NHL Betting: Hot and Cold Teams ATS and Moneyline 12/23/2025

As we near the 40-games mark, the NHL has established clear trends and a bright light on those money-making teams. There are a lot of surprises to follow this season as the Flyers, Ducks, Red Wings, Canadiens, and Mammoth are in the playoff picture, while teams like the Maple Leafs, Panthers, and Jets are on the outside looking in. The Central Division continues to be the best in the league, while the Atlantic Division continues to be a mess. With all the noise surrounding these trends, let’s take a deep dive into those teams who could add a little extra money to your pockets this holiday season.
Doc’s Sports offers NHL expert picks for every game on our hockey predictions page.
ATS
Hot
Philadelphia Flyers 9-1
The Philadelphia Flyers find themselves firmly in the playoff picture as we are near the midway point of the season. Their 43 points put them in a guaranteed spot in the Metro Division and has them in a tie for the third most points in the Eastern Conference. If you look a little closer, they only have 11 regulation wins. That is tied for second lowest mark in the conference. They keep games close, push it into overtime, and secure a lot of covers. They have covered nine of their last 10 games and they are 24-11 ATS on the year, the second-best mark in the NHL. Trevor Zegras has been much improved since arriving at the City of Brotherly Love, as he leads his Flyers with 36 points and 15 goals. Dan Vladar has also been dominating the crease. He has limited opponents to just 2.39 GA/G over his 21 appearances, winning 13 of them. This Flyers team is a cover machine.
New York Islanders 8-2
The second hottest team ATS is the New York Islanders. They have covered eight of their last 10 games, though they are currently on a three-game losing streak. They are, however, 6-3-1 over their last 10 games and are also surprisingly in the playoff picture. The offense continues to be average and underwhelming as usual, but the emergence of Matthew Schaefer has kept the Islanders relevant. It also helps that their goalie tandem has been playing at a playoff level, with both Ilya Sorokin and David Rittich allowing 2.55 GA/G or less. The Islanders are 19-17 ATS this season, but there is no denying their momentum. So long as their goalies keep dominating, expect a lot of close games for New York.
Cold
Vegas Golden Knights 2-8
Not only has Vegas lost their last three games, but they have also been struggling to cover. They have covered just twice in their last 10 games. Despite being favored in nearly every contest, the Golden Knights have just a +1-goal differential on the season, and they lead the league in games reaching overtime or a shootout. Despite the stardom and high expectations, the Golden Knights are averaging just 3.00 GF/G which is in the middle of the NHL, while their goaltending ranks outside the Top 10 in GA/G (2.88). Jack Eichel is playing like an MVP, as he has 41 points in 31 games, but they have struggled with consistency in the crease. Vegas has a league-worst 9-25 ATS mark this season. Continue to fade this team.
Toronto Maple Leafs 3-7
The Toronto Maple Leafs are another team that is not only struggling ATS, but also with staying relevant. They have covered in just three of their last 10 and have not covered in five straight. Additionally, they have won just one time in their last six contests, and they currently reside in the basement of the Atlantic Division. The biggest reason for the Maple Leafs struggles this year is their poor goaltending. They rank 25th in the league in GA/G, as they are allowing 3.34 GA/G. Anthony Stolarz has lost his touch in the blue paint, as he is allowing 3.51 GA/G in 13 appearances this season, and it doesn’t help that Toronto has used five different goaltenders before the halfway mark on the season. The Maple Leafs are just 13-22 ATS this season.
Money Line
Hot
Colorado Avalanche 8-1-1
The Colorado Avalanche are on pace to break the single-season points record. They are 26-2-7 through their first 35 games and lead the league by four points over the Dallas Stars. Their +61-goal differential is by far the best in the league, and they lead the NHL in both GF/G and GA/G. Nathan MacKinnon has 61 points and 30 goals through the teams’ first 30 games, while Martin Necas and Cale Makar have both eclipsed the 40-point milestone. If that wasn’t enough domination, Scott Wedgewood and Mackenzie Blackwood have the Avalanche allowing just 2.17 GA/G on a .921 SV%. This might be the best team in the history of ice hockey.
Dallas Stars 8-2
The Dallas Stars are the second-best team in the NHL. On any other year, they would be the team to beat, but they are in the shadows of their longtime Central Division rival in Colorado. Dallas has done well to keep pace with the Avalanche, as they trail them by just four points. Mikko Rantanen has been incredible in his time with the Dallas Stars as he is leading the team with 49 points. Jason Robertson and Wyatt Johnston have been an incredible supporting cast to Rantanen, as both players have more than 40 points in the season. It also doesn’t hurt that Miro Heiskanen has been healthy thus far.
Cold
Chicago Blackhawks 2-7-1
To round out our Central Division theme, the Chicago Blackhawks have been the coldest team in the league over the last 10 games. They have lost five straight and are now the sole residents of the league’s basement. Connor Bedard has been playing elite hockey, as he has 44 points and 19 goals in 31 games, but there is little help around the young star. The Blackhawks are averaging just 2.80 GF/G, and their goaltending is allowing 3.11 GA/G. Not a good mix if you want to win.
Seattle Kraken 3-7
Joining the Blackhawks as one of the coldest teams in the league are the Seattle Kraken, who have already shown signs of deferring to next season. They just shipped Mason Marchment to the Columbus Blue Jackets amid their rough 3-10 stretch. Jordan Eberle is the only Seattle player to have passed the 10-goal mark on the season, and his 22 points leads the team. The goaltending hasn’t been bad, but there is little to no offensive production on this roster. Look for Seattle to continue to sell and look ahead to the future.
Get NHL picks on every single game, or if you want our very best bets by the experts, sign up for your free $60 account with a guarantee.
Most Recent Hockey Handicapping
- NHL Betting: Hot and Cold Teams ATS and Moneyline 12/23/2025
- NHL Totals Betting Advice: Hot and Cold Over and Under Teams
- NHL Betting: Hot and Cold Teams ATS and Moneyline 11/26/2025
- NHL Totals Betting Advice: Hot and Cold Over and Under Teams
- NHL Betting: Hot and Cold Teams ATS and Moneyline
- NHL Totals Betting Advice: Hot and Cold Over and Under Teams
- Expert NHL Handicapping Roundup for 10/31/2025
- NHL Betting: Hot and Cold Teams ATS and Moneyline
- NHL Player Awards: Odds and Expert Betting Predictions
- 2025 NHL Hockey Picks Special
