The surprising Winnipeg Jets are perched atop the Central Division but staying there could be a challenge given their upcoming schedule. Owners of one the top home records in the NHL, the Jets begin a stretch of four straight and six of seven on the road that will take them to the All-Star break when they visit the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night.

The Washington Capitals have ascended to the top of the Metropolitan Division due in large part to their resounding success at home. Winners of nine in a row and 15 of their last 17 at Capital One Arena, the Capitals vie for their fifth straight overall victory on Tuesday versus the visiting Vancouver Canucks.

The Christmas break has done wonders for Nick Schmaltz, who returned from the time off with eight points (four goals, four assists) in his last six games. The 21-year-old carries a three-game goal-scoring streak into Tuesday's contest as the Chicago Blackhawks aim to escape the cellar in the Central Division when they visit the Ottawa Senators.

The Tampa Bay Lightning emerged from a taxing road trip with at least a point in four of five games (3-1-1) and have two more contests before enjoying their off  week, beginning with a visit from the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night. The Lightning suffered their second straight defeat 6-3 in Ottawa on Saturday, but rebounded 24 hours later to win 5-2 at Detroit in a physical affair.

The St. Louis Blues owned the best record in the Western Conference a month ago but they have hit a rough patch as they prepare to play their final game before going into their bye week. St. Louis has dropped two straight and nine of its last 14 (5-8-1) but will be seeking its fourth consecutive home win versus the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night.

Milan Lucic and the Edmonton Oilers enjoyed numerous positive memories during last season's breakout campaign, but the hurrahs have been few and far between in 2017-18. Losers of the first two contests of their five-game road trip and six of seven overall, the Oilers look to turn around their fortunes on Tuesday against a team that has defeated them 10 straight times in the Nashville Predators.

The Minnesota Wild have been superb at home and a disaster on the road, a trend they hope continues for at least one more game when they host the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night. Minnesota has won four straight at home and dropped five in a row on the road after absorbing a 7-2 beating at Colorado on Saturday.