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
Washington Capitals vs Philadelphia Flyers
Head-to-Head: Capitals 0-0 Flyers
TV: Monument Sports; NBC Sports Philadelphia; ESPN+
Our first and featured game of NHL predictions has the Washington Capitals battling the Philadelphia Flyers. Washington has won two straight games and will likely go with Charlie Lindgren in goal. However, always check social media before locking in a fantasy starter. The Caps have only allowed two goals in the last games and have overcome a slow start. Alex Ovechkin has been held without a goal for a while, but can always bounce back.
Carter Hart is the expected starter for the Flyers, who have wins in four of the last five. However, Philadelphia lost to the Nashville Predators, 3-2, last time out. Both teams have struggled to score goals, but both are pretty stingy on defence. The decision to let John Tortorella coach through the rebuild has seemingly been the right play so far.
Philadelphia gets the win in this one in a game that will be tight.
Prediction: Flyers win 3-2.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs Toronto Maple Leafs
Head-to-Head: Blue Jackets 0-0 Maple Leafs
TV: Bally Sports Ohio; Sportsnet Ontario; ESPN+
This round of NHL predictions has the Columbus Blue Jackets look to get on the winning track against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Columbus has lost four of its last five games and likely goes with Spencer Martin. The Jackets are 2-8-3 on the road and have struggled to stop goals. Zach Werenski has scored one goal with 20 assists for the Blue Jackets.
Toronto has gotten points in the last four games and won three of the last four. Ilya Samsonov likely draws the start with Joseph Woll on the sidelines. The Maple Leafs are 6-1-3 and averaging 3.4 goals in the last 10 games. Auston Matthews and William Nylander are continuing to tear it up. However, Mitch Marner scored twice in a win over the New York Rangers last time out.
This game may scream “trap” for the Leafs, but they’ll take on a game Jackets squad.
Prediction: Maple Leafs win 5-2.
Calgary Flames vs Minnesota Wild
Head-to-Head: Flames 0-1 Wild
TV: Sportsnet West; Bally Sports North; Bally Sports Wisconsin; ESPN+
Our last game of NHL predictions has the Calgary Flames looking to stop their recent bad run. The Flames have lost four of the last five games and are expected to turn to Daniel Vladar in between the pipes. Calgary’s defence has given up at least four goals in those setbacks. Blake Coleman has scored eight goals with 11 assists for the Flames.
The Minnesota Wild got a 3-0 shutout over the slumping Seattle Kraken last time out. Minnesota likely rolls with Filip Gustavsson in the blue paint. After a slow start for his standards, Kirill Kaprizov has scored eight goals with 16 assists for the Wild. Matthew Boldy is also starting to warm up and that’s a good sign for the club.
Minnesota has been playing better as of late and it’ll take the hone victory.
Prediction: Wild win 5-3.
Prop Bet of the Night
Let’s stay with the last game of the night for our prop bet of the evening. Minnesota has given a much better effort since the change to John Hynes behind the bench. Kaprizov has benefited plenty from the change. We like him going over on a 0.5 point projection for the evening.
Main photo by: Geoff Burke – USA TODAY Sports
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The post NHL Predictions: Dec. 14 w/ Washington Capitals vs Philadelphia Flyers appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.