The NHL games held for this Christmas week are nothing less for excitement, where this week pictured many action-packed sequences. Along with some intriguing moments, the NHL games on December 22 and 23, 2024, also featured their usual activities inside the Rink. While some demonstrated exceptional skills within the Rink, others struggled to make an impact. Let’s have a quick breakdown of how the NHL matches unfolded over these couple of days.
The last two days of NHL games brought a mix of highs and lows for several teams. Leading the Atlantic Division, the Panthers won their battle against the Lightning. However, they lost the very next game to the same opponent without even scoring in their home Rink, Amerant Bank Arena. The New Jersey Devils, on the other hand, are highly anticipated for their upcoming games due to their impressive performance on both offence and defence in their last two matches. The NHL game between the Blue Jackets and the Canadiens was an incredible thrill until the last moment when both teams featured a massive show and ended the battle with a 5-4 win for the Jackets.
Additionally, despite their lower standings, teams like the Penguins and Sabres made notable progress with effective plays and a collective tally of goals. The Avalanche, Predators and Bruins gave their decent shots to end the game in victory and save their positions in the standings. In contrast, teams like Red Wings, Panthers, and Rangers ended their games without scoring. As mentioned, the NHL games over the past two days were packed with thrilling and disappointing moments. The excitement is set to continue in the upcoming days, with even more interesting events expected to unfold on the ice.
Predictions for 28-12-2024 NHL Games:
New Jersey Devils vs Carolina Hurricanes
Carolina Hurricanes and New Jersey Devils will meet each other for the 2024-25 NHL games on December 28, 2024 at Prudential Center. The Devils, topping the Metropolitan Division, continues to prove why they are an elite contender in the NHL. The very recent battle of the Devils team over Penguins and Rangers proved their dominance on both the offensive and defensive areas. So, solid team Devils with massive talents like Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt and more is expected to provide a tough battle for the Hurricanes in this matchup.
The Carolina Hurricanes, on the contrast, heads into this battle after a dull 5-2 loss against Nashville Predators. The recent NHL games reveal that the Hurricanes have struggled with consistency, alternating between wins and losses. To maintain their standing, they need to quickly devise a strategy to stabilize their performance in the upcoming matchups. Coming to this battle, the Hurricanes need even more crucial moves to defeat the strong contenders Devils.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs Detroit Red Wings
The December 28, 2024, NHL Matchups will feature a battle between Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings. This showdown is scheduled to take place at Little Caesars Arena. The Maple Leafs and Red Wings belong to the same division, but their standings are vastly different. The Maple Leafs are second from the top, and the Red Wings are second from the bottom. The Toronto Maple Leafs ended its prior game with a 2-5 loss over the Winnipeg Jets, extending their losing streak to two games. Captain Auston Matthews’s absence is one of the strong reasons for Maple’s continuous failure. Even though he would likely appear in a few days, the team still need to look at their lineups to deliver a balanced game over both ends of the Rink.
The Detroit Red Wings, being a home team, is highly expected to turn things around. They have ended the recent matchup with a 0-4 loss against St. Louis Blues. It doesn’t seem very pleasant to see the Red Wings without a win for the last three games. Also, their offensive lineup appears very shaky, which delivered only one goal in total in their previous two battle. When compared, both teams need to plot a clear picture before this game. Ultimately, the Maple Leafs are anticipated to win the game with a slight goal difference over the Red Wings.
Buffalo Sabres vs Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Blackhawks and Buffalo Sabres will compete in a strong battle in the 2024-25 NHL games on December 28, 2024, at KeyBank Center. While the Buffalo Sabres are in last place in the Atlantic Division, the Chicago Blackhawks are in last place in the Central Division. It seems that both teams need to make better decisions in the game to end the season in a decent position.
The Buffalo Sabres, seen without a win for thirteen games in a row, bounced back in their prior game against the Islanders. In that game, the Sabres won the battle with a 1-7 score against the opponent. The fans witnessed the solid form of captain Rasmus Dahlin in that matchup, where he delivered about four assists. Also, the young forward Jiri Kulich witnessed his first two-goal game. So, the recent battle with the Buffalo Sabres was an excellent treat for the fans, and they expect a similar action to be repeated in the forthcoming games, too.
The Chicago Blackhawks enter this battle with a close 4-3 loss against the Minnesota Wild, extending their losing streak to two games. They look comparatively reasonable on both ends of the field compared to the Sabres. This game will be fun, and the Blackhawks will likely score a bit high and end the game in victory.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins and Columbus Blue Jackets clash for the 2024-25 NHL matchups on December 28, 2024. This showdown will take place at Nationwide Arena. The Boston Bruins displayed a nice game over the Washington Capitals in the recent matchup, closing the game with a 4-1 win. Despite the recent win, the team needs to pay more attention to their offensive unit, which has been unsteady recently. The last battle between the Bruins and Jackets ended with a 1-5 win for the Jackets, remembering that the Bruins need to be clearer before entering this game.
