The captain is back.

Toronto Maple Leafs star John Tavares says he will play Tuesday against the Los Angeles Kings after missing the last seven games with a broken finger, according to the Canadian Press' Josh Clipperton.

The Leafs held their head above water without Tavares, going 3-2-2 in his absence, but will certainly welcome back the team's leading goal-scorer from a year ago.

The Leafs still averaged 3.14 goals per game during the seven-game stretch, but the power play suffered, going just 2-for-22 without Tavares.

The 29-year-old had three goals and four assists in eight games before suffering the injury against the Washington Capitals on Oct. 16.

Tavares will draw in for fellow veteran Jason Spezza, who had two points - including his first goal as a Leaf - on Saturday against the Philadelphia Flyers, head coach Mike Babcock said, according to TSN's Kristen Shilton.

The Leafs will also make two other lineup changes. Jake Muzzin said he's good to go after leaving Tuesday's game against the Caps with a charley horse and missing Saturday's tilt versus the Flyers for personal reasons. He'll sub in for Martin Marincin. Nic Petan, who was just recalled after recording five points in two games with the AHL's Toronto Marlies, will also rejoin the lineup in place of Dmytro Timashov.

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Los Angeles Kings forward Tyler Toffoli is subject to early-season trade chatter for a number of reasons, and being a healthy scratch last week has escalated matters.

Toffoli was left out of the lineup Oct. 30 versus the Vancouver Canucks after going pointless in eight consecutive games. The 27-year-old addressed the trade rumors on Monday.

"I mean, it's just the way it is," Toffoli said, according to Sportsnet's Luke Fox. "It comes with not playing well and not winning games, so whatever happens, happens.

"I was definitely disappointed (by the scratch), but at the end of the day it's not my decision. My job is to go out there and perform."

Toffoli has been a staple in the Kings' attack since 2014, and benching him was not an easy choice for new head coach Todd McLellan.

"You debate whether you're doing the right thing or the wrong thing, but the end game is what it's about when you're making a decision," McLellan said.

"Toff started the season really well. He fell off a little bit, and we didn't want to let it go."

In his first game back in the lineup on Nov. 2, Toffoli recorded two assists in a victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. The win was Los Angeles' third in its last 10 games.

Toffoli is an unrestricted free agent at season's end, and he carries a cap hit of $4.6 million. The retooling Kings might try to recoup some assets for the right-winger before the trade deadline.

Toffoli could be an attractive option for contending teams looking to add offensive depth. He's eclipsed 20 goals twice in his career and 30 once, and he won a Stanley Cup with Los Angeles in 2014.

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Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.

There are some tasty games on tap this week as we head into the first midweek slate of November.

The highlights include a Pacific Division clash in Edmonton, an Original Six rivalry in Montreal, and a meeting between two of the league's highest-scoring teams in the Sunshine State. Here's your guide to betting all of those games and more:

Game betting

Arizona Coyotes at Edmonton Oilers (Monday)

All the talk to start the season was about how good the Central Division is, but it hasn't held a candle to the Pacific thus far. The Oilers lead with 21 points, while the Coyotes sit sixth despite an 8-4-1 record. Edmonton has steadied the ship with back-to-back wins but Arizona has caught fire and is the better team of the two. Back the Coyotes at even money Monday night.

Montreal Canadiens at Boston Bruins (Tuesday)

Little else gets the Bell Centre going quite like a visit from the big, bad Bruins does. This rivalry has simmered down a bit since the days of Tim Thomas and Carey Price dropping the gloves, but it still remains one of the most entertaining in hockey. The Bruins have their eyes fixed on this game as they start Jaroslav Halak on Monday against the Pittsburgh Penguins to save Tuuka Rask for Montreal. Still, the Canadiens are typically very strong at home and have Boston's number recently, beating the Bruins five straight times in Quebec, and in eight of the last 10 overall. They'll deal Boston a rare loss Tuesday night.

St. Louis Blues at Vancouver Canucks (Tuesday)

These two teams would sit atop their respective divisions if you used points per game rather than total points. The Canucks are 4-0-1 at home this season, scoring at least five goals in half of their games, including five of their last six. That prowess will be put to the test against the defending Cup champions, though the Blues' defensive record on the road has been less than stellar. Goals shouldn't be in short supply in this one, which has all the makings of a fascinating watch.

Washington Capitals at Florida Panthers (Thursday)

Both teams will be rested for this game, as the Panthers last played Saturday and the Capitals most recently suited up a day later. Florida has quietly been an offensive powerhouse this season, while nine of Washington's last 10 games have gone over the total. Until they start setting the Capitals' totals at 7.5, there's no reason not to keep betting the over.

Vegas Golden Knights at Toronto Maple Leafs (Thursday)

Toronto has consistently been beaten at home by good teams this season, losing to the Blues, Capitals, and Tampa Bay Lightning. The line is always a bit inflated for the Maple Leafs - as tends to be the case for a public team - but these home games remain great spots to fade Toronto until it provides evidence to suggest it's finding its game. Vegas has not impressed on the road this season, but there is great value in backing the Golden Knights as underdogs.

