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
Toronto Maple Leafs vs Buffalo Sabres
Head-to-Head: Maple Leafs 0-1 Sabres
TV: MSG Buffalo; Sportsnet Ontario; ESPN+
Our first and featured game has the Buffalo Sabres looking to stop the bleeding against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Could Don Granato be coaching for his job in this game? Devon Levi is the projected starter, but always check social media before locking in a fantasy starter. Buffalo does have a 6-4 victory over Toronto and has beaten some good teams. However, this team should be taking the next but has not.
Ilya Samsonov is the expected starter for the Leafs, who are coming off a 5-2 loss to the New York Rangers . Toronto has a potent offence thanks to Auston Matthews ‘ 25 goals and William Nylander ‘s 26 assists. The Leafs have a top-five power play and the Sabres will have to keep out of the penalty box.
Time is running out for the Sabres as other clubs have mad coaching changes. Toronto piles onto the misery.
Prediction: Maple Leafs win 5-3.
Ottawa Senators vs Colorado Avalanche
Head-to-Head: Senators 0-0 Avalanche
TV: Altitude; TSN5; ESPN+
Our next game of NHL predictions has the Ottawa Senators looking to stop a five-game losing streak. Jacques Martin is back behind the bench for a disappointing Senators squad. Joonas Korpisalo will likely get the call for Ottawa in the blue paint. Team captain Brady Tkachuk is the team-leader in goals with 14.
The Colorado Avalanche are coming off a puzzling loss to the Chicago Blackhawks last time out. That setback had Devon Toews annoyed with some of his teammates as the Avs are supposed to be a top contender. Alexandar Georgiev will once again get the call in between the pipes for Colorado. Mikko Rantanen , Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon continue to play well on offence and probably weren’t the target of Toews’ wrath.
Both teams are motivated, but the Avalanche have just a little bit more in the tank.
Prediction: Avalanche win 4-2.
Arizona Coyotes vs San Jose Sharks
Head-to-Head: Coyotes 1-0 Sharks
TV: ESPN+; Hulu
Our last game of our NHL predictions has the San Jose Sharks hosting the Arizona Coyotes . Connor Ingram got a 21-save shutout the last time these two teams played and he’s the expected starter again. Arizona has three straight wins and shutouts in the first two games. Could this be the year the Coyotes find their way back into the race for the Stanley Cup Playoffs?
San Jose is expected to go with Mackenzie Blackwood in goal for this Pacific Division matchup. The Sharks haven’t been pushovers like they were in the early part of the season. However, this team has lost four of its last five games. Tomas Hertl and Mikael Granlund have carried the load on offence for San Jose.
Ingram has been very good in goal as of late and that continues against a team that’s been struggling to score goals.
Prediction: Coyotes win 3-1.
Prop Bet of the Night
Let’s go to the Edmonton Oilers and New Jersey Devils game for this prop bet of the evening. Both teams have devastating power plays and both have penalty kills that are in the 20s. If you can do a parlay or a prop where both teams get a power-play marker, we suggest you play that.
Main photo by: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
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The post NHL Predictions: Dec. 21 with Toronto Maple Leafs vs Buffalo Sabres appeared first on Last Word On Hockey .