from Dan Rosen of NHL.com,

Here are 10 of the best storylines and/or things to watch between now and the All-Star break in a jam-packed five-plus weeks in the NHL:

An eye on the hottest teams
The Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators entered the holiday break each riding a seven-game winning streak.

The Penguins (17-8-5) are fourth in the Metropolitan Division, where they stood when their streak began Dec. 4, but they are 10 points ahead of the fifth-place Columbus Blue Jackets. They were one point ahead of Columbus before a 4-1 win against the Vancouver Canucks on Dec. 4.

Pittsburgh has 17 games before the All-Star break, but one is against any of the three teams ahead of them in the standings (Feb. 1 at home against the Washington Capitals).

The Predators (19-10-1) are tied for second in the Central Division with the Blues, one point behind the Wild, three ahead of the fourth-place Colorado Avalanche and six ahead of the fifth-place Winnipeg Jets. They were fifth when they started their streak Dec. 4.

Nashville has 16 games scheduled before the All-Star break.

Rask's return to Bruins
Tuukka Rask has been practicing with the Boston Bruins since Dec. 6, but the veteran goalie, an unrestricted free agent rehabbing from hip surgery he had in July, has not talked to them about a new contract, Bruins president Cam Neely said Dec. 22.

That could change in January.

Rask has repeatedly said if he signs this season it will be with the Bruins, the only team he has played for in his 14-season NHL career. The 34-year-old could be ready to play in three weeks, coach Bruce Cassidy said Sunday. Rask has been in Boston for his entire rehab....

more on Rask and 8 more topics...