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We enjoyed a 3-1 night on Wednesday, taking us to 7-3 overall since the All-Star break. It's nice to have the NHL back.

There are just three games tonight, which is strangely quiet for a Thursday, but I think we've got three winners picked out. Let's get to it.

GOATs and scapegoats (Wednesday)

Adam Henrique scored a pair of first-period goals to help the Anaheim Ducks (+110) beat the Arizona Coyotes on Wednesday, ensuring we took home a nice profit on the night. That's what I call GOAT material.

We can't say the same for Dallas Stars forwards Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn, who each finished minus-1 and couldn't register a single point against a miserable Toronto Maple Leafs defense. That's why we didn't finish 4-0 on Wednesday.

Thursday's bets

Montreal Canadiens (-115)

I suffered through the Buffalo Sabres' loss to the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday, and there were some troubling signs from the Sabres. Forget about their ineffective penalty kill or complete lack of offense outside of Jack Eichel - the team just looked defeated long before the game was over. Losing to the Senators effectively ended any hope Buffalo had of pulling back into the playoff race, and given the seemingly fragile mindset of this team, it's hard to imagine a positive response here.

Despite what their record might indicate, the Canadiens are playing competitive hockey on a nightly basis. They're also getting healthy and have goaltender Carey Price in his best form of the season (.933 save percentage in January). Trust Montreal to leave Buffalo with two points.

New Jersey Devils (+120)

The Devils have been playing some really strong hockey on home ice over the past month. They've beaten the Ducks, Boston Bruins, and Tampa Bay Lightning while losing to the Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Islanders in overtime. That's an impressive point haul given the quality of opponents.

It's fair to say the underachieving Nashville Predators are a step down in class. The Preds are coming off a hard-fought win in Washington on Wednesday that was both physically and emotionally draining, leaving them in a letdown spot here. Nashville is just 1-3 this season when playing on no rest (allowing 17 goals in those games) and has lost seven of its last eight in that spot. Falling to the Devils a night after beating the Capitals would be right in line with the sort of season the Predators have produced.

Best bet

Los Angeles Kings/Arizona Coyotes over 5.5 (+110)

There's still a perception that the Coyotes are an "under" cash cow, but that hasn't been the case on home ice ever since the team traded for Taylor Hall. Following the trade, Arizona has gone 6-1 to the over at Gila River Arena, with those games averaging a staggering 7.6 goals. Additionally, Thursday's contest is the second leg of a back-to-back for the Coyotes, and they've hit four straight overs at home when playing on no rest.

The Kings were also in action last night. They're 2-4 on the road this season when playing in the second game of a back-to-back, with five of those contests seeing at least six goals. Expect more fireworks on Thursday in the desert, despite what the total might indicate.

Trend of the night

The Coyotes are 1-9 in their last 10 home games played on no rest.

As mentioned above, Arizona faced Anaheim last night. The Coyotes have posted a brutal record on home ice recently when playing in the second leg of a back-to-back, so this would appear to be a good spot to fade them. That being said, the Kings also played last night and are cemented in the basement of the Western Conference, which makes them a tough team to back here, even at the generous price of +170.

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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Boston Bruins forward David Backes won't report to AHL Providence despite being placed on waivers for purpose of assignment earlier this month, the team announced Thursday.

"After speaking with David, we have agreed that is in the best interest of David and the Bruins for him not to play in Providence at this time. David is fit and able to play, but in order to preserve all potential options for both David and the Bruins moving forward, we have decided this is the best course of action," Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said in a statement.

The veteran forward has played only 16 games for Boston this season, most recently suiting up Jan. 9. He was sent down to the AHL on Jan. 17.

After 10 seasons with the St. Louis Blues, Backes signed a five-year, $30-million contract with the Bruins in 2016. His deal expires after the 2020-21 campaign and includes a modified no-trade clause that features an eight-team exemption list this year and 15-team list next year, according to Cap Friendly.

Backes, 35, has posted 39 goals and 55 assists in 217 games since joining Boston.

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The All-Star break has come and gone, and from now until early April, it's going to be a dogfight for several clubs to get inside the playoff cutline.

With that in mind, let's break down the remaining schedules of the teams battling for position in the Western Conference. Note that the NHL altered its tiebreaking procedure this season, making regulation wins the No. 1 deciding factor for teams deadlocked in the standings.

Playoff odds are courtesy of Money Puck and change every night, while average points percentage indicates the quality of opponents each team is slated to face for the rest of the season. The higher the rank, the more difficult the schedule.

Here's a look at the standings entering play Thursday.

(C = Central Division; P = Pacific Division; WC = wild card)

To see the Eastern Conference breakdown as of Wednesday, click here.

