Friday brings a tight four game slate with some fascinating matchups across both conferences. We've got struggling Minnesota heading to Long Island, the surging Rangers traveling to Detroit, Chicago looking to build on recent success in Calgary, and the red hot Winnipeg Jets facing a scrappy San Jose squad. Let's break down every angle, stat, and trend that matters for tonight's action.

Look, Minnesota is in serious trouble right now. They come into UBS Arena at 5-7-3 with the second worst goals against average in the NHL at 3.67 per game. That's not a small sample size problem anymore, that's a systemic issue. The Wild rank 29th in both goals against and penalty kill efficiency at 68.8 percent. When you can't defend five on five and you can't kill penalties, you're going to lose a lot of hockey games. And that's exactly what's happening.

Kirill Kaprizov is doing everything he can to keep this team afloat. The Russian superstar has 8 goals and 11 assists for 19 points in 15 games, including 5 power play goals. He's their entire offense right now. The problem is Minnesota is averaging just 2.80 goals per game, which ranks near the bottom of the league. They just lost to Carolina 4-3, lost to Winnipeg 4-3, and got handled by Pittsburgh 4-1. That's three straight games allowing four goals, and that pattern isn't changing tonight.

The Islanders sit at 6-5-2 and are coming off a tough shootout loss to Boston, but don't let that fool you. New York is 5-0 against the spread at home this season and has been profitable for bettors at UBS Arena. Bo Horvat is leading the way with 9 goals and 15 points overall, while Mathew Barzal is facilitating with 7 assists and a plus-6 rating. This team knows how to win at home.

Here's the thing about this matchup: the Islanders average 3.31 goals per game, which should be plenty against Minnesota's porous defense. The Wild have allowed 4 goals in three straight games and face a rested Islanders squad that knows they should win this game. New York's penalty kill ranks 19th at 77.3 percent, which is significantly better than Minnesota's 29th ranked unit. With Kaprizov generating so much offense on the man advantage, those special teams battles matter.

The public is hammering the Islanders at 71 percent, and for good reason. Minnesota is 2-4-1 on the road this season and 4-3-0 against the spread away from home. Meanwhile, the Islanders are 4-2-1 at home and perfect at 5-0 ATS in their building. When a home team is undefeated against the spread and you're getting them at reasonable juice against a team that can't defend, that's a spot you have to consider.

The total of 6.5 is interesting given Minnesota's defensive issues. Their games have gone over in 5 of their last 10, but the Islanders games have been more balanced at 7-3-0 to the over. With Minnesota allowing nearly 4 goals per game, this total feels achievable. The Islanders should control this game and Minnesota will need Kaprizov magic to keep it close.

Detroit is having themselves a season so far, sitting at 9-5-0 and second in the Atlantic Division. They just destroyed Toronto 6-3, then bounced back from a loss to Montreal by beating the Leafs again in a shootout 3-2. This team has figured something out. Dylan Larkin is leading the way with 18 points including 8 goals and 10 assists, while Alex DeBrincat is setting up everybody with 11 assists. At home, Detroit is 5-1-0 this season. That's dominant.

The Red Wings are balanced on both sides of the puck. They're averaging 3.00 goals per game and allowing 3.00 goals against. Their power play is clicking at 22.7 percent, tied for 9th in the league, and their penalty kill is excellent at 87.2 percent, ranking 7th overall. When you can score on special teams and defend your own zone, you're going to win a lot of close games. And that's exactly what Detroit has been doing.

New York comes in at 6-6-2 and is struggling to find any kind of rhythm. They just got shut out 3-0 by Carolina, which is their second regulation loss in their last three games. The Rangers have been solid in overtime with wins over Seattle and Edmonton, but they need to start winning games in regulation. At 6-1-1 on the road, the record looks good, but that's inflated by overtime success. Against the spread, they're 6-2-0 away from home, so they've been competitive.

Adam Fox leads the Rangers with 11 points including 3 goals and 8 assists from the blue line, which is impressive. Taylor Raddysh has been efficient with 5 goals on just 19 shots. But here's the problem: the Rangers are averaging just 2.21 goals per game, which is tied for 1st defensively but terrible offensively. Wait, that stat seems wrong. Let me clarify: they're allowing 2.43 goals per game, which is good, and scoring 2.21 goals per game, which is concerning. Their power play is dreadful at 11.1 percent, ranking 31st in the league.

The market has this right. Detroit is a small home favorite at minus 118, which reflects their home dominance and recent form. The Red Wings are 5-1-0 at Little Caesars Arena and the Rangers, despite their road record, struggle to score. Detroit's power play is nearly twice as effective as New York's, and their penalty kill is elite. In tight games, those margins matter enormously.

The total of 6.0 feels about right. Detroit's games have been balanced with their scoring and allowing both at 3.00 per game. The Rangers play low scoring hockey, averaging 2.21 goals for and 2.43 against. This projects as a 3-2 or 4-2 type game, right around that number. Detroit should control play at home and their special teams advantage gives them the edge. The public is all over the Red Wings at 68 percent, and that makes sense given the situational spot.

Chicago is 6-5-3 with 15 points, sitting 5th in the Central Division, and Connor Bedard is starting to look like the generational talent everyone projected. The 19 year old phenom has 7 goals and 11 assists for 18 points in 14 games, leading the Blackhawks in every offensive category. He just helped Chicago destroy Vancouver 5-2, with Tyler Bertuzzi scoring a hat trick in the third period. This team has legit offensive weapons.

