NHL December 17, 2025

Buffalo comes into this one as substantial home favorites, and honestly, I get it. The Sabres have been frustrating for years, but they're actually showing signs of life this season. At 14-14-4, they're right in the thick of the Eastern Conference wild card race. KeyBank Center has been rocking lately, and this young core is starting to figure it out. Tage Thompson has been an absolute monster offensively, and the defense has tightened up considerably under Don Granato's system.

Chicago, on the other hand, is exactly where you'd expect them to be in a rebuild year. At 10-18-3, the Blackhawks are playing for lottery positioning and development reps. Connor Bedard is still must-watch TV every night and he's starting to flash that generational potential more consistently, but the supporting cast just isn't there yet. The Hawks struggle mightily on the road, and laying +160 as a dog on back-to-back road games is a tough ask.

The 6.5 total is interesting because Buffalo can put up crooked numbers at home, but Chicago's goaltending has been shaky at best. I'd expect the Sabres to control this one from the jump. The -175 price is steep, but Buffalo needs these home wins against lesser opponents if they want to make noise in the second half.

Here's the thing about Minnesota - they're legitimately one of the best teams in the NHL right now, and nobody's talking about them. Sitting at 20-8-4, the Wild are quietly rolling through the Western Conference with that suffocating defensive system that drives opponents crazy. Filip Gustavsson has been outstanding in net, and Kirill Kaprizov continues to prove he's a top-10 player in the league. This team is built for playoff hockey.

Pittsburgh's in a weird spot. At 14-14-5, they're technically still in the hunt, but this core isn't getting any younger. Sidney Crosby is still incredible - the man defies Father Time like nobody else - but the depth just isn't what it used to be. Tristan Jarry has been inconsistent between the pipes, and the defensive structure has too many breakdowns against quality opponents. The Penguins are dangerous at home, but that's more reputation than current reality.

That 5.5 total screams "low-event hockey," which plays right into Minnesota's wheelhouse. The Wild want to slow games down, protect leads, and win 3-1 or 2-1. Pittsburgh desperately needs to push pace against this team, but I'm not sure they have the legs for it anymore. This feels like a classic road trap for the home side.

This is the game of the night, and it's not even close. You've got two of the best teams in hockey going head-to-head in what feels like a potential playoff preview. Carolina at 22-9-1 has been dominant on both ends of the ice, playing that relentless, high-tempo style that Rod Brind'Amour has perfected. They outwork opponents, outshoot opponents, and grind teams into dust. Sebastian Aho is having another monster year, and their defensive structure is elite.

But then you look at Winnipeg - 24-7-1 and absolutely rolling through the competition. The Jets came out of nowhere this season and have been one of the NHL's best stories. Connor Hellebuyck is in Vezina form again, Mark Scheifele is producing at a point-per-game pace, and Kyle Connor is an underrated superstar. Canada Life Centre is going to be absolutely electric for this one.

The -160 price on Carolina as road favorites shows elite respect from the market. You don't see many teams favored by that margin in Winnipeg. But here's the thing - the Jets are only +145 at home, which means you're getting serious value if you believe in what they've built. This total at 6.5 could go either way. Both teams can score, but both teams also play responsible defensive hockey. This one's going to come down to goaltending and special teams.

The late-night window brings us a classic matchup between two Original Six/traditional powerhouses, though only one of them is playing like it right now. Los Angeles at 18-9-5 has been one of the most pleasant surprises in the West. The Kings' youth movement is paying off big time - Quinton Byfield is breaking out, Adrian Kempe is producing at an elite clip, and the defensive structure under Todd McLellan's successors has been rock solid. At home, they've been nearly unbeatable.

Boston's having an up-and-down year at 17-13-4, which feels strange to say about a team that set the NHL points record just two years ago. The core is still talented, but Father Time catches everyone eventually. The cross-country trip to start a West Coast swing is never easy, and the 10:30 PM ET start time plays right into LA's hands. The Bruins always compete hard, but the situational disadvantages are stacking up here.

That 5.5 total is the lowest on the slate, and for good reason. Both teams play structured hockey and have strong goaltending. Boston's Jeremy Swayman can steal games single-handedly, but the Kings' netminding tandem has been excellent at home. If you're laying -195 on LA, you're betting on the Kings to control pace and protect a lead late. If you're grabbing Boston at +175, you're betting on Swayman magic and the Bruins' veteran composure to steal one on the road.