Colorado Avalanche

Current playoff odds: 97.4%
Remaining home-road split: 16-17
Avg. opponent point % (league rank): .526 (31st)

The Avalanche should have no issue making the playoffs, but their stretch run will still be greatly important. Colorado and Dallas are set to duke it out for the No. 2 seed in the Central, with home-ice advantage in the first round being the grand prize. That battle is neck and neck right now, but the Avs have been more consistent over the course of the season, are facing a soft slate of opponents, and own a significant advantage in regulation wins, making them the favorites to come out on top.

Crucial stretch: Colorado will play the easiest schedule in the league from here on out, but three of four games from Feb. 13-19 will come against some of the best teams in the NHL: the Capitals, Lightning, and Islanders.

Dallas Stars

Current playoff odds: 82.6%
Remaining home-road split: 15-17
Avg. opponent point % (league rank): .552 (22nd)

Dallas is sitting pretty in the playoff picture after a nightmarish start to the season. The Stars lead the NHL in goals against per game (2.45), and that's helped distance them from the pack of trailing teams in the Central.

Crucial stretch: The Stars will play 10 of their 15 February games on the road, where they're just 12-10-2 this season compared to 16-7-2 at home.

Vancouver Canucks

Current playoff odds: 83.5%
Remaining home-road split: 16-15
Avg. opponent point % (league rank): .558 (14th)

The Canucks are one of five teams in the Pacific that will be grinding for position until April. Only five points separate first and fifth place in the division, but Vancouver's in a position of strength, owning the most regulation wins and games in hand on every team but the Oilers. The Canucks have been on a roller-coaster ride all season, so maintaining their recent consistency will be key if they hope to snap a four-year playoff drought.

Crucial stretch: Vancouver will play six games from March 20-28, all against Pacific Division opponents.

Calgary Flames

Current playoff odds: 82.1%
Remaining home-road split: 18-12
Avg. opponent point % (league rank): .541 (28th)

The Flames have played more games than most teams in the Pacific and also lack regulation wins, but a slew of extra home contests and a highly favorable schedule give Calgary solid odds to make the playoffs. It's a different feeling than when the Flames cruised to the division title last year, but they're still very much in control of their own destiny.

Crucial stretch: Although Calgary will play the majority of its remaining schedule at home, a five-game road trip beginning Feb. 23 is the most important chunk of contests the team has left.

Edmonton Oilers

Current playoff odds: 67.1%
Remaining home-road split: 17-15
Avg. opponent point % (league rank): .559 (T-12th)

Can Edmonton ride Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl all the way to the playoffs? At this point, Money Puck projects that to be the likely outcome, but the league's two leading scorers will need to maintain their pace the rest of the way. The Oilers will also need Mike Smith to stay hot down the stretch, as the veteran netminder is 5-0-2 with a .920 save percentage so far in 2020.

Crucial stretch: Edmonton will play seven games in 12 nights from Feb. 25 through March 7. Such a compact schedule has the potential to make or break their season.

Vegas Golden Knights

Current playoff odds: 71.5%
Remaining home-road split: 14-16
Avg. opponent point % (league rank): .568 (7th)

It's fair to say the Golden Knights have underachieved to this point, but their playoff odds are still pretty good. Based on talent alone, it's easy to see Vegas ultimately pulling away from its competitors and qualifying, but with 53 games played, the club doesn't have much time left.

Crucial stretch: All of March. Out of 14 games in the month, 10 will come against divisional opponents or teams in the wild-card race.

Arizona Coyotes

Current playoff odds: 38.6%
Remaining home-road split: 17-13
Avg. opponent point % (league rank): .559 (t-12th)

Since Vezina candidate Darcy Kuemper went down with an injury, the Coyotes have gone just 6-8-1. Kuemper is easily the club's most important player, but Arizona must find a way to make a run without him after going all-in to end the league's second-longest postseason absence this year.

Crucial stretch: The Coyotes' opponents from Feb. 15-25 are a murderers' row of contenders. Arizona will start with the Capitals before taking on the Islanders, Stars, Blues, Lightning, and Panthers.

Winnipeg Jets

Current playoff odds: 18.6%
Remaining home-road split: 17-14
Avg. opponent point % (league rank): .569 (5th)

The Jets are still in the West race, but their hopes are waning. A depleted blue line and a number of key injuries up front have caught up to Winnipeg and created an uphill climb. A current four-game losing streak has also cratered the Jets' playoff odds in Money Puck's eyes, but stringing a couple of wins together could get the percentages trending in the other direction. Either way, the clock is ticking.

Crucial stretch: Right now. The Jets need to stop the bleeding immediately, and they'll be tested right after their bye with games against the Bruins, Predators, and Blues (twice) from Jan. 31 until Feb. 6.

