NHL January 3, 2026

Vegas has been a wagon this season at 24-10-5, but their road form tells a different story. The Golden Knights are just 10-6-3 away from T-Mobile Arena, which is still good but not dominant. They rely on their electric home crowd more than most teams want to admit.

St. Louis is having a disappointing season at 17-19-4, but they've been scrappy at home. The Blues play a grinding, physical style that can frustrate skilled teams like Vegas. When they get you into board battles and neutral zone traps, the game slows to a crawl.

Jordan Binnington is the wild card here. He's been inconsistent all season, but he's capable of stealing any game when he's locked in. Vegas might dominate shot attempts and still find themselves in a one-goal game because Binnington decided to stand on his head.

The under 5.5 is the play. St. Louis wants to muck this up and keep it close, and their defensive structure can frustrate Vegas's transition game. Don't expect fireworks.

The defending Stanley Cup champions host a Rangers team that's been maddeningly inconsistent this season. Florida at 24-14-2 is rolling, playing the confident hockey you'd expect from a team that knows how to win when it matters. New York at 22-16-2 has talent everywhere but can't seem to put it together consistently.

Igor Shesterkin has been brilliant in net for the Rangers, but even elite goaltending can't save you when your team turns the puck over in the neutral zone like New York does. Florida's forecheck is relentless - they force mistakes and capitalize immediately.

The Panthers are 13-6-1 at home and playing their best hockey of the season right now. They've got depth, they've got experience, and they've got that championship swagger that intimidates opponents. The Rangers tend to get tight in big environments, and Amerant Bank Arena will be rocking.

Florida covers this easily. The Rangers don't have the mental toughness to hang with the champs on the road.

Pacific Division rivalry game between two teams heading in different directions. Vancouver at 19-13-7 has been solid at home, while Seattle at 18-20-3 is fighting to stay relevant in a crowded Western Conference playoff race.

The Canucks have completely flipped the script this season under Rick Tocchet. They're structured, they compete hard every night, and Rogers Arena has become a tough building for opponents. The energy in that barn is electric when the Canucks are rolling.

Seattle's got talent - Matty Beniers, Jared McCann, Jordan Eberle can all score - but they don't have the defensive consistency to win tough road games. They give up too many odd-man rushes and rely too heavily on their goaltending to bail them out.

Vancouver's at home against a division rival they desperately want to bury. This is a statement game opportunity, and the Canucks have been taking care of business in these spots all season. Home team rolls.

Minnesota's been one of the best stories in hockey this season. At 25-12-4, they've silenced everyone who said they couldn't compete after trading away key pieces. Kirill Kaprizov is having an MVP-caliber season, and their team defense is suffocating.

Anaheim's in full rebuild mode at 16-18-5. They've got some exciting young pieces - Leo Carlsson, Mason McTavish, Trevor Zegras - but they're not ready to compete with playoff-caliber teams yet. Honda Center has been anything but a fortress this season.

The Wild are a ridiculous 13-5-2 on the road. They don't care where they play - their system works everywhere. They clog passing lanes, block shots, and counter-attack with precision. It's boring hockey, but it wins games.

Anaheim's going to struggle to generate offense against Minnesota's stifling defense. The Ducks rely on skill plays that get snuffed out against teams that commit to structure. Wild win comfortably, and the under cashes.