Welcome back to NHL Predictions. Each day, Last Word on Hockey takes a look at the games that are scheduled and offers insight and analysis to help predict who will be victorious in head-to-head matchups. In today’s round of NHL Predictions, we are looking at the game between the Tampa Bay Lightning vs Toronto Maple Leafs. Be sure to check out more NHL Predictions as the 2024-25 season continues.
NHL Predictions
Minnesota Wild vs Colorado Avalanche
Head-to-Head: Wild 0-1 Avalanche
Time: 3 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)
TV: Altitude; Fan Duel Sports North; Fan Duel Sports Wisconsin; ESPN+
We open NHL predictions with a Central Division battle between the Minnesota Wild and the Colorado Avalanche. Filip Gustavsson is the expected starter for the Wild, but always check social media before locking in a fantasy starter. Minnesota comes limping into this game with a 5-5 mark in the last 10 and three consecutive losses. Injuries are piling up for the Wild with Kirill Karpizov, Jonas Brodin, Jared Spurgeon and others out of the lineup for at least the next few days.
Colorado is slated to go Mackenzie Blackwood in between the pipes for this one. The Avalanche are 6-3-1 in the last 10 games entering the last 10 games. Nathan MacKinnon is putting together another great season as he leads the team in assists (56) and points (73). The Avs routed the Wild, 6-1, in the first meeting of the season.
The injuries seem to be too much for the Wild and the Avalanche have a lot of firepower.
Prediction: Avalanche win 5-2.
Buffalo Sabres vs Seattle Kraken
Head-to-Head: Sabres 0-1 Kraken
Time: 4 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)
TV: MSG Buffalo; KHN; KONG; ESPN+
The second game of NHL predictions has the Buffalo Sabres visiting the West Coast to take on the Seattle Kraken. Buffalo is expected to go with Devon Levi in the crease for this one. The Sabres are 4-5-1 in the last 10 games coming into this one. Jason Zucker has a bright spot with for Buffalo with six goals with four assists over the past 10 games.
Joey Daccord is the projected starter for the Kraken, who are 4-5-1 in the last 10 games. However, Seattle is coming off a victory coming into this matchup. The Kraken are 10-10-3 at home for the 2024-25 campaign. Jaden Schwartz has notched 16 goals and 17 assists for the Kraken.
These two teams are similar, but Seattle will hold serve at home.
Prediction: Kraken win 4-3.
Tampa Bay Lightning vs Toronto Maple Leafs
Head-to-Head: Lightning 0-2 Maple Leafs
Time: 7:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)
TV: Amazon Prime Video (Canada); Fan Duel Sports Sun; NHL Network
Our last game of NHL predictions has the Lightning taking on the Maple Leafs. Andrei Vasilevskiy is the expected starter for Tampa Bay, which is 5-4-1 in the last 10 games. However, the Lightning have taken their last two games in a row. Nikita Kucherov continues to be great this season with 21 goals and 46 assists for the Lightning.
Joseph Woll is the likely starter for Toronto, which is 7-3 in the last 10 games entering this Atlantic Division matchup. The Maple Leafs are also winners of their last two games. Mitch Marner is having a big season in a contract year with 14 goals with 50 assists for the Maple Leafs.
Both teams are playing well entering this game, but Tampa Bay squeaks out a win.
Prediction: Lightning win 3-2.
Prop Bets of the Night
We wrap up NHL predictions with some prop bets of the night. Let’s go to our featured game for our props. On the Tampa Bay side, take Brayden Point to score at any time at +150. For the Toronto end of things, go with William Nylander to have a multi-point night at +260. These odds are courtesy of FanDuel.
Main photo by: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
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The post NHL Predictions: Jan 20 Tampa Bay Lightning vs Toronto Maple Leafs appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.