NHL nationally televised games for week of Dec. 30

Each Monday throughout the 2024-25 NHL season, ESPN and NHL Network analyst Kevin Weekes will provide fans with a guide of games that will be nationally televised. Today, a look at games for the 12th week of the season.

Highlights include the Nashville Predators visiting the Winnipeg Jets on "Prime Monday Night Hockey," and the Winter Classic between the St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks at Wrigley Field.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 30

Nashville Predators at Winnipeg Jets (7:30 p.m. ET; PRIME, FDSNSO)

This week's game on "Prime Monday Night Hockey" features two Central Division rivals. Winnipeg enters the week atop the NHL standings and Nashville continues a six-game road trip seeking to get back into the Stanley Cup Playoff race. The game will feature players from each country participating in the 4 Nations Face-Off in February: Josh Morrissey (Canada), Connor Hellebuyck (United States) and Kyle Connor (United States) of the Jets, and Filip Forsberg (Sweden), Gustav Nyquist (Sweden) and Juuse Saros (Finland) of the Predators.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31

St. Louis Blues at Chicago Blackhawks (5 p.m. ET; MAX, truTV, TNT, SN, TVAS)

Wrigley Field will be the site of the Winter Classic for the second time (2009) when the Blackhawks host the Blues. Chicago has one win in six previous outdoor games but hopes Connor Bedard can continue his recent hot streak. Goalie Jordan Binnington and the Blues will seek to remain perfect in outdoor games (2-0-0), which also included a 4-1 win against the Blackhawks at Busch Stadium in St. Louis in the 2017 Winter Classic.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 4

New York Rangers at Washington Capitals (Noon ET; ABC, ESPN+, SN, TVAS)

This game features division rivals heading in opposite directions. The Rangers enter the week trying to get out of a tailspin, having lost 14 of 18 games since a 12-4-1 start. The Capitals enter the week leading the Eastern Conference in points and received a boost with the return this past weekend of Alex Ovechkin from injury. New York swept Washington in the first round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, but the Capitals earned a 5-3 win earlier this season in Washington on Oct. 29.

Boston Bruins at Toronto Maple Leafs (7 p.m. ET; CBC, SNO, SNP, NESN)

David Pastrnak of the Bruins and Auston Matthews of the Maple Leafs could go head-to-head for the 21st time. Pastrnak has 26 points (14 goals, 12 assists) in those games while Matthews, who missed his fourth straight game Saturday with an upper-body injury, has 23 points (13 goals, 10 assists). Each has won the "Rocket" Richard Trophy previously, and rank in the top five in the NHL in goals since 2016-17 season, with Matthews having 379 (first) and Pastrnak 336 (fourth).

Edmonton Oilers at Seattle Kraken (10 p.m. ET; KHN, KING5, KONG, SNP, SNO, SNE, CBC)

The Oilers look to rebound after back-to-back losses over the weekend, including a 5-3 defeat at the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl each have an 11-game point streak (McDavid, 21 points; three goals, 18 assists; Draisaitl, 23 points; nine goals, 14 assists). Edmonton is 9-2-0 all-time against Seattle, including 5-1-0 at Climate Pledge Arena. The Kraken had lost five straight before a furious rally in the third period Saturday resulted in a 5-4 overtime win against the Vancouver Canucks.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 5

New York Rangers at Chicago Blackhawks (3 p.m. ET; ABC, ESPN+, SN, TVAS)

The Original Six franchises will play for the 600th time, with the Blackhawks holding a 253-248 edge in wins (also 98 ties). New York will be playing the second of a back-to-back, while Chicago will be continuing a homestand following the Winter Classic. The Blackhawks defeated the Rangers 2-1 at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 9 and can sweep the season series (minimum two games) for the third time in the past 25 years and first since 2017-18.

OTHER NATIONALLY TELEVISED GAMES

MONDAY

New York Rangers at Florida Panthers (7 p.m. ET; SCRIPPS, MSGSN, NHLN, TVAS)

WEDNESDAY

New Jersey Devils at Los Angeles Kings (6 p.m. ET; FDSNW, MSGSN, NHLN, SN)

THURSDAY

Toronto Maple Leafs at New York Islanders (7:30 p.m. ET; HULU, ESPN+, SNO)

Philadelphia Flyers at Vegas Golden Knights (10 p.m. ET; SCRIPPS, NBCSP+, SNP, SNE, SN360, TVAS)

FRIDAY

Pittsburgh Penguins at Florida Panthers (7 p.m. ET; SN-PIT, SCRIPPS, NHLN, SNO, SNE, SN360)

SATURDAY

New Jersey Devils at San Jose Sharks (4 p.m. ET; MSGSN, NBCSCA, SN)

Montreal Canadiens at Colorado Avalanche (7 p.m. ET; ALT, SNE, CITY, TVAS)

Nashville Predators at Calgary Flames (10 p.m. ET; SN1, CITY, SNW, FDSNSO)