With the large amount of games on tonight’s NHL schedule, it might be hard to know where to start. We at the Last Word on Hockey have helped narrow your focus to our best bets. This round of NHL Predictions will help condense the slate into three best bets and one prop bet of the night.
NHL Predictions
Boston Bruins vs Columbus Blue Jackets
Head-to-Head: Bruins 1-1 Blue Jackets
TV: NESN; Bally Sports Ohio; ESPN+
Our opening game of NHL predictions has the Boston Bruins taking on the Columbus Blue Jackets. It’s the final meeting of the season between the two clubs. Linus Ullmark is the projected starter for the Bruins, but always check social media before locking in a fantasy starter. David Pastrnak is already at the 50-point mark in the season for the Bruins with 22 goals and 28 assists.
Columbus will likely run with Elvis Merzlikins in between the pipes. The Blue Jackets have lost four of the last five, but do have a win over the Toronto Maple Leafs as the lone victory. Injuries have hurt Columbus as Zach Werenski and Sean Kuraly are both out. The Jackets are second-to-last in goals allowed with 139 so far this campaign.
Boston is wary that Columbus has beaten some good teams. The Bruins get the rubber match of the season series.
Prediction: Bruins win 5-2.
Washington Capitals vs Pittsburgh Penguins
Head-to-Head: Capitals 0-1 Penguins
TV: ESPN+; Hulu; Sportsnet Ontario; Sportsnet East
Our featured game of NHL predictions has the Washington Capitals taking on the Pittsburgh Penguins. Darcy Kuemper is the projected starter in between the pipes for the Caps, who have lost four straight games. Offence has been a problem for Washington the last few games as it has only scored two goals in a game just once. Dylan Strome leads the team in goals, but Alex Ovechkin and others will have to heat up.
Tristan Jarry is the confirmed starter for the Penguins made a 19-save shutout in the teams’ first meeting of the season. Pittsburgh has won three straight and four of the last five games. Sidney Crosby has 20 goals while Jake Guentzel is leading the team in assists with 24. Both teams are struggling to score on the power play despite the vast array of scoring talent.
Washington should do better in this one, but Pittsburgh gets the victory at home.
Prediction: Penguins win 4-2.
Montreal Canadiens vs Dallas Stars
Head-to-Head: Canadiens 0-0 Stars
TV: Bally Sports Southwest; TSN2; RDS
Our last game of NHL predictions has the Montreal Canadiens taking on the Dallas Stars. Sam Montembeault is the expected starter for the Canadiens, who have lost three straight games. Nick Suzuki leads the team in goals (11) and assists (21) to pace the Habs’ offence. Special teams have been a problem so far this season for Montreal.
Scott Wedgewood is the confirmed starter in between the pipes for the Stars, who have won four of the last five games. Dallas routed the Chicago Blackhawks, 8-1, in its last game on ice. Roope Hintz leads the team in goals with 15 while Jason Robertson has 25 assists to be the top player in that category. The Stars have the second-best penalty kill in the league.
Montreal has a young and exciting team, but this stretch of games has been tough. Playing against a talented team like Dallas won’t make things easy.
Prediction: Stars win 5-2.
Prop Bet of the Night
Our prop bet of the night stays with the final game of our NHL predictions. Robertson has been fantastic in recent games after a slow start. We like him getting the over on 0.5 assists tonight against Montreal.
Main photo by: Geoff Burke – USA TODAY Sports
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The post NHL Predictions: Jan. 2 w/ Washington Capitals vs Pittsburgh Penguins appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.