Game props

Colorado Avalanche at Dallas Stars (Tuesday)

Injuries continue to plague the Avalanche, who have scored one goal or fewer in three of their last six contests. This is a tough game for them to rediscover their scoring touch, as they square off with a Stars team that rarely concedes at home. Playing Colorado's team total under 2.5 would appear to be the logical choice, but have a look at the first-period under instead. Scoring will be at a premium over the opening 20 minutes between these two; their last five meetings in Dallas have produced just three goals in the first frame.

Detroit Red Wings at New York Rangers (Wednesday)

Let's stick with the first-period unders here. There has been one goal or fewer scored during the initial 20 minutes in the last nine meetings between the Red Wings and Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Who are we to go against tradition?

Los Angeles Kings at Ottawa Senators (Thursday)

Just about anyone can score on the Kings these days, even the Senators. Los Angeles has allowed at least five goals in five of its seven road games this season, while Ottawa has scored at least four in four of its last six at home. The Senators should be attractively priced to go over the 3.5 team total and we should take advantage.

Player props

Los Angeles Kings at Toronto Maple Leafs (Tuesday)

The Maple Leafs could bring back Mike Komisarek and he would probably score in this game, so Auston Matthews definitely should. He's scored 10 of his 11 goals at home this season and will have ample opportunity to continue that trend against Los Angeles on Tuesday night.

Washington Capitals at Florida Panthers (Thursday)

Brett Connolly has got his Panthers career off to a strong start with five goals through the first 14 games. Look for him to add to his tally against his former team in what will be his first contest against the Capitals after spending the last three years in Washington.

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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Every Monday, theScore offers a weekly fantasy hockey column detailing a handful of moves you should make. This week's edition focuses on Week 5. Ownership percentages and position eligibility are courtesy of Yahoo.

Trade for Patrik Laine

Team: Jets
Position: LW/RW
Ownership: 99%

With 14 points in 13 games, Laine is off to the best start of his career - but it could be a whole lot better. Although the prolific sniper has scored just three times, he's added 11 assists. If this pace continues, it would be the first time Laine tallies more assists than goals in a season.

Laine has been more engaged this year and more responsible defensively. As a result, head coach Paul Maurice has shown more trust in the 21-year-old and has given him a career-high 19:18 of ice time per game - over two minutes more than he averaged last season.

Laine's owner may be reluctant to give him up, but a strong enough offer could persuade him/her. The Finn is bound to start finding twine, specifically on the power play, where he's been held without a goal after registering half his tallies on the man advantage a year ago. He could be in line for a 90-100 point season.

Add Alexandar Georgiev

Team: Rangers
Position: G
Ownership: 26%

It may be a passing of the torch in the Big Apple, as 23-year-old Georgiev has outplayed 37-year-old veteran Henrik Lundqvist through the Rangers' first 11 games:

Georgiev will start his third straight game on Monday with a cushy matchup against the Ottawa Senators after allowing just one goal apiece against the Tampa Bay Lightning and Nashville Predators last week.

Lundqvist will start on Wednesday against the Detroit Red Wings, but Georgiev is all but guaranteed a start against the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday, and possibly versus the Florida Panthers on Sunday.

Georgiev has both short- and long-term value and needs to be owned in all formats.

Add Ryan Strome

Team: Rangers
Position: C/RW
Ownership: 32%

Another Ranger worth owning is the eldest Strome brother. With Mika Zibanejad sidelined, the former No. 5 overall pick has taken an opportunity and run with it. He's centering the Rangers' first line between Artemi Panarin and Jesper Fast and has recorded four goals and five assists during his six-game point streak.

Zibanejad and Panarin weren't gelling in the games leading up to the former's injury, so it's possible Strome can hang around on the first line even when Zibanejad returns.

Sell/drop Victor Olofsson

Team: Sabres
Position: LW/RW
Ownership: 63%

Victor "Goalofsson" has not been living up to his name lately. After tallying six goals in his first seven games - all of which came on the power play - the Sabres rookie has failed to light the lamp in the eight contests since.

Buffalo's power play was due to come down to earth eventually, and it has. Considering Olofsson has not shown a propensity to score at even strength, he's no longer worth owning in fantasy.

In keeper/dynasty leagues, you may be able to get something in return for the Swede on the trade market. In redraft leagues, he's worth putting on the trade block, but if there are no takers, he can be dropped - especially considering Buffalo plays just two games this week, and both are against the Lightning.

Add Joel Farabee

Team: Flyers
Position: LW
Ownership: 1%

Farabee should be available in even the deepest of leagues. The Flyers rookie has mustered together just a goal and an assist through seven games, but he's had an additional two points revoked due to offside reviews.

The 19-year-old is skating on the club's first line with Claude Giroux and James van Riemsdyk and seeing time on the top power-play unit. Among skaters with 100 minutes played, he ranks seventh in the NHL with 6.15 high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes, according to Natural Stat Trick.

A proven offensive threat at every level of his career, it's just a matter of time before the 14th overall pick from the 2018 draft starts capitalizing on his chances.

Josh Wegman has been theScore's resident fantasy hockey expert since 2015. Find him on Twitter @JoshWegman_.

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