Chicago Blackhawks

Current playoff odds: 40.3%
Remaining home-road split: 14-17
Avg. opponent point % (league rank): .556 (19th)

While the Jets are sliding, a recent hot streak suddenly has the Blackhawks within three points of a surprise playoff spot. Chicago had won five in a row before a loss heading into its break, but that recent success may not be sustainable. The Blackhawks own fewer regulation wins than both teams right below them in the standings and rank 28th in expected goals rate at five-on-five (46.66%). Chicago has certainly made things interesting, but this team is likely not built to last.

Crucial stretch: The Blackhawks will embark on a five-game road trip from February 9-16, during which they'll only face teams directly above them in the standings. In order, Chicago will play the Jets, Oilers, Canucks, Flames, and then the Jets again during that stretch.

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In the fourth edition of theScore's Norris Trophy Power Rankings, a veteran blue-liner chasing his first Norris enters the fold.

5. Shea Weber

Weber stays on this list despite an ice-cold January that's seen him register just a pair of assists in his last 11 games. His overall body of work at both ends of the ice remains impressive, and there's no player worthy of dethroning him with Dougie Hamilton out indefinitely. The Canadiens' expected goals share drops three percent without their captain on the ice.

4. Alex Pietrangelo

Pietrangelo cracks this list for the first time this campaign. In a contract year, he's peaking at the right time: The Blues captain is on pace for career highs in goals, assists, points, and power-play points. Pietrangelo has been especially hot of late, tallying 11 points in 11 games since the last edition of these rankings.

3. Victor Hedman

Get used to seeing Hedman on this list. The Lightning blue-liner has been a finalist for the Norris in each of the last three seasons - winning it in 2017-18 - and there's a strong chance he finishes in the top three once again this year. Hedman's combination of size and speed is unmatched by any player in the league, let alone by any defenseman.

2. Roman Josi

Josi is enjoying a fantastic season and holds a 14-point lead atop the Predators' scoring list. He's continued his strong play even while partner Ryan Ellis has been sidelined with a concussion, tallying 10 points in his last 11 games. Josi has been the runner-up in all four editions of this list, and though his performance this season would likely be good enough to win the Norris in any other year, one man continues to stand above the rest in 2019-20.

1. John Carlson

Carlson is still in a league of his own, remaining on pace for over 95 points during his historic campaign. For those who think he's simply the beneficiary of dishing passes to Alex Ovechkin on the Capitals' powerplay, it's important to note he leads all rearguards in even-strength points, too. Carlson's not only running away with the Norris, but he should garner plenty of Hart Trophy consideration as well.

Honorable mentions: Ryan Suter (Wild), Kris Letang (Penguins), Erik Karlsson (Sharks), Cale Makar (Avalanche)

(Advanced stats source: Natural Stat Trick)

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Calgary Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk wasn't trying to do anyone a favor when he decided to drop the mitts with Edmonton Oilers winger Zack Kassian during his club's 4-3 shootout win Wednesday night.

“I just didn’t like getting kinda pummelled at home like I did," Tkachuk said following the game, according to Flames reporter Wes Gilbertson. "A lot of people didn’t want me to do it, but I wanted to. It was a way for me to stick up for myself. It wasn’t anything to do with owing anybody. I was just doing it for myself.”

Tkachuk laid some heavy hits during the last meeting between the two sides Jan. 11, which resulted in Kassian pounding the Flames forward before calling him out postgame for refusing to fight back. Kassian was subsequently handed a two-game suspension for his actions.

This time, however, Tkachuk was more than willing to settle the score, and the Oilers forward appreciated his rival answering the bell.

“He wanted to fight right away, but I wanted to keep him guessing a little bit," Kassian said, according to the Edmonton Sun's Rob Tychkowski. "I respect him for stepping up. I told him before we even dropped the gloves. Now it’s over. I wish this would have happened in the first place and then it would have been done.”

The Battle of Alberta continues Saturday when the Flames and Oilers meet again in Calgary.

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The Edmonton Oilers have inked forward Zack Kassian to a four-year contract extension worth $3.2 million annually, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.

The deal keeps the 29-year-old in Edmonton through the 2023-24 campaign. He was scheduled to become an unrestricted agent at the end of this season. With Kassian signed, the Oilers now have $1.26 million in projected cap space for 2019-20, according to CapFriendly.

Kassian has recorded 13 goals and 28 points through 44 games this season, and he's on pace to shatter career bests in each category. He also leads the team with 123 hits while averaging a career-high 16:15 of ice time per game.

The 6-foot-3 winger has missed the club's last two games after being suspended for an incident on Jan. 11 involving Calgary Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk. He returns to the Oilers' lineup on Wednesday in a rematch with their Alberta rival.

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