However, the Columbus Blue Jackets do not have the same enthusiasm. Out of the last eight games, they have made only two victories. The team is failing to make much sense on either side of the field, which keeps upsetting Blue Jackets’ fans. So, this battle will be a crucial test for both teams, where the Blue Jackets, with the home team advantage, might turn things in their favour.
Dallas Stars vs Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild and Dallas Stars will meet at American Airlines Centre for an NHL Showdown on December 28, 2024. Despite being in second place in the Central Division, the Minnesota Wild have faced notable challenges in their recent games, reflecting some inconsistencies in their performance. However, they have the potential to improve and solidify their standing. They have ended their recent battle with a close 4-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks, breaking their four-game losing streak.
The Dallas Stars, on the other hand, head into this battle with a 2-3 win over the Utah Hockey Club. This victory over the Utah team ended the Stars’ two-game losing streak. The Stars’ offence is quite decent compared to the recent scores of the Minnesota Wild. Also, they will likely put forward a better defence over the Wild and end this matchup with a close win.
St. Louis Blues vs Nashville Predators
Nashville Predators and St. Louis Blues will meet each other on December 28, 2024, at Enterprise Center for the 2024-25 NHL matchups. The Blues and Predators are seen lining up the Central Division one behind the other. The Blues, which enter this game after a splendid 0-4 win over the Detroit Red Wings, are filled with more positivity. It was a nice move made by the team after a long time, where the Blues were seen attempting only a single goal in most of their recent games.
The Nashville Predators, on the other hand, also had a great ending to the recent battle. They won the last fight against the Carolina Hurricanes with a 5-2 score. The Predators look more advantageous in this game because of their offensive unit. Also, they won the previous meeting against the Blues with a nice score difference. Therefore, if Nashville makes slight changes to their defensive lineup, they can win this battle over the Blues.
Utah Hockey Club vs Colorado Avalanche
The Utah Hockey Club will host the NHL Showdown against the Colorado Avalanche on December 28, 2024. This showdown between the two teams is scheduled to happen at Delta Center. The Colorado Avalanche is enjoying a decent season and is expected to continue similar actions in the forthcoming days. The Avalanche side heads to this battle after a 5-2 win over Kraken, where Joel Kiviranta netted three goals. The Avalanche team has recently emerged with more victors because of their solid offence. The team’s defence is no less for actions. Hence, they hold a better chance of winning this battle over the Utah team.
The Utah Hockey Club enters this matchup following a narrow 2-3 defeat against the Dallas Stars. Their recent performances have been inconsistent, alternating between wins and losses, highlighting the need for greater focus on maintaining stability. This season, their record stands at five wins, five losses, and four draws, reflecting their mixed form. Consequently, they are anticipated to face challenges in breaking through the vigorous defence of the Colorado Avalanche, who are likely to secure the victory.
San Jose Sharks vs Vegas Golden Knights
The San Jose Sharks at SAP Centre will welcome the Vegas Golden Knights on December 28, 2024, for the 2024-25 NHL matchups. This matchup will be much fun as the two teams are coming off from two different ends. The Vegas Golden Knights lead the Pacific Division, while the Sharks team is seen at the bottom of the table.
The Golden Knights head into this matchup after a 3-1 win against the Anaheim Ducks. The team can even aim to secure the Stanley Cup this season with their tremendous actions. The team has consistently performed, winning eight out of their last nine games. The Knights are strong on offence and defence, though they could benefit from applying a bit more pressure on their defensive end to improve in future matches.
The San Jose Sharks have been struggling. They head into this match without a win in their last five games. While their offensive capabilities are quite fair, their defence has been lacking. If they can focus on strengthening their defensive play, they have the potential to finish the season on a more positive note.
Florida Panthers vs Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens and Florida Panthers will face each other in the NHL Showdown on December 28, 2024, at Amerant Bank Arena. The Florida Panthers, which tops the Atlantic Division, came into this battle after a disappointing 0-4 loss against Tampa Bay Lightning, which ended the four-game winning streak of the Panthers. The Panthers’ power play faltered in their previous game, which significantly affected their loss. This outcome must have been a massive letdown for their fans, hoping for a victory ahead of the Christmas celebrations. However, the Florida Panthers are expected to make a vigorous comeback after the holidays and aim for a big win against the Canadiens in their next matchup.
On the other hand, the Montreal Canadiens concluded their previous game with a narrow 5-4 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. This defeat ended their three-game winning streak that had showcased impressive scoring. Offensively, the Canadiens have been strong, securing victories in many of their recent matches. However, their defence has not been as reliable, leading to several losses. To defeat the Panthers in their upcoming game, the Canadiens need to put more focus and effort into strengthening their defensive play.
