Calgary will be relieved to return home after a trio of daunting road games and should find Ottawa conducive company at Scotiabank Saddledome. The Sens have only played once since mid-December due to Covid and that was when thrashed 6-0 at Toronto on New Year’s Day.
Montreal were beaten 2-0 by Chicago at Bell Centre last month and look up against it again in the return fixture at United Center. The Blackhawks just appear to have found a bit of form, whereas the Canadiens have been struggling both on and off the ice for some time now.
Vegas and Toronto are both considered Stanley Cup contenders but it is the Maple Leafs showing more consistent form at present. The Golden Knights have been a Jekyll and Hyde outfit during a five-match homestand and are hard to back with any confidence.
Colorado and Toronto are two of the leading fancies for Stanley Cup glory and a high-quality contest is on the cards. Both teams have impressed since the Christmas break but we just feel the Avalanche may be more fired up to avenge last month’s 8-3 road loss to the Maple Leafs.
Calgary have been soundly beaten by the two Stanley Cup favourites this week but could find Carolina more conducive company. Admittedly, the Hurricanes are on a hot streak of eight wins in nine outings, but last month’s 2-1 victory over the Flames was only gained in overtime.
Toronto have consistently impressed since getting off to a shaky start this season and are eyeing a fourth straight win when hosting Edmonton. The Maple Leafs enjoyed a 5-1 road win over the Oilers prior to Christmas and are hard to oppose when renewing the rivalry on home ice.
New York Rangers are enjoying a really productive campaign and may have enough momentum to edge out Edmonton at Madison Square Garden. The Oilers prevailed 6-5 when these teams met in Canada in November but close encounters have been going against them of late.
The top two teams in the Central Division will come face to face in the cold of St Paul at Target Field when Minnesota entertain St Louis. The NHL Winter Classic is always a New Year’s Day showpiece at a baseball stadium and the Minnesota Twins play host this year.
Seattle and Edmonton have shared the spoils in two previous meetings this season but we’re backing the Oilers to shade the series decider. They returned to form with a cracking triumph over Columbus on Thursday and have shown before this term how they tend to feed off success.
Columbus have won their past four head-to-head meetings with Vancouver following last month’s 4-2 triumph at Nationwide Arena. The Blue Jackets do not have a strong record on the road this season but have rarely been involved in blowouts of late, with six straight tight tussles.
Pittsburgh and Montreal shared a win apiece in last month’s two meetings but the Penguins now look in better shape for the series decider. They head into this contest on a four-match hot streak, whereas the Canadiens are without a victory in any of their last six games.
Calgary bashed Boston 4-0 on the road last month but most pundits will be expecting a closer contest when they meet again at Scotiabank Saddledome. Both of these teams have been involved in a number of tight tussles since that encounter and another is on the cards here.
Toronto can’t afford to slip up against teams like Chicago if they are to challenge for top honours in a powerful Atlantic Division. The Blackhawks have been playing with plenty of spirit during a decent run of results but this represents a significant step up in class.
The pressure is mounting on Edmonton after three straight defeats but we’re not ready to desert them ahead of a home clash with Boston. When these teams met at TD Garden last month, the Oilers secured a 5-3 success and the hope is that they can confirm that superiority.