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A plethora of attractive interconference games highlights this weekend's schedule, with 28 of the league's 31 teams in action on Saturday.
The busy slate features a pair of Canada's Western Conference teams heading east, an Original Six clash in Quebec, and two of the league's hottest teams meeting in California.
Let's get at it.
Game betting
Vancouver Canucks at Washington Capitals (Saturday)
This is a tough spot for the Canucks, who fly east for a 9:30 a.m. PST puck drop against the East-leading Capitals. Vancouver is a different team away from home than it is at Rogers Arena, and the Nucks are 2-8 in games that start before noon PST since the start of the 2014-15 season. The price will be a bit steep, but back the Capitals to take care of business on home ice, and back them to win in regulation if you don't feel like laying the juice.
Calgary Flames at Philadelphia Flyers (Saturday)
Right now you can get Bill Peters at 10-1 to be the next NHL coach fired. Peters may have earned a bit of a longer leash after his work in Calgary last season, but how patient is general manager Brad Treliving willing to be? The Flames have been shutout in their last three road games and are in the midst of a six-game skid that's seen them drop to seventh in the Pacific. Something needs to change in Calgary. The Flyers are 6-1-3 on home ice and should make it 7-1-3 on Saturday as they'll likely handle the Flames in a 10 a.m. PST puck drop.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Colorado Avalanche (Saturday)
As expected, Sheldon Keefe's arrival had a galvanizing effect on the Leafs. Toronto beat the Coyotes on Thursday in the coach's first game in charge - it was a relatively obvious bet at even money and hopefully, you took advantage. Still, Toronto's issues run deeper than the identity of its bench boss. It's still a team that lacks mental and physical toughness, as well as depth. Nazem Kadri gets a shot at his old team here, and a spirited effort from the well-rounded Avalanche should result. Expect Colorado to deal Keefe his first NHL coaching defeat.
New York Rangers at Montreal Canadiens (Saturday)
Montreal took just one of four possible points against a pair of Eastern Conference bottom-feeders this week, but the results were deceiving. The Canadiens controlled both games against the Blue Jackets and Senators and were unlucky not to win them both. They will right the ship against a Rangers team that will be playing the second leg of a back-to-back and has lost seven of its last eight in Montreal, including four in a row. Also, take a look at the under, which has hit in seven of the Canadiens' last eight home games on two days' rest.
Edmonton Oilers at Vegas Golden Knights (Saturday)
The Oilers have been one of the more inconsistent teams in the NHL this season, alternating between victories and defeats throughout November. When they win, they win big, and when they lose, they lose big. By that logic, they should capture this game since they were run out of the building by the Kings on Thursday. In reality, though, you should have a lot more confidence in a good, albeit underachieving, Golden Knights team bouncing back from its loss to the Sharks. Vegas will round out its homestand with a win.
New York Islanders at San Jose Sharks (Saturday)
Remember when the Sharks were 4-10-1 and the hockey world declared their season over? They're now 11-11-1 and one of the hottest teams in the NHL, just three points out of a playoff spot. Of course, there's no team hotter than the Islanders, who picked up a pair of overtime victories this week to extend their win streak to five and point streak to 16 games. Backing both teams to extend their runs by claiming at least a point here is an attractive option. You can bet the game will go to overtime at close to 7-2.
Game props
New York Rangers at Ottawa Senators (Friday)
The Senators have been a tough out all season, while the Rangers seem to be turning a corner. Stay away from side betting in this one and instead look at the first-period over, which has hit in six consecutive meetings between these two teams and five of the Rangers' seven road games this season.
Florida Panthers at Carolina Hurricanes (Saturday)
Scoring hasn't been much of an issue for the streaking Panthers as of late, but they always seem to make it one in Carolina. They have failed to score more than two goals in their last five trips to face the Hurricanes, including eight of their last nine in Raleigh. Hitting Florida's team total under 3.5 goals will come at a short price in this one given the Panthers' recent form and is worth a wager.
Nashville Predators at St. Louis Blues (Saturday)
You have to go all the way back to Dec. 30, 2016, to find the last time the Predators scored more than two goals in St. Louis in a regular-season game. They've been mired in a funk in November and a trip to face the Blues is hardly a good remedy. Take Nashville's team total under 3.5 and 2.5 in this spot.
Player props
New York Rangers at Montreal Canadiens (Saturday)
Tomas Tatar registered three goals in three games against the Rangers last season, as well as a pair of assists. He made a critical error Wednesday against the Senators that resulted in Ottawa's overtime winner, so this is a good bounce-back spot for him against a team he's had success against. You can bet him to get over 2.5 shots at plus money and can likely get 3-1 odds for him to find the back of the net.
Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.
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