden Knights
Head-to-Head: Kings 2-1 Golden Knights
For the featured matchup of the day, we have the Los Angeles Kings vs Vegas Golden Knights. This game is going to have major implications on the playoff picture for the Pacific Division. That statement is something nearly no one expected prior to the start of the season.
Both the Kings and the Golden Knights have been surprises this season, but for very different reasons. The Kings have gotten some extremely good defensive play from an aging defensive corps and relatively respective play from Jonathan Quick and Calvin Petersen. For the Golden Knights, they have been largely average in nearly every way, with them not cracking the top 10 in any major statistical category.
Prediction: Kings win 3-2
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