As the NHL approaches its Christmas break, five teams are showing strong form with impressive win streaks. The Buffalo Sabres, Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Florida Panthers, and Minnesota Wild have all posted solid records in recent games. These performances come amid roster changes and divisional races.
The NHL is heading into a brief holiday pause after a busy stretch, with several teams building momentum. Among the hottest are the Buffalo Sabres, who have won five straight games and hold a 7-3-0 record over their last 10. Despite firing general manager Kevyn Adams on Monday and facing uncertainty for coach Lindy Ruff, Buffalo has improved defensively, allowing just 11 goals in their past five contests. Their goals-against average remains the league's seventh-worst at 3.35 per game. The Sabres face tough tests against the New Jersey Devils and Ottawa Senators before the break.
The Colorado Avalanche lead the league with a 25-7-2 record, boasting the best offense at 4.00 goals per game and the top defense at 2.21 goals against. They are on a four-game win streak, including victories over the Florida Panthers, Seattle Kraken, Nashville Predators, and Winnipeg Jets, with an 8-1-1 mark in their last 10 and 18-1-2 since November 2. Their power play ranks 28th at 15.3% efficiency, and they are 0-4 in shootouts. Upcoming games are against the Utah Mammoth and Minnesota Wild.
The Dallas Stars sit second overall at 24-7-5, four points behind Colorado, with a three-game win streak and 7-2-1 in 10 games. Since November 23, they share the NHL's best record at 11-2-1 with Minnesota. They face the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings next.
The Florida Panthers have rebounded from a 12-12-2 start through December 4, going 7-2-0 since with a 7-2-1 record in 10 games. One point from a playoff spot and three from Atlantic Division-leading Detroit (with two games in hand), they host the Carolina Hurricanes last. Their offense has scored at least four goals in three of four recent wins as back-to-back Stanley Cup champions.
The Minnesota Wild are scorching with seven straight wins and 8-2-0 in 10, unbeaten since December 7. Featuring a strong defense with Quinn Hughes and Brock Faber, plus the top goalie tandem, they challenge Colorado on Sunday and Nashville on Tuesday. No team has been hotter, positioning them for a deep playoff run beyond the first round since 2015.
