The Panthers are red-hot, having won five straight games and 15 of their last 17. It's difficult to think they'll falter against a New Jersey team that just fired its head coach. Anthony Stolarz likely will get the start in net after Sergei Bobrovsky beat the Rangers on Monday and is 0-1-1 lifetime versus the Devils, but he's 5-1-0 in his last six outings and has allowed more than two goals just once in that span. Sam Reinhart is second in the NHL with a career-high 44 goals and has scored five during his current three-game streak. Take the Panthers.

The Maple Leafs opened their five-game homestand with a 6-2 loss to Vegas, which ended their seven-game winning streak. They'll be looking to take out their frustrations on someone, and who better than a Coyotes team that has lost 13 straight (0-11-2)? Nine of the defeats were by at least two goals, and Arizona now faces Auston Matthews, who leads the NHL with 52. Matthews has gone back-to-back games without a goal for just the third time since the start of December. He scored twice in Toronto's 6-3 at Arizona last week.

Boston is eighth in the NHL with 202 goals and scored four times in each of its last two home games. Goals have been plentiful in contests involving Vegas of late, as each of the last four have had totals of six or more. The last two games were on the road, and the Bruins are back home following a four-game trek through Western Canada and Seattle during which they totaled seven goals over the last three contests. They'll be eager to break out in their own building. Take the Over.

These teams combined for eight goals in their first meeting of the season, a 5-3 home win by Los Angeles. Nine of the Kings' last 11 road games have had at least six goals scored in them, while seven or more tallies have been totaled in five of Calgary's last eight contests. The Flames have produced six goals themselves in two of their last three games. Expect the lamp to be lit often in this one.

The Rangers haven't lost in nearly a month and can set the franchise record with their 11th consecutive victory in the opener of their home-and-home series with the Blue Jackets. Columbus is last in the Metropolitan Division and just 9-15-4 at home. It's hard to imagine New York's winning streak will come to an end here.

Vancouver leads the NHL with 212 goals after scoring seven at Minnesota on Monday. But the Canucks allowed 10 in that loss and now face a Colorado team that is third in the league with 209 tallies. At least seven goals have been scored in five of the Avalanche's last six games, and this contest shouldn't be any different as the teams combined for seven in their first meeting of the season.

The Penguins have won only four of their last 13 games and one of the past five. The Islanders also are struggling, with just five wins in their last 19 contests. However, they've earned points in five of their past six (2-1-3). New York has gone 3-3-3 under new coach Patrick Roy and will be seeking revenge after suffering 7-0 and 3-1 losses to Pittsburgh in December.

The Canucks are second in the NHL with 195 goals but have scored more than three only twice in their last 11 games. The Blackhawks have allowed 183 goals, the fourth-most in the league, but have held 11 of their last 13 opponents to three or fewer. Vancouver has two players in the top 10 in goals who have combined for one in four games since the All-Star break. I expect a big night from the Canucks, who may exceed this number on their own.

The top-scoring team in the NHL (191 goals), the Avalanche were limited to a single goal by the Rangers on Monday, marking just the second time since Nov. 4 they failed to score at least twice in a contest. Colorado is 6-2-1 over its last nine games, with each win coming by two or more goals. The club has tallied at least five times in each of its last five victories. Two of the Devils' last three defeats have been by a minimum of three goals, and they suffered a 6-3 loss at Colorado earlier this season. They're tied for 25th in the NHL in goals allowed (168), and I don't see them stopping the Avs.

The Avalanche, who had their three-game winning streak halted on Monday, haven’t lost back-to-back contests since Dec. 7-9. That was just the fourth time this season they suffered consecutive defeats, as they’ve gone 16-5-2 over their last 23 games. The Avs posted a 6-3 victory over New Jersey at home in their first meeting of 2023-24, with Mikko Rantanen netting two tallies and setting up another. The Devils have lost seven of their last 10 games and haven’t played since losing 6-3 at Tampa Bay on Jan. 27. Expect Colorado to prevail against a rusty opponent that’s still without star center Jack Hughes.

The Avalanche entered the All-Star break with a three-game winning streak, with each victory being by three or more goals. They're facing a Rangers team that has won only four of its last 12 contests. Former New York G Alexandar Georgiev has allowed just three goals over his last two outings and is 1-0-1 with three goals allowed in two games against the Rangers. Nathan MacKinnon is second in the NHL with 84 points and is riding a 13-game streak during which he has recorded 12 goals and 16 assists. I don't see New York slowing him and his teammates down.

Colorado is the highest-scoring team in the NHL with 179 goals. Each of the club's last five games and eight of its last 10 have had seven or more goals scored, with the Avalanche recording seven on their own twice in the last three contests. Washington doesn't score much as it ranks 30th with 109 goals, but its differential (-26) is one of the worst in the league, and I can see Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen and company having a big night.

The Panthers ended their five-game homestand with four straight losses, including two in overtime, so they'll likely be happy to get away for a game. Florida began the month with a perfect four-game road trip and has won six of its last seven away from home. The Predators haven't fared well in Music City of late, losing five of their last seven. I like the Panthers to end their season-high four-game skid.

The Bruins have been the best team in the NHL at home this season, going 15-3-3. They are 3-0-0 on their current five-game homestand and have won five of their last six at TD Garden, outscoring their opponents 34-17 in that span. The Jets are a league-best 14-4-2 on the road, but Boston will be eager to avenge a 5-1 loss at Winnipeg last month.

The Canucks have won six of their last seven home games, with five of the victories being by two or more goals. Vancouver outscored its opponents 27-11 in the triumphs. The team returns home from a 5-1-1 road trip during which it recorded three of its wins by multiple goals. Arizona has gone 2-4-1 over its last seven games, with each regulation loss being by at least three goals. I like the Canucks to have an offensive outburst in their first home contest in over two weeks.