The Blackhawks are averaging 3.14 goals per game while allowing 2.79, which are both respectable numbers. Their power play is 19.5 percent, ranking 17th, and their penalty kill is solid at 81.5 percent, ranking 14th. Chicago is 6-2-0 against the spread on the road this season, which means they've been competitive and covering numbers away from home. That's significant for a young team still figuring things out.

The Flames are a disaster right now. They're 4-9-2 with 10 points, sitting dead last in the Pacific Division at 8th place. Calgary just lost to the Predators 4-2 and has dropped five of their last seven games. They're averaging just 2.33 goals per game, which is pathetic for an NHL team, and their power play is 29th in the league at 13.0 percent. When you can't score and you can't convert on the power play, you're going to struggle to win games.

Nazem Kadri leads the team with 11 points including 4 goals and 7 assists. He scored in his 1,000th NHL game recently, which was a nice moment, but this team needs more than nostalgia. Blake Coleman has 6 goals, but beyond those two, the depth scoring has completely vanished. Calgary is allowing 3.20 goals per game, ranking 21st defensively, and their penalty kill is 18th at 77.8 percent. They're mediocre on defense and terrible on offense.

Here's what jumps out: Chicago is 6-2-0 ATS on the road and 11-3-0 ATS overall this season. That's one of the best against the spread records in the NHL. Meanwhile, Calgary is just 4-2-0 ATS at home and 8-7-0 overall against the number. The Blackhawks have been profitable for bettors, especially away from home, while the Flames have been inconsistent.

The public is split at 54 percent on Calgary, which tells you this line has value. If the public was hammering the Flames at 70 percent, you'd fade them immediately. But at 54 percent, this is a coin flip in the market's eyes. Chicago has the better recent form, the superstar in Bedard, and the better ATS record. Calgary has home ice and desperate motivation, but desperation doesn't equal execution. The Blackhawks should keep this close and potentially steal a road win. The total of 6.0 could stay under given Calgary's offensive struggles.

Winnipeg is absolutely cooking right now at 9-4-0 with 18 points, sitting 2nd in the Central Division. Mark Scheifele is having a career year with 9 goals, 11 assists, and 20 total points in just 13 games. That's an elite center playing at an MVP level. Kyle Connor is chipping in, and the Jets just demolished Pittsburgh 5-2, followed by beating Chicago 6-3 and Minnesota 4-3. This team is winning games in different ways, which is the mark of a complete squad.

The Jets are averaging 3.46 goals per game, which is top 10 in the NHL, while allowing just 2.54 goals against. Their power play is clicking at 22.7 percent, tied for 9th, and their penalty kill is elite at 88.7 percent, ranking 4th in the league. When you're that good on special teams and you can defend at a high level, you're going to beat most teams. Winnipeg is 3-2-0 on the road this season and 7-6-0 against the spread overall, which means they cover when favored.

San Jose comes in at 5-6-3 with 13 points, sitting 7th in the Pacific Division. Don't sleep on this team though. They just destroyed Seattle 6-1 at home, which was a dominant performance. Macklin Celebrini, the 19 year old phenom and first overall pick, is living up to the hype with 8 goals and 13 assists for 21 points in 14 games. That's special. He's leading this team in every offensive category and giving them a legitimate building block for the future.

The Sharks are averaging 3.43 goals per game, which is actually excellent and very close to Winnipeg's output. The problem is defense. San Jose is allowing 3.79 goals per game, ranking 30th in the league. Their penalty kill is dreadful at 71.7 percent, ranking 25th. When you can't defend and you can't kill penalties against a Jets team that converts at nearly 23 percent on the power play, you're in trouble. San Jose is 2-3-3 at home this season and 6-2-0 ATS in their building, which means they compete but struggle to close.

This is the late window game, starting at 10:00 PM ET in San Jose. The public is on Winnipeg at 67 percent, which makes sense given their form and road success. The Jets are the better team, no question. But here's the thing: both teams can score. Winnipeg averages 3.46 goals, San Jose averages 3.43 goals, and the Sharks allow 3.79 goals per game. That's a recipe for offense.

The total of 6.0 looks vulnerable. San Jose's games have gone over in 6 of their last 10, and Winnipeg's games have been more balanced. But when you have Scheifele and Celebrini going back and forth, and San Jose can't defend, this game has shootout potential. Winnipeg should win, but the Sharks will make them earn it. The Jets are 3-2-0 on the road and San Jose plays competitively at home. This total could fly over if the Sharks defense shows up in the form we've seen most of the season. Late night hockey with two skilled offensive teams and one bad defense equals entertainment.

Tonight's four game slate features clear favorites in the Islanders, Red Wings, and Jets, with the Chicago-Calgary matchup being the closest. The market is efficient in these spots. Minnesota's defensive issues are real and exploitable. Detroit's home dominance is legitimate. Winnipeg's balance makes them a heavy road favorite. And Chicago's ATS success as an underdog makes them an interesting play against a struggling Flames team.

The totals are all clustered around 6.0 to 6.5, which makes sense given the league average. But context matters. Minnesota can't defend, so their total of 6.5 has over appeal. Detroit and New York both play tight defensive hockey, so that 6.0 feels right. Chicago and Calgary could stay under given the Flames' offensive struggles. And Winnipeg-San Jose screams over with two offensive teams and San Jose's porous defense.

Watch the special teams battles tonight. Minnesota's 29th ranked penalty kill against the Islanders power play is a mismatch. Detroit's elite penalty kill neutralizes New York's struggling power play. Chicago's Bedard on the power play against Calgary's mediocre penalty kill creates opportunities. And Winnipeg's elite power play against San Jose's 25th ranked penalty kill is a recipe for man advantage goals. Special teams will decide at least two of these four games.