NHL Hot & Cold Report: Streaking Teams to Ride or Fade


Riding the Wave: Why Streaks Matter
As we hit the mid-December stretch, the NHL landscape is starting to separate the true contenders from the teams slipping out of the race. Momentum is king, and right now the gap between the league’s hottest clubs and those in full collapse mode is widening fast.
For bettors, this is where edges appear. The numbers are showing clear trends, teams you want to ride while they’re scorching, and others you should avoid immediately as their form tanks.
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The Heaters: Teams to Ride
1. Vegas Golden Knights (14-6-8)
Current Streak: Won 4 Straight (W4) The Betting Angle: The “Clutch” Factor. Vegas is currently the hottest team in the NHL, riding a four-game winning streak that has solidified their NHL playoff positioning in the Pacific Division.
- – Key Player: Jack Eichel remains the engine of this offense, leading the team in points and controlling the pace at 5-on-5.
- – Why they are winning: Despite a modest +5 goal differential, Vegas is finding ways to win close games. Their 8 overtime losses show they are always competitive, but they have finally started converting those tight contests into regulation wins.
- – How to Bet: Moneyline. Vegas isn’t blowing teams out, so the Puck Line is risky. Back them to win outright while Eichel and the top line have the hot hand.
2. Dallas Stars (20-5-5)
Current Streak: Won 3 Straight (W3) The Betting Angle: The Dominant Force. The Stars are arguably the most complete team in the Western Conference right now, trailing only Colorado in the NHL Central Division race.
- – Key Players: The dynamic duo of Mikko Rantanen (39 Points) and Jason Robertson (38 Points) is unstoppable right now. They rank among the top 10 scorers in the entire league, driving an offense that has scored 105 goals.
- – Why they are winning: They boast a massive +28 Goal Differential, the second-best in the Central. With Robertson finishing plays and Rantanen dominating possession, they are suffocating opponents.
- – How to Bet: Ride the Puck Line. With a defense allowing just 75 goals in 30 games, they are winning with a margin. When the Stars win, they cover.
3. Calgary Flames (12-15-4)
Current Streak: Won 3 Straight (W3) The Betting Angle: The “Buy Low” Spot. Don’t let the sub-.500 record fool you—the Flames are playing their best hockey of the season right now.
- – Key Player: Nazem Kadri remains the heartbeat of this forward group, leading the charge as they try to dig out of their early-season hole.
- – Why they are winning: Despite a -13 goal differential on the season, they have strung together three straight wins to climb back into the race. This is a classic “correction” period for a team that underperformed early.
- – How to Bet: Underdog Value. You will likely get plus-money odds on Calgary because of their overall record. Ride this streak while the books still undervalue them.
The Freefall: Teams to Fade
1. Seattle Kraken (11-10-6)
Current Streak: Lost 6 Straight (L6) The Betting Angle: The Complete Fade. The Kraken are ice cold, holding the longest active losing streak in the league at six games.
- – Key Player: Jared McCann is doing his best to provide offense, leading the team in scoring, but he simply lacks the support to carry the team through this slump.
- – The Issue: They have a -16 Goal Differential and have struggled to score (only 67 Goals For, the lowest in the Pacific). They cannot keep up in shootouts.
- – How to Bet: Fade the Offense (Team Total UNDER). Until they break this slump, betting against their offense is the safest play on the board.
2. New Jersey Devils (16-12-1)
Current Streak: Lost 5 Straight (L5) The Betting Angle: The Metropolitan Collapse. After a solid start (16 wins), the Devils have hit a wall, dropping five straight games to fall to -5 in goal differential.
- – Key Players: While Jesper Bratt and Nico Hischier are putting up points, the team defense has collapsed around them.
- – The Issue: Defensive regression. They have allowed 85 goals this season, more than they have scored (84). This 5-game skid highlights that their earlier success might have been unsustainable without better stops.
- – How to Bet: Opponent Moneyline. The market still respects New Jersey’s 16 wins, meaning you can get good value backing their opponents.
3. Tampa Bay Lightning (16-11-2)
Current Streak: Lost 4 Straight (L4) The Betting Angle: The Atlantic Slide. The Lightning are usually a model of consistency, but a four-game losing skid has halted their momentum.
- – Key Player: Nikita Kucherov remains an elite scorer, but even his production hasn’t been enough to outscore their recent defensive lapses.
- – The Issue: Despite a positive Goal Differential (+13), they have found a way to lose four in a row. This suggests bad puck luck or a temporary dip in goaltending.
- – How to Bet: Avoid for Now. Unlike Seattle (which has bad statistics), Tampa has good underlying numbers. They are a risky fade, but definitely not a “bet” until they snap the streak.
Best Bets for the Week
Based on these trends, here are the smartest angles to target at BUSR:
Pick 1: Dallas Stars Puck Line (-1.5) Why: With Rantanen (39 pts) and Robertson (38 pts) firing on all cylinders, the Stars are the safest bet on the board to win by multiple goals.
Pick 2: Fade the Seattle Kraken. Why: Losing 6 straight with the worst offense in the division (67 goals) makes them the easiest fade in hockey right now.
Pick 3: Vegas Golden Knights Moneyline Why: The hottest team in the league (W4). Ride the momentum with Eichel and the Knights until someone cools them off.
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