New Year's Eve NHL Action

Vegas has quietly accumulated one of the best records in the Western Conference despite a pedestrian 17-9-11 mark. That's 45 points - good for second in the Pacific - and those 11 overtime losses show a team that competes until the final whistle. Mitch Marner's addition from Toronto has given them an elite playmaker, and Jack Eichel continues to be a dominant two-way center.

Nashville's stuck in no-man's land at .500, too good to tank and not good enough to contend. Roman Josi remains one of the best defensemen in hockey, but the supporting cast has been inconsistent. Their goaltending has been particularly shaky, allowing more than 3.0 goals per game in December.

T-Mobile Arena is one of the toughest buildings in hockey, and the Golden Knights are 11-3-4 at home this season. Nashville's road struggles continue with a 6-11-2 mark away from Bridgestone Arena. Vegas should control this one from start to finish.

Jon Cooper coaches his 1,000th NHL game tonight, and what a career it's been. Two Stanley Cups, three Finals appearances, and a franchise that's been a model of sustained excellence. The Lightning are still dangerous with Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, and a revamped blue line that's playing better defense than expected.

Anaheim's rebuild is ahead of schedule. At 21-16-2, they're in the playoff hunt and playing meaningful hockey in late December for the first time in years. Trevor Zegras has finally put it together, and John Gibson's resurgence in net has been critical to their success. The Honda Center crowd is actually showing up again.

This is a fun matchup between a veteran powerhouse and an emerging young team. Tampa's road form has been excellent at 11-6-2, but Anaheim's home record of 12-7-1 is nothing to sneeze at. Look for a competitive game that could go either way - the total feels about right at 6.0.

Minnesota's been one of the best stories in hockey this year. At 24-10-6, they're competing for the Central Division crown and doing it with a balanced attack that doesn't rely on any single star. Kirill Kaprizov is having another elite season, but it's the depth scoring and goaltending that's pushed them to contender status.

San Jose's Macklin Celebrini era is in full swing, and the rookie sensation has lived up to the hype. He's already showing the hockey IQ and skill that made him the consensus top pick, and he's given Sharks fans genuine hope for the first time since the Thornton/Marleau years. At 19-17-3, they're playing competitive hockey.

The Wild are heavy favorites for good reason - they're simply a more complete team. Minnesota's stifling defense allows just 2.58 goals per game, and that kind of structure travels well on the road. San Jose will keep it competitive with Celebrini's energy, but the Wild's experience and depth should prevail.

Detroit's resurgence is one of the best stories in hockey. At 23-14-3, the Red Wings are firmly in the playoff picture and playing meaningful December hockey for the first time in years. Lucas Raymond has emerged as a legitimate star, and the acquisition of some key depth pieces has given this roster the balance it was missing.

Winnipeg's season has been a massive disappointment. After starting the year scorching hot, they've completely collapsed and now sit at 15-18-4. The goaltending has been inconsistent since Connor Hellebuyck's injury, and the defense in front of the backup has been porous. Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele are still producing, but one line can't carry a team.

Little Caesars Arena should be rocking for New Year's Eve, and Detroit's home record of 13-5-1 reflects how tough they've been to beat in the D. The Jets are just 6-11-2 on the road - a classic regression from their early-season heater. Wings should handle business here.

New Jersey's high-powered offense has been inconsistent this season, but when Jack Hughes is cooking, this team can hang with anyone. At 20-17-2, they're in the playoff mix but need to find more consistency to avoid the play-in game. Jesper Bratt has been sensational again, and the power play remains one of the league's best.

Columbus is in the mushy middle of the Metropolitan Division, good enough to compete but not quite ready to take the next step. Johnny Gaudreau and Patrik Laine provide offensive firepower, but the goaltending tandem has been inconsistent. Their home record of 10-6-4 shows they can compete at Nationwide Arena.

This has the makings of a high-scoring affair. Both teams have potent offenses and inconsistent goaltending, and the 6.5 total feels appropriate. New Jersey's road record is just 8-10-1, but they've played better recently and should have enough firepower to edge Columbus in what could be a track meet.

Dallas is an absolute wagon. At 25-7-7, they're on pace for over 120 points and look every bit like the Stanley Cup contenders they were built to be. Jason Robertson and Roope Hintz power the offense, while Jake Oettinger has been outstanding in net. Their possession numbers are elite, and they don't beat themselves.

Buffalo's finally showing signs of the playoff team everyone's been waiting for. At 20-14-4, they're in a wild card spot and playing meaningful hockey. Tage Thompson has been a point-per-game player, and Rasmus Dahlin is playing like the elite defenseman the franchise drafted. The question is whether they can sustain this against top teams.

The Stars at home are almost unbeatable this year at 14-2-3. Buffalo's road record of 8-9-3 is respectable, but Dallas is a different animal. The Sabres might keep this competitive for 40 minutes, but the Stars' depth and home-ice advantage should wear them down in the third period.

What Colorado's doing this season is absolutely historic. At 29-2-7, they have the best record in hockey by a country mile and are on pace to challenge some all-time regular season records. Nathan MacKinnon is in the Hart Trophy conversation again, Mikko Rantanen is an absolute sniper, and Cale Makar is arguably the best player in the sport.

St. Louis has been a disaster. At 15-17-8, they're fighting just to stay out of the basement of the Central Division. The Jordan Binnington era feels like it's coming to an end, and the roster needs a serious retool. Robert Thomas has been solid, but there's not enough talent around him to compete with elite teams.

This is a mismatch of epic proportions. Colorado at Ball Arena has been practically unbeatable, and the altitude factor absolutely destroys teams not built for a full 60 minutes. The -250 moneyline is steep, but the Blues have shown nothing to suggest they can hang with a team this good. This could get ugly early.

Philadelphia's been one of the surprise teams in the Eastern Conference. At 20-11-7, they're in a playoff position and playing well above preseason expectations. The young core led by Travis Konecny and Owen Tippett has meshed well with the veteran presence, and their goaltending tandem has been serviceable. This is a hard-working team that doesn't beat themselves.

Calgary's stuck in rebuild mode without fully committing to it. At 17-18-4, they're too bad to contend and not bad enough to get a premium draft pick. The Flames have talent with guys like Nazem Kadri and Jonathan Huberdeau, but the pieces don't fit together cohesively. Home ice at the Saddledome used to mean something, but they're just 9-9-2 there this year.

This is a close matchup on paper, and the near pick'em line reflects it. Philly's road record of 9-5-4 is solid, and they've been particularly good in late-night road games where other East Coast teams tend to struggle. The Flyers' structure and work ethic should travel well to Calgary.

Connor McDavid against anyone is must-watch hockey, but McDavid against the Bruins on New Year's Eve? That's appointment television. The Oilers' captain is having another ridiculous season, leading the league in assists and showing why he's the best player in the world. Leon Draisaitl's supporting him with 30+ goals, and the Oilers' top six is as dangerous as any in hockey.

Boston's been inconsistent this year at 20-18-2. The golden era of Bergeron and Krejci is over, and the Bruins are still finding their new identity. David Pastrnak remains elite, and Jeremy Swayman has been solid in goal, but the depth scoring has been inconsistent. Their road record of 9-11-1 shows they're still figuring things out.

Rogers Place is one of the loudest buildings in hockey, and the Oilers are 11-6-2 at home this season. Boston's East Coast late start fatigue is real, and facing McDavid at his peak is never a recipe for success. The Oilers should have enough firepower to close out 2025 with a victory on home ice.