In a thrilling matchup, the Montreal Canadiens overcame a two-goal deficit to defeat the Vegas Golden Knights 3-2, halting the Knights' impressive six-game winning streak. Kirby Dach was the hero of the game, scoring the decisive goal midway through the third period. This victory marked the Canadiens' sixth win in their last seven games, showcasing their resilience and determination.

The Canadiens' comeback was sparked by goals from Cole Caufield and Emil Heineman, who contributed to the team’s momentum after trailing 2-0 late in the second period. Goaltender Sam Montembeault played a crucial role, stopping 27 shots and making critical saves in the dying moments of the game, including two point-blank attempts from the Golden Knights.

On the other side, Zach Whitecloud and Noah Hanifin found the back of the net for the Golden Knights, who suffered just their second loss in December, finishing the month with a solid 10-2 record. Adin Hill, the Golden Knights' goaltender, made 19 saves but could not prevent the Canadiens from sealing the victory. Dach's goal was particularly notable as he skillfully maneuvered past Vegas defenseman Brayden McNabb before scoring.

In a thrilling matchup in San Jose, the Vegas Golden Knights triumphed over the San Jose Sharks with a final score of 6-3, showcasing their resilience and offensive prowess in the third period. Brayden McNabb and Jack Eichel were instrumental in this victory, each netting critical short-handed goals within seconds of one another, turning the tide in favor of the Golden Knights.

Vegas entered the third period trailing 3-2, but their quick response changed the game dynamics. McNabb scored the equalizer just over a minute into the period, followed by Eichel's go-ahead goal 23 seconds later. The Golden Knights capitalized on this momentum, scoring four unanswered goals in the final frame. Apart from McNabb and Eichel, Mark Stone, Brett Howden, Pavel Dorofeyev, and Noah Hanifin also contributed to the scoring, solidifying their team's dominance.

On the other side, the Sharks had a strong start, with rookie sensation Will Smith contributing a goal and an assist. Tyler Toffoli also made his mark with a goal, bringing his season total to 14. Despite their efforts, including a late second-period goal that broke a 2-all tie, San Jose could not maintain their lead in the face of Vegas's relentless attack. Goalies Adin Hill and Alexandar Georgiev recorded 22 and 30 saves, respectively, but it was not enough to stop the Golden Knights' surge.

In a thrilling matchup on Friday night, the New Jersey Devils secured a 4-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes, showcasing a strong performance from defenceman Luke Hughes, who contributed a goal and an assist. Jacob Markstrom was solid in goal, making 29 saves, as the Devils extended their winning streak to three games and improved their record to six wins in their last seven outings.

The scoring opened with Eric Robinson finding the net for Carolina, but New Jersey quickly responded with goals from Ondrej Palat and Nico Hischier, the latter marking his team-leading 18th goal of the season. Despite Brent Burns equalizing for the Hurricanes early in the second period, the Devils took control with goals from Hughes and Dawson Mercer, solidifying their lead.

In other NHL action, the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Detroit Red Wings 5-2, with Mitch Marner scoring a hat trick in Todd McClellan's coaching debut for Detroit. The Columbus Blue Jackets triumphed over the Boston Bruins 6-2, highlighted by Sean Monahan's two goals in his 800th NHL game. Meanwhile, the Buffalo Sabres secured a 6-2 win against the Chicago Blackhawks, thanks to Alex Tuch's hat trick.

The Minnesota Wild rallied to beat the Dallas Stars 3-2 in overtime, with Brock Faber scoring the decisive goal. The St. Louis Blues had a high-scoring affair against the Nashville Predators, winning 7-4, while the Colorado Avalanche defeated Utah 4-1 with Artturi Lehkonen netting a hat trick. Lastly, the Vegas Golden Knights came back from a deficit to win 6-3 against the San Jose Sharks, with key short-handed goals from Brayden McNabb and Jack Eichel.

The NHL fantasy landscape is dynamic, with significant shifts in player rostership trends reflecting collective insights from fantasy managers. As the season progresses, certain players have emerged as hot commodities while others are being dropped due to underperformance.

Connor McMichael of the Washington Capitals and Kevin Lankinen of the Vancouver Canucks are among the most added players, showcasing impressive rostership increases. Conversely, players like Frederik Andersen of the Carolina Hurricanes and Jordan Eberle of the Seattle Kraken are seeing declines in their fantasy value.

With the fantasy season in full swing, managers are advised to leverage these trends to optimize their rosters, trading out underperformers for rising stars.

The Vegas Golden Knights, leading the Pacific Division, face the Edmonton Oilers, who are favored despite being fourth in the division. The Knights have struggled recently, losing two of their last three games, while the Oilers have won three straight. This matchup highlights the oddities in betting lines, especially with the Golden Knights missing their captain, Mark Stone.

Historically, home underdogs have had success against top teams, covering the spread in 68.4% of such games this season. With the Golden Knights' home performance and the Oilers' mixed results as road favorites, the betting landscape is intriguing. Key player statuses, especially for the Oilers, could influence the game dynamics.