by Kevin Rogers
Toronto Maple Leafs at Detroit Red Wings – 7:00 p.m. ET
The Leafs are riding a 2-6-3 run in the first period in the last 11 games, which included trailing the Red Wings, 1-0 after 20 minutes in Detroit in a 4-2 defeat on December 14.
The Wings are 1-5-4 in the past 10 contests in the opening period with the only win coming against Toronto in this stretch.
Chicago Blackhawks at Buffalo Sabres – 7:00 p.m. ET
Both these teams have actually been two of the best first period teams in the NHL this season. Buffalo owns a 16-9-10 mark, while Chicago has put together a respectable 15-11-9 ledger in the opening 20 minutes.
The Sabres ended a 13-game slide by routing the Islanders on Monday, as Buffalo somehow went 6-5-2 in the first period during that lengthy losing skid. Buffalo has never trailed after the first period this season when scoring at least a goal, as the Sabres are 16-0-4 when tallying at least one goal in the opening 20.
The Blackhawks have cashed the first period Over in four of the past five games, in spite of scoring one first period goal in the last four contests.
Carolina Hurricanes at New Jersey Devils – 7:00 p.m. ET
Amazingly, the Devils have led after the first period at home just twice in 19 home games this season (2-7-10). New Jersey is listed as a short favorite on Friday night in a huge Metro division clash with Carolina, who has failed to score a first period goal in its last three games.
In the first two matchups this season, the teams finished tied after the first period as the home club won each time. This is an important two-day stretch for these teams, who flip to Raleigh for the second of a home-and-home on Saturday night.
The Devils rode a nine-game Over streak in the first period from November 21 through December 8, but that has changed drastically of late with New Jersey hitting the first period Under in seven straight games.
Boston Bruins at Columbus Blue Jackets – 7:00 p.m. ET
The Bruins haven’t allowed a first period goal in five consecutive contests, while putting together a 4-0-1 mark in this stretch. Dating back to November 21, Boston has trailed after the first period only three times in 16 games as the B’s were down 2-0 in each of those games.
Columbus dominated Boston at TD Garden on November 18 in a 5-1 rout as the Jackets torched the Bruins for three goals in the opening 20 minutes. The Jackets are in the midst of an 8-3-5 stretch in the first period, which includes a 5-1-2 mark at Nationwide Arena.
Nashville Predators at St. Louis Blues – 8:00 p.m. ET
Guess who the best first period team is in the NHL since November 9? It’s a club that has the fewest wins in the league. The Predators own 10 victories on the season, but somehow have trailed after the first period a grand total of once in the last 21 games.
Nashville is riding a strong 12-1-8 mark in the opening frame the past 21 contests, while not allowing a goal 14 times.
The Blues have finished Under the total in the first period in six straight games, but have led after the first period only twice at home in 15 tries this season.
Minnesota Wild at Dallas Stars – 8:00 p.m. ET
Minnesota got off to a terrific start in the first period to begin the season (6-0-1), but the Wild have led through 20 minutes just once in the past 13 games. The Wild have been held scoreless in the first period in four straight road contests as they head to Dallas for a key divisional matchup with the Stars.
Dallas hasn’t been much better in the opening period by not leading through 20 minutes in eight consecutive games. In their earlier matchup this season in St. Paul, the Stars struck for a first period goal in a 2-1 win over the Wild, as Dallas seeks its first lead after the first period since November 29 against Colorado.
Colorado Avalanche at Utah Hockey Club – 9:30 p.m. ET
The Avalanche have been one of the worst first period teams in the league this season at 9-19-8, but that also includes a meager 2-11-4 mark at home. On the road, Colorado has put up a better fight early at 7-8-4, which includes a 4-1-1 record in the past six opportunities.
Utah has trailed after the first period only five times in 34 games this season, while going through a stretch of 10 of 11 games without allowing a goal in the opening 20. The Hockey Club has cashed three straight first period Overs, as Utah and Colorado exchanged a pair of blowout wins on the road in their first two meetings.
Vegas Golden Knights at San Jose Sharks – 10:30 p.m. ET
The Golden Knights are rolling with eight wins in the last nine games, while sweeping a three-game homestand prior to the Christmas break.
Vegas heads to San Jose to face a Sharks’ squad that has led after the first period once in the last nine games, while allowing at least one goal in the opening frame in each game during this stretch.
Vegas has led twice following the first period in the last 11 road games, but torched San Jose for a trio of goals in the opening 20 minutes in a 7-3 home blowout in late October.
