NHL.com identifies key games and players to watch throughout the 2023-24 season.
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Note: Betting lines provided by Betway (WE, Ontario)
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1. Colorado Avalanche vs. Los Angeles Kings (8 p.m. ET; BSW, ALT, SN1)
COL money line: +110
LAK money line: -135
Two of the NHL’s five best offenses face off when the Kings (3.85 goals per game; first) host the Avalanche (3.70; fourth). Colorado is winless in consecutive games (0-0-2), including a 4-3 shootout loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday, while Los Angeles has not played since Wednesday, a loss 2-1 against the Washington Capitals at home. The Avalanche earned a 5-2 road win over the Kings on October 11 (opening night).
The Avalanche has three players ranked among the NHL’s points leaders: defenseman Cale Makar (34 in 23 games; tied for fourth), forwards Mikko Rantanen And Nathan Mackinnon (30 each; tied for eighth). Colorado also has three of the top defensive scorers in Makar (seven; second), Bowen Byram (five; tied for sixth) and Devon Toews (four; tied for 22nd). Kings forward Adrian Kempe leads them in shots on goal (71) and is tied with Kevin Fiala for their highest number of points (20 in 20 games).
2. Nashville Predators vs. Buffalo Sabers (7 p.m. ET; BSSO, MSG-B)
Puckline NSH (+1.5 goals): -258
Puckline BUF (-1.5 goals): +210
Each team will be playing in the second game of a back-to-back and looking to bounce back from a loss; The Predators had a 3-1 lead at home but lost 4-3 to the New York Rangers on Saturday, while the Sabers lost 6-2 to the Carolina Hurricanes. Buffalo is 2-2-0 without a day off this season, while Nashville has yet to play a back-to-back set. The Sabers are 3-5-1 in nine games since their center days Tage Thompson was injured on November 14. The Predators were outscored 10-4 in their losing streak following a six-game winning streak. Six of Buffalo’s 10 wins this season have come by multi-goal margins, and Nashville has struggled on the road (3-6-0).
Nashville Forward Philippe Forsberg ranks among NHL leaders in shots on goal (95; tied for sixth). Predators ahead Gustave Nyquist has points in 10 of his last 11 games, totaling 12 points (two goals, 10 assists) over that span and ranks second in Nashville in assists (14) behind frequent teammate Forsberg (15). Sabers Center Casey Mittelstadt scored a goal against the Hurricanes on Saturday and leads them with 21 points (five goals, 16 assists) in 24 games.
3. Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Boston Bruins (7 p.m. ET; BSOH, NESN, SN)
More than 6 goals in total: -115
Less than 6 goals in total: -105
The Bruins have won back-to-back games since losing 5-2 on the road to the Blue Jackets on Nov. 27. Egor Chinakhov (one goal, one assist) and Boone Jenner (two assists) each had several points against Boston in this game. The Blue Jackets are 4-2-0 in their last six games, outscoring their opponents 3.67 to 2.50 on average over that span.
Boston is tied with the reigning Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights for the best team save percentage (.921) in the NHL this season thanks to its elite goaltending tandem of Linus Ullmark And Jeremy Swayman; Columbus is also in the top half of the league in team save percentage (0.901; 14th). Bruins forward David Pastrnak ranks second in the NHL in shots on goal (112), behind Nikita Koucherov (117) of the Tampa Bay Lightning and is tied for second in points (36 in 23 games) behind Kucherov (40 in 24). Columbus forward Patrick Laine has points in three straight games (two goals, one assist), including one assist and five shots on goal against the Bruins.
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