McDavid-Tavares. Kings-Ducks. Canucks-Flames. There’s plenty of great matchups on tap tonight. Let’s take a look at our NHL daily predictions.
| Capitals vs Sabres ML Off / Off O/U Off |
Blues vs Devils ML -135 / +115 O/U 5.5 |
| Oilers vs Islanders ML +104 / -125 O/U 5.5 |
Coyotes vs Penguins ML +210 / -250 O/U 6 |
| Panthers vs Hurricanes ML +125 / -145 O/U 5.5 |
Predators vs Blue Jackets ML Off / Off O/U Off |
| Golden Knights vs Canadiens ML Off / Off O/U Off |
Canucks vs Flames ML +158 / -180 O/U 5.5 |
| Kings vs Ducks ML -105 / -115 O/U 5 |
Here are tonight’s starting goaltenders, courtesy of LeftWingLock.
The Game to Watch: Kings vs Ducks.
I love the Battle for California. Californian hockey games are bitter and brutal. There’s always plenty of scoring chances to go around and there’s always the underlying chance that the gloves drop on any shift.
That said, this round will be held without some of the lead players.
Ryan Getzlaf left the Ducks’ matchup against the Hurricanes back on October 29th early and has not seen the ice since. He is not expected to return to the action for another week or two as he recovers from taking a puck to the face.
Cam Fowler will miss at least a month with a knee injury. Patrick Eaves is not expected back any time soon as he fights Guillain-Barre syndrome. Ryan Kesler is still rehabbing his hip and won’t be back until December.
For Los Angeles, Jeff Carter and Kyle Clifford are both on the injured reserve as they have been for some time.
Still, Kings-Ducks is Kings-Ducks. This is the first meeting between the two rivals, and every point matters.
Replacing Carter on “That 70s Line” is Adrian Kempe, who has flourished with the second-line ice time. The 21-year-old has six goals and four assists through 14 games this season. Linemate Tyler Toffoli has five goals and an assist in his last five. Tanner Pearson has a three-game point streak.
Anaheim is two points behind the second Wild Card position in the Western Conference standings, currently occupied by the Colorado Avalanche. One has to figure that since the Avalanche just shipped Matt Duchene off the Ottawa.
There are still plenty of other teams getting in their way, however. Joining the Ducks on the outside are the Blackhawks, Wild, Flames and Predators, with the Oilers bringing up the rear. All of these teams could theoretically make a push for a playoff spot, taking the place of the Avs, Canucks and/or Golden Knights.
The Kings sit atop the Pacific Division at 10-2-2. Jonathan Quick has been impenetrable, starting off the year with a .939 save percentage and 1.99 goals-against average.
Los Angeles may be on the road, but they have been just as dangerous as the visiting team this season. Plus, anything can happen in this rivalry.
Prediction: Take the Kings to win. Play the under.
Other NHL Daily Predictions:
Oilers vs Islanders: Things need to take a turn in Edmonton. Running into John Tavares and the red-hot Islanders is probably not what they were hoping for right now.
Brooklyn’s offense just keeps on scoring. They have not been held to fewer than three goals in a game since October 15th. John Tavares is on a four-game point-scoring streak with six goals and two assists over that stretch.
But if you want a scoring streak, then Josh Bailey is your guy. Bailey is currently riding a nine-game point streak. He’s up to 15 assists and 18 points in just 14 games this season.
Oh, assists are your thing? Check out Mathew Barzal, who racked up five assists against the Colorado Avalanche. There’s a level of irony in Barzal having the game of his life against the team that tried to trade Matt Duchene for him on the night Duchene was traded. Talk about stars aligning.
Oh, and their powerplay is 9-for-16 of late.
The Islanders have the third-best offense in the National Hockey League.
Edmonton? 31st.
Ouch.
The Oilers managed to beat the Devils at home but followed that up by getting shut out by the Detroit Red Wings. They just can’t seem to buy a winning streak. It has not happened all season.
What to make of this team?
The Islanders are 9-0-1 in their last 10 home games against the Edmonton Oilers, a record that far pre-dates the arrival of Connor McDavid.
With all this in mind, how are the Oilers just a +104?
I don’t know. But you should capitalize on the cheapness of an Islanders victory.
Prediction: Take the Isles to win. Play the over.
Canucks vs Flames: Vancouver is surprisingly staying afloat, keeping their names in the mix for a playoff spot early on this season. They currently hold the first Wild Card position, though it may not last long with the teams that are currently behind them.
They have been spurred on by the surprising play of Brock Boeser, who netted a hat trick the other night against the Pittsburgh Penguins. He had a trio of assists against the Washington Capitals last week, meaning he has seven points in his last three games.
Boeser is a 20-year-old former first round pick who played just nine games with the Canucks last season. He had four goals and an assist, flashing his scoring talent and teasing the future. Now that he’s up to stay, he’s proving why he deserves first-line time.
The first important piece of news about the Flames: Jaromir Jagr is questionable. He has missed time with a lower-body injury and may or may not be ready to go tonight. Keep the fingers crossed that he can come back soon.
Also on injured reserve is Travis Hamonic, who is now on injured reserve with a lower-body injury.
The home team has won seven of the last eight meetings between these two teams.
For as surprising as the Canucks have been this season, Pacific Division opponents are still their kryptonite. They have lost nine of the last 10 against division rivals.
Expect the Flames to come out firing on home ice, with or without Jagr.
Mike Smith has made himself at home in Calgary, after all.
Prediction: Take the Flames to win. Play the under.
