NHL December 11, 2025

The Battle of Alberta never disappoints. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl roll into Calgary looking to continue their dominance over the provincial rivals. The Oilers have owned this series recently, and McDavid seems to elevate his game even further when the Flames are involved. It's personal, it's intense, and it's must-watch hockey.

Calgary's rebuild is in full swing, but that doesn't mean they won't compete. The Saddledome crowd will be electric, and the Flames always play their best against Edmonton. Nazem Kadri brings the leadership, but this roster lacks the star power to match up with the Oilers' top six. It's a David vs. Goliath situation.

Edmonton's -165 line is warranted, but rivalry games are unpredictable. The over at 6.5 is attractive because both teams play fast and take chances. Expect a chippy, high-event game with the Oilers pulling away in the third period as their depth wears Calgary down.

Metropolitan Division rivalry between two Original Six franchises with deep playoff history. The Rangers have been inconsistent this season, frustrating fans who expected more from their talented roster. Igor Shesterkin's numbers aren't where they need to be, and the top-six forwards haven't clicked consistently. New York needs a win here.

Pittsburgh's in a weird spot - too good to tank, not good enough to contend. Sidney Crosby is still elite at 38, doing everything he can to drag this roster along. But the supporting cast has aged out, and the Penguins' window has closed. They'll compete, because that's what Crosby teams do, but the depth isn't there.

The Rangers should win, but laying -135 on the road against Crosby feels risky. This one could go either way, and I wouldn't be surprised to see it decided in overtime. The 6.0 total feels right - both teams can score but also have defensive lapses that lead to odd-man rushes.

Mitch Marner's been fitting in beautifully since his July trade from Toronto, and the Golden Knights are rolling at home. Vegas's atmosphere at T-Mobile Arena is electric, and opposing teams struggle in that environment. Jack Eichel is healthy and dangerous, and the depth throughout the lineup is impressive. This is a Cup contender.

Vancouver's season has been a disaster. After last year's breakthrough, expectations were high, and the Canucks have completely flatlined. Their goaltending has been shaky, the defense leaky, and even Elias Pettersson has looked disengaged. They're desperately trying to salvage something, but the road trip from hell continues in Vegas.

The Knights at -175 is steep juice, but they're dominant at home against struggling teams. Vancouver's road record is abysmal, and their confidence is shot. Vegas should handle business here, and the under might be in play if the Canucks can't generate any sustained offense. Clean sweep for the Knights.

The back-to-back Stanley Cup champions visit the Bell Centre, where the atmosphere is always intense regardless of Montreal's record. Florida's core is intact - Matthew Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov, and Sam Reinhart continue to dominate. The Panthers don't rebuild, they reload, and this team is just as dangerous as ever.

Montreal's been a pleasant surprise this season. Martin St. Louis has this young group playing with confidence, and players like Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki are becoming legitimate stars. The Canadiens might not be playoff-bound, but they're competitive and play hard every night, especially at home.

Florida's the better team, but Montreal at home is feisty. The Panthers have had some letdown games on the road when they're expected to cruise. The 6.0 total is interesting - both teams have offensive firepower. This could be a fun, back-and-forth affair that goes over the number.

Two teams that should be further along in their rebuilds face off in Buffalo. Ottawa has talent - Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, Drake Batherson - but they can't seem to put it together consistently. The Senators are the definition of frustrating, showing flashes of brilliance followed by head-scratching losses. It's maddening for their fanbase.

Buffalo's eternal rebuild continues. The Sabres have missed the playoffs for over a decade now, and there's no end in sight. Rasmus Dahlin is a franchise defenseman, but the forward depth is lacking, and their goaltending carousel never stops. They'll show some fight at home, but expectations are appropriately low.

This is a coin flip game between two underachieving teams. Ottawa's slight road favorite status makes sense given their overall talent level, but neither team inspires confidence. The over at 6.5 is attractive because both defenses have holes. Expect a sloppy, high-scoring affair that could go either way.

Freeway Faceoff in Anaheim as the Kings visit the surprisingly competitive Ducks. Los Angeles has been solid but unspectacular - Anze Kopitar is still producing, and the defense led by Drew Doughty remains reliable. The Kings are a playoff team, but they're not scaring anyone in the Western Conference hierarchy.

Anaheim's rebuild is ahead of schedule. Trevor Zegras, Mason McTavish, and the young core are developing faster than expected, and the Ducks have been fun to watch. They won't make the playoffs, but they're competitive and dangerous at home. This isn't the same pushover Anaheim from the past few seasons.

The Kings should win based on experience and depth, but Anaheim at home in a rivalry game is tricky. The -145 line feels about right, though I'd lean slightly towards the under. Both teams play structured hockey, and this could be a low-event game decided by special teams.