NHL December 12, 2025

Two of the Eastern Conference's best collide in Tampa. Carolina's been one of the league's most consistent teams - their relentless forecheck, elite goaltending depth, and balanced scoring make them a nightmare matchup. Sebastian Aho leads the charge, but the Hurricanes' strength is their depth. Every line can score, and every line can defend.

Tampa's trying to recapture former glory, but the dynasty core is aging. Steven Stamkos is still productive, and Andrei Vasilevskiy remains one of the league's best goalies, but the Lightning aren't the same juggernaut from 2020-2021. They're a playoff team, just not the favorites they once were.

Carolina as slight road favorites tells you everything about where these franchises stand. The Hurricanes travel well and play the same way regardless of venue. Expect a tight, playoff-atmosphere game with the under potentially in play. Both teams have the defensive chops to limit chances, and this could be decided by a single goal.

Macklin Celebrini has given Sharks fans reason to watch again. The top overall pick has lived up to the hype, and suddenly San Jose has a genuine franchise player for the first time since Thornton's prime. But one elite player doesn't make a team, and the Sharks are still rebuilding around their young star.

Winnipeg's been solid but unspectacular. The Jets have playoff-caliber depth and play a structured, hard-to-beat style at home. Kyle Connor is having another strong season, and Connor Hellebuyck, when healthy, is one of the league's best. Canada Life Centre is a tough building for visiting teams.

The -210 line is steep, but it's justified. San Jose's just not equipped to win on the road against quality opponents yet. Celebrini will have his moments, but Winnipeg's depth and experience should prove too much. Take the Jets and lean towards the under - the Sharks struggle to score without Celebrini creating everything.

Nashville's expensive roster has massively underperformed. The Predators went all-in with big free agent signings, and it's backfired spectacularly. The chemistry isn't there, the defensive structure has collapsed, and Juuse Saros can only do so much. This team expected to contend, and instead, they're fighting to stay relevant.

Ottawa's young core continues to develop. Brady Tkachuk plays with an edge, Tim Stutzle creates offense at will, and Drake Batherson has been consistent. The Senators aren't a playoff lock, but they're competitive most nights and dangerous at home. Canadian Tire Centre can get loud when this team is rolling.

Ottawa as -160 home favorites makes sense. Nashville's road struggles continue, and their defensive lapses are exploitable. The 6.5 total should hit - neither team plays lock-down defense, and both have offensive talent capable of finding the net. Expect a high-scoring, entertaining affair.

Alex Ovechkin's pursuit of Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record continues. At 40 years old, the Great 8 is still producing at an elite level, now just 24 goals away from 895. Every game is a chance for history, and Washington opponents know they're witnessing something special. The Capitals are built around Ovi's legacy.

The Islanders play Barry Trotz hockey - tight checking, physical play, limit chances. It's not pretty, but it's effective. Ilya Sorokin has been excellent in net, and the Isles' blue line is stingy. UBS Arena has become a tough place for visitors to get points.

This screams low-scoring affair. The Islanders' style is designed to neutralize elite scorers, and they'll try to frustrate Ovechkin with physical play. The 5.5 under feels right. Washington can win, but they'll need their power play to convert because even-strength goals will be hard to come by.

Utah's first NHL season has been a pleasant surprise. The transplanted Coyotes have embraced their new home, and Delta Center is rocking every night. Clayton Keller leads the offense, and the team has played with house money all season. No expectations, just effort - it's a fun group to watch.

Columbus is treading water, neither good enough to make noise nor bad enough to land elite draft picks. The Blue Jackets have some nice pieces in Johnny Gaudreau and Patrik Laine, but the roster lacks cohesion. They'll give effort at home, but this team isn't going anywhere this season.

Utah as slight road favorites speaks to their road success and Columbus's inconsistency. This feels like a coin flip game, but Utah's playing with confidence and has more to prove. The 6.0 total could go either way - both teams have offensive weapons but also give up chances. Lean Utah in what should be an entertaining matchup.