The Blackhawks are struggling offensively. ...

The Predators may be very short-handed in Dallas. ...

I could make an argument that no "good" team has had worse back-to-back losses this season than the Rangers did on Sunday and Monday in falling at home to Seattle (acceptable if not have blown a 3-1 second-period lead) and Chicago (completely unacceptable). I have to think this is a get-right game. Buffalo has lost seven straight overall and six in a row at home and is without one of the best two-way blueliners in the league in the injured Rasmus Dahlin (6G, 13A, +4). NYR's Igor Shesterkin is 9-2-2 career vs. the Sabres with a 2.29 GAA and .921 SV.

The Rangers' puzzling downturn continued in Monday's loss to the Blackhawks. That makes eight losses in ten as Peter Laviolette cannot seem to find the answers; the offense stalled in the 2-1 loss, but the Monday result was not the fault of Igor Shesterkin, who has been good enough in goal since signing his contract extension last week, surrendering only 2 vs. both the Penguins and Sabres. At the moment, Buffalo doesn't offer much more to recommend than New York, as the Sabres are now winless in their seven, and goalie Ukko Pekka Luukkonen is struggling (4.27 GAA in December). UPL, however, did shut down the Rangers in a 6-1 win back on November 7, stopping 25 of 26 shots. Play Rangers-Sabres Under

Other than Santa later this month, the biggest December arrival for the Canucks would be Thatcher Demko returning to active duty in goal. Which happens tonight as Demko makes his first appearance of the season for Rick Tocchet's side. But such returns don't always go smoothly and worth noting the losses in three of the last four at home in Rogers Arena for Vancouver. Meanwhile, the Blues have shown some life since Jim Montgomery came in to replace Drew Bannister behind the bench, as St Louis has won four of six since. Note Blues goalie Joel Hofer is 2-0 since the switch to Montgomery, posting a 1.50 GAA and saving 49 of 52 shots on goal. Play Blues on Money Line

Call us a tad surprised that Utah is being made a slight favorite here. After all, the Hockey Club just won its first back-to-back games since the opening week of the season And Utah goals have mostly been in short supply since late October. Speaking of streaks, the Wild had recently won five in a row until getting spilled by the Kings on the weekend. There is a lot to like about Minnesota, which is tied for the most points (40) in the league and is also 11-2-3 on the road this season. Filip Gustavsson usually provides an edge when in goal for the Wild, too, considering his 1.99 GAA and .931 saves this season. Play Wild on Money Line

Tampa Bay on Tuesday could be without two important players in forward Anthony Cirelli (11G, 13A, +14) and defenseman Erik Cernak (7A, +9) after both left Sunday's win in Vancouver injured and didn't practice Monday. Also feels like a decent shot that the Bolts start backup Jonas Johansson in net because he's about due a turn. But I like Edmonton, which is also on extra rest, regardless as it looks to finish off a perfect three-game homestand. Leon Draisaitl has factored on 10 game winning goals for the Oilers in 2024-25, which is tied for the highest total in the NHL.

This will be the Islanders' third game in four days. They have won two in a row despite getting outshot in both games, 62-38. The Kings will play with two days of rest and enter this contest ranked third in shot differential (+100) and first in shots allowed per game. New York has a -6 shot differential, ranking 25th in shots allowed per game. I like the road team in this spot.

Sheldon Keefe gets his second crack at his former employer after the Leafs relieved the bench boss of his duties after last season. Both teams have taken on the DNA of their new head coaches and are in the upper echelon of Eastern Conference contenders. However it's not a side I'm after here but the total with a goalie match-up between Anthony Stolarz and Jacob Markstrom. NJ rates as one of my better 5 on 5 defensive expected goals outfits and this is a Leafs team struggling to generate chances of late. Even with the return of Auston Matthews Toronto is struggling to generate offense grading out 31st in expected goals across all situations at 5 on 5 over their L5.

Carolina may well win this 8-0, but we play at least a little something in the NHL on a team getting +2.5 goals unless it's against the Jeremy Roenick-led Blackhawks on the 1994 NHL video game made popular on the movie Swingers. Roenick was unstoppable -- including as a fighter -- and the hockey version in that game of Bo Jackson in Tecmo Bowl. Now I want to play those ...

This seems like a very good price on Pittsburgh +1.5 at home considering it has won five of six (four in a row at home) and seems to have solved its early-season goaltending issues. Colorado made yet another goalie trade Monday and has completely remade that part of the team -- apparently now entrusting former Predator Scott Wedgewood as the No. 1. There's a reason that guy has been a career backup. Note that this is also the end of a five-game swing in seven days through the Eastern Conference for the Avs, so fatigue may definitely be an issue. The Penguins have scored first 16 times this season, tied for the second-most instances in the NHL.

I can see the general outlines of one of those wacky week-or-so NHL runs where underdogs/road teams dominate (see Seattle and Utah yesterday) ... and I'm gonna have to completely adjust what I do or simply take a break. So I'm going to avoid the side here and try the total. The Ducks are second-to-last in the league in goals and likely without two of their best forwards in Trevor Zagras (he's on IR) and Leo Carlsson. Habs netminder Sam Montembeault has a 1.67 GAA and .947 save percentage over his past three. Anaheim's John Gibson has a 2.00 GAA in two road starts.

I don't love the price, but I am pretty confident in the Rangers here. Chicago has lost nine of its last 11 games, and just aren't a very good team right now. New York has been streaky this season, but they are clearly the better team here. I'm going to play this moneyline for 2 units.

Anders Sorensen's first game in charge of the Blackhawks on vs. Winnipeg looked much the same, if not a bit worse, than the way things were under Luke Richardson. The result was familiar, a 4-2 loss; so much for any new coach "bounce" for Chicago. More alarming was only1 4 shots on goal, a season low. Not good! The Rangers have had a bumpy go lately, too, and were embarrassed 7-5 at home on Sunday by the Kraken, Jonathan Quick's magic in goal completely disappeared on Sunday, and now the many millions of dollars richer Igor Shesterkin, just off of a contract extension and a 4-2 win over the Penguins on Friday, looks to set things straight at MSG. Play Rangers on Puck Line

We are keeping an eye on the Flyers, who recently won three in a row before putting up mighty battles in losing efforts vs. the tough Panthers and Bruins. John Tortorella was also in good form, criticizing the officials in vintage style after the 4-3 loss at TD Garden on Saturday. Philadelphia, however, has been able to find more consistent goal-scoring the past couple of weeks, with diminutive 19-year-old Russian winger Matvei Michkov suddenly on fire with three goals in as many games. Utah should not be trusted even off of a win at Buffalo, as the Hockey Club hasn't won back-to-back games since starting the season 3-0 back in early October. Play Flyers on Money Line