Thursday night in the NHL features the Seattle Kraken steering into Winnipeg to faceoff with the Winnipeg Jets at Canada Life Centre. Welcome to NHL Predictions here at Last Word on Hockey, where we preview and predict the upcoming slate of NHL games around the league each day!

Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar has provided the latest update on injured captain Gabriel Landeskog, absent from play since 2022.

Denton Mateychuk and Luca Del Bel Belluz, both recent callups from the AHL, each had a goal and an assist to help lift the Columbus Blue Jackets over the Seattle Kraken 6-2.

SEATTLE, Wash. — The Seattle Kraken announced Tuesday that the team will host a two-game prospects showcase with the Vancouver Canucks in September 2025. The games will feature both teams’ top young players, allowing fans to witness future players up close.

Since being traded away by the New York Rangers, forward Kaapo Kakko has found a new home with the Seattle Kraken. Amid a hot streak, the 23-year-old Finn dropped a bold message, aiming at Peter Laviolette and his former team.

The Seattle Kraken already faced an uphill battle based on where they sit in the standings, and the hill they need to climb just got steeper.

The Colorado Avalanche are putting their NHL-leading winning streak on the line in a Saturday night contest against the Montreal Canadiens. The red-hot Avalanch

They were singing in falsetto on Thursday in Vancouver, where Alex Turcotte’s two goals and his no-look assist to Adrian Kempe in the opening 9:42 of the match staked the Kings and lights-out goaltender Darcy Kuemper to a three-score advantage en route to a 5-1 win.

Pittsburgh Penguins (18-19-8, 44 points, 5th place Metropolitan Division) When: 7:00 p.m. ET How to Watch: Broadcasting on Sportsnet Pittsburgh, KHN, KONG in the local markets, streaming on ESPN+ Pens’ Path Ahead: This marks the last night of the Pens’ five-game homestead.

The Avalanche haven't had forward Valeri Nichushkin in their lineup so far in 2025, and he's still a ways from returning.

Frederik Andersen was activated from injured reserve and will be the backup for the Hurricanes against the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday (7 p.m. ET; FDSNSO, SCRIPPS, NHLN, TVAS2).

“All the Finnish guys know each other, like, somehow,” Kakko said.