After a fairly dismal debut NHL campaign, the Seattle Kraken are now enjoying a much better time of it this year.

It's tight at the top of the Metropolitan Division and the leading two go head-to-head for the third time this season at the PNC Arena.

In a crucial fixture in the Metropolitan Division, the New York Rangers host the hottest team in the NHL Carolina Hurricanes (25-6-6) at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday.

Carolina Hurricanes, the NHL's most in-form team, begin the New Year with a trip to New Jersey to take on the Devils at Prudential Center on Sunday.

The Metropolitan Division race heats up on Friday as the Carolina Hurricanes and Pittsburgh Penguins meet for the second time in a week, this time at Pittsburgh’s PPG Paints Arena.

After losing their last five games, New Jersey Devils' red-hot start to the NHL season has begun to cool and on Wednesday they will face a challenge to hold on to top spot in the Metropolitan Division against second placed Carolina Hurricanes.

Two teams who believe themselves to be Stanley Cup contenders meet on Friday as the Carolina Hurricanes (10-6-4) travel to TD Garden to face the red-hot Boston Bruins (17-3-0).

The Eastern Conference consists of the Metropolitan and Atlantic Divisions which were won by the Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers respectively last season.

The Carolina Hurricanes' excitement to add scorer Max Pacioretty to their line-up has quickly subsided after it was revealed that the 33-year-old will miss up to six months of the new season with an Achilles injury.