Philadelphia Flyers at Montréal Canadiens (-120, 5.5) 
The Habs have been dropping like flies. After staying healthy for most of last year, Montréal finds itself without six players including starting goalie Carey Price. He is out indefinitely with a lower body injury and captain Saku Koivu is not expected to return in early January.
Mike Komisarek has been out since Nov. 13 with a shoulder injury. He attended practice Wednesday and was hoping to get back out there Thursday against the Flyers. But the team’s medical staff felt he should get a few more days of rehab before testing his shoulder in a game.
Injuries aren’t the only thing plaguing the Habs this season. They went 0-for-8 on the power play against the Washington Capitals Sunday night and are a dismal 6-for-78 in their last 18 games.
The Habs have lost four of their last five games after winning three consecutive at home.
Pick: Philadelphia +110
San Jose Sharks at Detroit Red Wings (-135, 5.5)
This matchup will be the one to watch Thursday as the two best teams in the Western Conference face off in Detroit.
It’s not hard to see why San Jose is leading the league in points. The Sharks have scored the most goals in the league and have allowed the third fewest. They have five double-digit scorers and seven players with 20 points or more. They have a Top 10 power play and penalty kill and they have won nine of their last 10 games.
They might also have something else going for them. They faced the Columbus Blue Jackets Wednesday night and are 15-6 in the second of back-to-back games.
This will also be the first time Sharks head coach Todd McLellan returns to the place where he won a Stanley Cup as an assistant last year.
Pick: San Jose +125