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 Toronto Maple Leafs vs Detroit Red Wings. Be sure to check out more NHL Predictions as the 2024-25 season continues.
NHL Predictions
Toronto Maple Leafs vs Detroit Red Wings
Head-to-Head: Maple Leafs 1-1 Red Wings
Time: 7 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)
TV: SNO; Fan Duel Sports Detroit; ESPN+
We open up NHL predictions with our featured game between the Maple Leafs and Red Wings. Joseph Woll is slated to get the start in goal but always check social media before locking in a daily fantasy starter. Toronto is coming into the game on a two-game losing streak and is 5-5 in the last 10 games. William Nylander is coming into this game having scored seven goals with six assists over the past 10 games.
Alex Lyon is the expected starter for Detroit, which has dropped three in a row and is 3-6-1 in the last 10 games. The Red Wings are stumbling coming into this game. However, they did beat the Leafs, 4-2, last time out. Detroit captain Dylan Larkin has totalled 12 goals and 14 assists so far this season.
Both teams are hoping the holiday break allowed for a reset. However, Toronto should win.
Prediction: Maple Leafs win 4-2.
Boston Bruins vs Columbus Blue Jackets
Head-to-Head: Bruins 0-1 Blue Jackets
Time: 7 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)
TV: NESN; Fan Duel Sports Ohio; ESPN+
The second game of NHL predictions has the Boston Bruins visiting the Columbus Blue Jackets. Jeremy Swayman is the projected starter for the Bruins, who are 7-2-1 in the last 10 games. Boston has seemingly turned it around after a shaky start to the season. Brad Marchand has been heating up with seven goals with six assists over the last 10 games.
Columbus is likely to run with Elvis Merzļikins in the blue paint for this game. The Blue Jackets did rout the Bruins 5-1 in the first meeting of the season. However, Columbus is 3-4-3 in the last 10 games coming into this one. Kent Johnson has been one the better players lately for the Jackets with four goals and four assists over the past 10 games.
Boston seems to have righted the ship and should get the victory.
Prediction: Bruins win 5-2.
Colorado Avalanche vs Utah Hockey Club
Head-to-Head: Avalanche 1-1 Utah Hockey Club
Time: 9:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)
TV: Sportsnet; ESPN2
Our last game of NHL predictions has the Colorado Avalanche taking on their Rocky Mountain rivals, the Utah Hockey Club. Colorado is projected to go with Mackenzie Blackwood in the blue paint. The Avalanche are coming into this game with three straight wins and a 7-3-0 mark in the last 10 games. Cale Makar is putting up quality numbers so far with 11 goals and 34 assists for the Avalanche.
Karel Vejmelka is the probable starter in goal for Utah, which has a 6-2-2 record in the last 10 games. However, Utah is coming into this game on the back of two consecutive losses. Dylan Guenther led the Utah Hockey Club with two goals in its 4-1 win over Colorado when the last time these two teams played.
The winner has held the other team to one goal in the respective wins. However, Colorado gets the leg up in this one.
Prediction: Avalanche win 4-1.
Prop Bets of the Night
We wrap up NHL predictions with some prop bets. We go to the second game for our preferred props. For Boston, David Pastrňák is a good bet on FanDuel to get a goal at any time. Those odds are at +135. On the Columbus side of things, take Kirill Marchenko to score at +230.
Main photo by: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
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The post NHL Predictions: Dec 27 Toronto Maple Leafs vs Detroit Red Wings appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.