January 2, 2026

Here's something you don't see every day – outdoor hockey in Miami. The 2026 Winter Classic brings the NHL to LoanDepot Park, and honestly, I couldn't be more excited for this one. The two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers get to host this spectacle in front of their home crowd, while the Rangers come in with a perfect 5-0-0 record in outdoor games. Something's gotta give.

Florida's been riding high since their back-to-back championships, and there's a real swagger to this team. Aleksander Barkov continues to be one of the most underrated two-way centers in the league, and Matthew Tkachuk brings that annoying-to-play-against energy every single night. The Panthers rank 5th in goals scored this season and their penalty kill has been absolutely lethal at 84.2%.

The Rangers counter with Igor Shesterkin, who's having another Vezina-caliber season between the pipes. Artemi Panarin and Chris Kreider provide the offensive punch, while Adam Fox quarterbacks a power play that's clicking at 26%. New York's outdoor experience can't be overlooked – there's just something about these games that brings out the best in this franchise. This is must-watch hockey regardless of who you're betting.

Vegas rolls into St. Louis looking to continue their strong road trip, and they've got some serious firepower to make it happen. Mitch Marner, acquired in that blockbuster July trade from Toronto, has been everything the Golden Knights hoped for and more. He's already racked up 45 points and completely transformed their top line. Combined with Jack Eichel's resurgence, this offense is dangerous.

The Blues? Look, I'm not going to sugarcoat it – it's been a rough year in St. Louis. They're sitting at 9-10-7 and have struggled to find any consistency. Jordan Kyrou shows flashes but the supporting cast just isn't there. Their goaltending situation has been a revolving door, and their penalty kill ranks 28th in the league. That's a death sentence against Vegas's power play.

Vegas is the better team on paper and on the ice. They're 7-3 in their last 10 road games and the Blues have been dreadful at home with a 5-7-4 record at Enterprise Center. Sometimes the simple play is the right play, and the Golden Knights laying a short number feels like the right side here.

Pacific Division rivalry time as Seattle makes the short trip north to Vancouver. These two don't like each other, and the Canucks have owned this matchup historically since Seattle joined the league. Elias Pettersson is having another elite season with 52 points, and Quinn Hughes continues to be the engine that drives this team from the blue line.

The Kraken have been maddeningly inconsistent this season. They'll look like world-beaters one night and then completely disappear the next. Matty Beniers has taken a step forward in year three, but they're still searching for that second-line center who can take pressure off the top unit. Their road record sits at 8-9-2, which tells you everything you need to know.

Vancouver's been rock solid at home this year with a 12-5-1 record at Rogers Arena. The crowd gets into it for these divisional matchups, and the Canucks feed off that energy. Thatcher Demko has been excellent when healthy, and this feels like a spot where the home team takes care of business against a Seattle squad that can't figure out how to win on the road.

Minnesota heads to Anaheim in what might be the most intriguing matchup of the night if you're looking for value. The Wild have Kirill Kaprizov, who's on another level this season with 48 points in 38 games. He's a one-man wrecking crew when he's locked in, and he's been locked in basically all year. Marc-Andre Fleury continues to defy Father Time in net.

But here's the thing about the Ducks – they've been the NHL's biggest surprise this season. At 15-9-1, they're sitting atop the Pacific Division with a talented young core that's playing with house money. Leo Carlsson looks like a future star, Troy Terry is scoring at will, and goalie John Gibson has rediscovered his form from a few years ago.

Anaheim's home ice advantage has been significant – they're 9-3-0 at Honda Center this season. The crowd is actually showing up again because this team is fun to watch. Minnesota's been good on the road at 10-6-2, so we've got a classic strength vs. strength situation here. This one could go either way, but the under might be the smartest play given both teams play structured defensive hockey.