Welcome back to the return of NHL Predictions. Each day, Last Word on Hockey takes a look at the games that are happening and gives our predictions for each one, breaking down head-to-head matchups and other factors that may play in. We also have a featured game of the day, which is considered must-watch TV. Today’s featured game is the Tampa Bay Lightning vs Vancouver Canucks. Be sure to check out more NHL predictions in the coming days as the 2024-25 season continues.
NHL Predictions
Seattle Kraken vs New York Rangers
Head-to-Head: Kraken 0-1 Rangers
Time: 1 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)
TV: Sportsnet; MSG; KHN; KONG; ESPN+
Our opening game has the Seattle Kraken visiting the New York Rangers. Joey Daccord is the expected starter for Seattle, but always check social media before locking in a daily fantasy starter. The Kraken are 4-6 in the last 10 games and only have one all-time victory against the Blueshirts. Shane Wright has been playing well as of late because he’s scored five goals and added two assists over the past 10 games.
Igor Shesterkin is the looking to earn that contract and is the expected starter for the Rangers, who are 4-6 in the last 10. Adam Fox has posted 20 assists for the Rangers. Artemi Panarin has kept his good start going with five goals and four assists over the last 10 games.
Note the early start time for this one. However, the Rangers should get their second in a row.
Prediction: Rangers win 4-2.
Tampa Bay Lightning vs Vancouver Canucks
Head-to-Head: Lightning 1-0 Canucks
Time: 4 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)
TV: Sportsnet; Fan Duel Sports Sunshine; ESPN+
Our featured game has the Lightning trying to get the season-sweep against the Canucks. Andrei Vasilevskiy is the expected starter for the Lightning, who are 6-3-1 in the last 10 games. Brandon Hagel is coming off a two-goal game and has 12 goals and 19 assists this season.
Vancouver may finally have some good news as Thatcher Demko could make his season-debut in this game. The Canucks are also 6-3-1 in the last 10 games coming into this one. Elias Pettersson has seven goals and 17 assists for the Canucks.
Getting Demko back is nice, but it’s a tough ask to take on a dynamic team like Tampa.
Prediction: Lightning win 3-1.
Colorado Avalanche vs New Jersey Devils
Time: 7 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)
TV: MSG; Altitude 2; ESPN+
The final game of this batch of NHL predictions has the Colorado Avalanche visiting the New Jersey Devils. Former New Jersey goalie Scott Wedgewood is expected to get the start with Colorado playing the night before. The Avs are 6-4 in the last 10 and got Ross Colton back on Saturday. Nathan MacKinnon leads the team in assists (32) and points (41).
New Jersey is slated to go with Jacob Markstrom in between the pipes for this game. The Devils are 7-3 in the last 10 and have taken the last two games in a row. Nico Hischier leads the team in goals, but Jesper Bratt is first in assists (24) and points (37).
Colorado is glad to get Colton back, but New Jersey gets the win.
Prediction: Devils win 4-3.
Prop Bets of the Night
We close out NHL predictions with some prop bets of the night. We’ll focus on the featured game for our two prop bets. Go with Nikita Kucherov as an anytime goalscorer at +150 on FanDuel. For the Vancouver side, take a run at Jake DeBrusk at +220 to get a goal also on FanDuel.
Main photo by: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
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The post NHL Predictions: Dec. 8 w/ Tampa Bay Lightning vs Vancouver Canucks appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.