Welcome back to 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.

The Canes' bread and butter has been suffocating teams with insane forecheck pressure, forcing turnovers high up the ice, and generating what feels like never-ending possessions in the offensive zone. That’s how they’ve held opponents to just 40 shots on goal through nearly 100 minutes of 5-on-5 play.