NHL Teams Most in Need of the 2015 All-Star Break

Wednesday's games are the last in the NHL before the All-Star Game festivities kick off with a televised fantasy draft Friday night. The league doesn't pick up regular play again until next Tuesday. 

As much as the teams riding hot streaks will hate to give up the momentum, there are others who are in great need of a pause. Whether it's because of key injuries, out-of-control losing skids or some rest for the fatigued, these teams will be celebrating the winter break for more than the skills competition and poorly defended, hitless contest that takes place Sunday. 

Click ahead to see who needs the All-Star break the most. 

All stats via NHL.com unless otherwise noted

Montreal Canadiens

Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

What they've done so far: The Canadiens have been one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference for most of the season, holding down third in the hotly contested Atlantic Division. 

Why they need the break: Carey Price may start Tuesday's game after an injury scare, per Pat Hickey of the Montreal Gazette, but the Habs can make sure he's feeling healthy by watching him participate in the All-Star festivities as one of six goaltenders rather than seeing him battle for points for the next week or so. 

Detroit Red Wings

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

What they've done so far: Climbing steadily up the NHL standings, the Red Wings have posted one of the best goals-against averages in the league and stellar special teams play.  

Why they need the break: The only player named to the All-Star team is goaltender Jimmy Howard, who is the biggest reason for the Wings to relish the pause in action. He's on the shelf and won't be able to participate while nursing a groin injury, via Helene St. James and George Sipple of the Detroit Free Press. The break will eat up most of one of the two to four weeks he's expected to miss.

The Wings are not the old-timers of years past, but the team still has plenty of veterans who will enjoy the rest—especially Pavel Datsyuk (36) and Henrik Zetterberg (34). Thirty-five-year-old Johan Franzen is nursing a concussion and hasn't even begun skating, per Sipple.

Columbus Blue Jackets

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What they've done so far: Despite a pair of forwards playing at or near a point-per-game pace, the Blue Jackets have scored the fifth-fewest goals in the Eastern Conference this season. They're well out of a playoff spot and might need a miracle to get back in the hunt.

Why they need the break: For one, the hosts of the All-Star Game will get to take their fans' minds off what has been a disappointing season for the hopeful Blue Jackets after a strong showing in the first round of the playoffs last spring. As the league leader in man-games lost, the Jackets could certainly use some better luck following the rest period. 

Toronto Maple Leafs

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

What they've done so far: The Maple Leafs have managed to frustrate fans and play some of the most inconsistent hockey in the NHL. They're falling farther and farther behind in the playoff race. 

Why they need the break: Three wins in their last 15 games. More media scrutiny than their biggest stars can handle. An interim coaching staff following the firing (finally) of former bench boss Randy Carlyle. The Leafs won 10 of 12 games in a stretch from late November through mid-December, so they're capable of more. Perhaps the time off will offer the fresh start the team needs.

Los Angeles Kings

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

What they've done so far: The Kings have been bouncing in and out of the last wild-card spot in the Western Conference and own an uncharacteristically high goals-against average after leading the league in stingy defense a year ago.

Why they need the break: The Kings are notoriously slow starters, winning the Stanley Cup as eighth- and sixth-place seeds in two of the last three years. This time around, though, they look tired and sloppy, and the amount of hockey the team has played appears to be taking its toll. It's time to hit the reset button and hope they have better legs the rest of the way.

Nashville Predators

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What they've done: The Predators have surprised the league this year and are one of the Western Conference's elite teams.

Why they need the break: The All-Star festivities will give goalie Pekka Rinne some time to heal from a knee sprain with fewer games missed. The Preds have exceeded expectations this year because of the return of a healthier Rinne after he missed a chunk of last season when hip surgery led to infection. He spent the bulk of his minutes playing hurt, and the Preds missed the playoffs as a result.

Buffalo Sabres

Jose Juarez/Associated Press

What they've done so far: Pulling up the rear in the Eastern Conference, the Sabres are destined for a lottery pick at this spring's draft. At least Zemgus Girgensons was voted in as an All-Star starter by Latvians who love hockey and their native son.

Why they need the break: The Sabres enter the All-Star activity on an 11-game skid after a loss to the Detroit Red Wings that defined the kind of struggles they've had all season—coughing up a three-goal lead on Monday to blow a chance to turn things around before the break.

They're dead last in both goals for and goals against per game, shots taken and shots against on average, and have an NHL-worst 9.9 percent success rate on the power play. It's ugly in Buffalo.