The Boston Bruins (34-5-4) visit the New York Islanders (23-18-4) at UBS Arena on Wednesday (7:30 p.m. ET; TNT, NESN, SN). Then the Dallas Stars (26-12-7) visit the San Jose Sharks (13-23-9) at SAP Center (10 p.m. ET; TNT, SN).
Here's my breakdown of the games.
Bruins
Pluses: The Bruins are by far the most complete team in the NHL. I think their team is very different with the return of David Krejci, who played his 1,000th NHL game and had three assists in a 6-0 win against the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday. There is much more balance with him slotted in the middle as opposed to last season when he was playing in the Czech Republic. Linus Ullmark is leading the NHL in wins (23), goals-against average (1.92) and save percentage (.936). David Pastrnak has scored 35 goals and is on pace for 67.
Minuses: There's no negatives for them. Coach Jim Montgomery has done an amazing job in his first season, especially with the injuries at the start.
Islanders
Pluses: They have one of the best goalies in the NHL in Ilya Sorokin, who is a Vezina Trophy candidate. He's 15-14-3 with a 2.30 GAA, .925 save percentage and three shutouts in 34 games (32 starts) and has kept the Islanders in almost every game he's played. Mathew Barzal (11 goals, 41 points) is among six Islanders in double figures in goals (Brock Nelson, 15; Anders Lee, 15; Zach Parise, 12; Noah Dobson 10, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, 10) and New York ranks in the top 10 in goals against per game (2.69; eighth).
Minuses: It's been an interesting year for them because they have improved in some areas but are having trouble stringing together winning streaks. Since winning three straight from Dec. 23-29, they're 2-4-1. The Metropolitan Division is so unforgiving that you can't afford to give away points. They also don't have a game breaker outside of Barzal. Lastly, they are tied for 23rd with the Sharks in goals per game (3.02) and 27th on the power play (17.8 percent).
Stars
Pluses: I feel like they're a team that should be taken seriously for Stanley Cup consideration, especially once everyone is healthy. Tyler Seguin has stepped in nicely on the first line with center Roope Hintz out with an injury. Seguin (31 points) and Jamie Benn (39 points) have had resurgent seasons, so they are not a one-line team (with Hintz, Joe Pavelski and Jason Robertson). Everyone knows about Miro Heiskanen, but Esa Lindell is someone on the back end who doesn't get enough credit as a top-four defenseman. Then you add Jake Oettinger, who for me is one of the best goalies in the NHL. He's only 24 and showed the world what he can do in the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season.
Minuses: Prior to a 4-0 win against the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday, the Stars had lost two tough games in a row, 2-1 in overtime to the New York Rangers after allowing a last-second goal to tie the game, and 6-5 to the Calgary Flames on Sunday in a game they trailed 6-1. They also were shut out 2-0 on Jan. 4 by the Anaheim Ducks, who allow the most goals in the NHL (4.16). These are points they should have, but they can't expect a walkover just because they're playing the struggling Sharks.
Sharks
Pluses: Erik Karlsson is the Norris Trophy winner for me right now. What he's doing at his age (32) and given his injury history is remarkable. He's leading defensemen in goals (14), assists (44) and points (58). Timo Meier can become a restricted free agent after the season and is leading them in goals with 25, so there's a decent chance he may be moved in the next few weeks. Surprisingly, their penalty kill is one of the top units in the NHL (83.9 percent, third).
Minuses: Not much has gone right for them this season. They have lost three straight, including 7-1 to the Edmonton Oilers on Friday and 4-3 in a shootout to the New Jersey Devils on Monday, when they allowed the tying goal in the final 10 seconds. San Jose also has the worst home record in the NHL (4-12-7) and has only strung back-to-back wins together three times.
