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Welcome back to another NHL Predictions. Each day our writers here at Last Word on Hockey look at the games and give in-depth analysis. Our team breaks down the key matchups, storylines, and stats, then makes predictions based on how they might play out.

The first came near center ice with 13:32 left in the third period. Martin Necas, the Canes’ leading scorer, took a knee-on-knee hit from New Jersey’s Timo Meier, immediately falling to the ice in pain and grabbing his leg.