NHL Off the Post: November 12th

With the NHL season approaching the two-month mark, we're starting to get a better idea of which teams are legitimate contenders and which ones might be in for a long winter. Here's a look at some news and notes from around the league to assist with your daily hockey handicapping.

Predators on the hunt

Nashville is starting to look like a completely different team after a slow start to the campaign. The Predators picked up their sixth consecutive victory Wednesday with a 4-2 win over Anaheim, continuing what has been an impressive turnaround. Juuse Saros was outstanding once again, turning aside 30 shots, while Nashville received contributions throughout the lineup. This is a team that was struggling to find consistency just a few weeks ago but the recent run has pushed the Predators firmly into the Central Division conversation. Obviously, six straight wins isn't something we want to blindly chase, especially given the betting market has begun to adjust accordingly. However, Nashville has shown some encouraging signs defensively and is getting the kind of goaltending that can make it dangerous on any given night. It will be interesting to see how the Preds handle some tougher competition (three of their next five games come against the Golden Knights, Wild and Stars - all on the road) before deciding whether this is a legitimate turnaround or just a hot stretch.

Connor McDavid is putting together a truly remarkable start to the season. The Edmonton superstar extended his season-opening point streak to 20 games on Wednesday, helping the Oilers escape with a 3-2 overtime victory against Philadelphia. Evan Bouchard played the hero, scoring just 47 seconds into the extra frame, while Zach Hyman contributed a pair of goals. McDavid continues to make life miserable for opposing defenses, and it's becoming increasingly difficult to find a matchup in which he doesn't have the potential to make an impact offensively. From a betting perspective, the obvious temptation is to look at his individual point and assist props but keep in mind that the market is well aware of what he's doing and you're paying a considerable tariff to do so. The more interesting angle might be looking at Edmonton team totals and power-play production when the Oilers face teams that struggle to contain elite offensive talent. A six-game road trip is up next for Edmonton, including five stops in the eastern time zone.

Tampa Bay reminded everyone just how dangerous it can be offensively with Wednesday's wild, high-scoring 8-3 victory over Buffalo. Nikita Kucherov stole the show with a natural hat trick in the third period, while Brandon Hagel chipped in with two goals. The Lightning nearly managed to give away a four-goal lead before eventually pulling away, which tells you there's still some work to do defensively. The bigger concern moving forward is the health of Brayden Point, who has been placed on injured reserve after leaving Sunday's game against Winnipeg. Point has been a productive part of Tampa Bay's attack this season and for a number of years and his absence could force some adjustments throughout the top six. The Lightning are still capable of putting up goals in bunches, but we'll pay close attention to how the lineup looks without one of its most important forwards. A popular bet with casual hockey followers on most nights (and often overpriced), the Bolts aren't a team that you'll find me on all that often. 

Duck, duck, goose

Anaheim's impressive winning streak came to an end Wednesday with a 4-2 loss to Nashville but I don't think that should be an immediate sign to jump off the Ducks bandwagon just yet. Anaheim had won five straight games entering the contest and continues to get excellent production from its young offensive core. Cutter Gauthier has been particularly impressive, extending his goal streak to seven consecutive games with another tally against Nashville. The Ducks are still a work in progress defensively and there will inevitably be some growing pains along the way but there's enough offensive talent here to make them competitive on most nights. The key will be determining when the market starts giving Anaheim too much respect. Last night, for instance, they were favored considerably (closed around -140) against the surging Predators. For now, I think this is a team worth watching, particularly when it finds itself catching a generous number against more established opponents rather than in a favored role.

Following an encouraging 2025-26 season, Boston has quietly put together one of the better starts in the Eastern Conference and currently sits atop the Atlantic Division with 27 points. The Bruins have won four straight games and are getting contributions from throughout the lineup, which is always a good sign for a team looking to establish itself as a legitimate contender. Tampa Bay and Montreal aren't far behind, however, so there's little room for complacency in what is shaping up to be a competitive division. Thursday's matchup against Montreal should provide another interesting measuring stick, particularly with the Canadiens also enjoying a strong start to the campaign. Boston has been difficult to beat, but I don't think it's necessarily a team you want to be laying an inflated price with on a nightly basis. The Bruins have earned plenty of respect early on and the challenge will be identifying spots where the market hasn't quite caught up with their performance. A head-to-head meeting with Montreal (the first between these storied rivals this season) should give us a better indication of where both clubs stand, especially with both coming in rested and playing well.