NHL Who’s Hot, Who’s Not: McDavid Sizzles, Bedard Fizzles

The New York Rangers and Colorado Avalanche have the most points in the NHL and would be the top seeds in the Eastern and Western Conference playoff fields if the postseason began today.

The Edmonton Oilers, Florida Panthers and Seattle Kraken have each won six games in a row with the San Jose Sharks on a 10-game losing streak as they have an NHL-worst 21 points.

When looking at the NHL odds and predictions, the Colorado Avalanche (+800), Boston Bruins (+900), New York Rangers (+900) and the Vegas Golden Knights (+900) lead the way in the odds of winning the Stanley Cup.

Keep reading for information on the hottest forwards, defensemen, and goalies, as well as players recently struggling, to help with your NHL spread picks.

Who’s Hot

Forwards

Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers: McDavid began 2024 with a five-point game as he factored in each of his team’s goals in a win over the Philadelphia Flyers. He has three goals, nine assists, and a +10 defensive rating during Edmonton’s six-game winning streak.

Artemi Panarin, New York Rangers: Panarin has points in each of his last six games, collecting seven goals and three assists during that stretch for the Eastern Conference-leading Rangers.

Vinny T hits Connor Bedard with the “ope lemme sneak right by ya” 😂

Trocheck ➡️ Laffy ➡️ Panarin 🚨 #NYR pic.twitter.com/8DY0AZyMXA

— Rangers on MSG (@RangersMSGN) January 5, 2024

Carter Verhaeghe, Florida Panthers: Verhaeghe is proving that his 42-goal season was no fluke as he had four goals and four assists over the last four games to give him 20 goals in 38 games.

Defensemen

Noah Dobson, New York Islanders: Dobson’s breakthrough season continues as he has three assists and a defensive rating of +4 in the first two games of 2024 for the Islanders.

Charlie McAvoy, Boston Bruins: McAvoy has six assists and a plus/minus number of +4 over the last four games. He is second on the Atlantic Division-leading Bruins with 22 assists despite missing eight games.

Devon Toews, Colorado Avalanche: Toews has points in seven straight games as the surging Avalanche are 6-0-1 during that span. Toews has two goals, six assists and a +5 defensive rating in those seven games.

Goaltenders

Joey Daccord, Seattle Kraken: Daccord has won his last five starts. He has a goals-against average of 0.99 during that stretch as he has stopped 168 of 173 shots and has already set a career high with 10 wins this season.

Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets: Hellebuyck is 4-0-1 with a 1.59 goals-against average and a save percentage of .946 over his last five games.

Stuart Skinner, Edmonton Oilers: Goalies don’t usually come to mind when it comes to the Oilers, but Skinner is 4-0-0 with a 1.72 goals-against average in his last four starts.

Who’s Not

Forwards

Connor Bedard, Chicago Blackhawks: Bedard, listed by the NHL odds as the Calder Trophy front-runner, has no goals, one assists and a plus/minus rating of -9 in Chicago’s four-game losing streak. He has gone back-to-back games without a point for the first time since late November.

Brendan Gallagher, Montreal Canadiens: The veteran winger has gone seven games without a point in his last 24 games. He has also gone 24 games without registering a positive plus/minus rating.

Owen Tippett, Philadelphia Flyers: Tippett has no goals and no assists to go with a -4 defensive rating in Philadelphia’s last four games. It is not a result of a lack of opportunities as Tippett matched his season high with seven shots on goal in a shootout loss to Columbus on Thursday.

Defensemen

Cam Fowler, Anaheim Ducks: Fowler has no goals and no assists with a plus/minus rating of -4 during Anaheim’s three-game losing streak. One of five players to appear in all 37 games, Fowler is on pace to score just four goals and that would be his lowest total in a full NHL season.

Kevin Korchinski, Chicago Blackhawks: Korchinski has gone 14 consecutive games without posting a positive plus/minus rating. He has no goals and one assist in his last 11 games.

Ryan McDonagh, Nashville Predators: Since having a goal and an assist against Tampa Bay, one of his former teams, McDonagh has no goals and one assist over the last 13 games.

Goaltenders

Mackenzie Blackwood, San Jose Sharks: Blackwood is 0-4 with a save percentage of .841 and a 4.58 goals-against average in his last four games.

Joonas Korpisalo, Ottawa Senators: Korpisalo is one of seven goalies to face at least 200 shots since Dec. 17 and is 1-5 with a 4.24 goals-against average and .869 save percentage in that span.

James Reimer, Detroit Red Wings: Reimer has one win in his last 10 games. He has allowed 17 goals over his last three games and has surrendered at least five goals a total of five times in his last seven games.

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