NHL Wednesday best bets: Ducks to snap lengthy losing skid

There are only four games on Wednesday night's slate, but there is plenty of value on the board.

Let's dig into it as we look to build on a 3-0 night with our best bets.

Devils (+270) @ Maple Leafs (-340)

The Toronto Maple Leafs own a very pedestrian 5-4-1 record over the last 10 games, but don't let that fool you - they have largely outplayed their opponents.

At five-on-five, the Maple Leafs have controlled over 56% of the shot attempts (fourth) and 57% of the expected goals (fifth) during this spell of mediocre results.

It is not exaggerating to say the only thing holding Toronto back is goaltending. The Leafs' .896 save percentage is among the league's worst over the last 10 contests, and the issues date back long before then.

The good news is the New Jersey Devils have dealt with similar problems. While their five-on-five profile also suggests they're better than the results indicate, goaltending has been their undoing. Only the Seattle Kraken have a worse team save percentage than the Devils this season.

Adding Andrew Hammond to the mix should help, but there's only so much a 34-year-old journeyman can do. There's also no guarantee he starts tonight, which would mean New Jersey either sends out Nico Daws back-to-back nights - the club pulled him last time it tried that - or Jon Gillies and his .884 save percentage.

No matter who the Devils put in the crease, the Leafs are in a good spot to pick up a bounce-back victory.

Bet: Maple Leafs -1.5 (-130)

Blackhawks (+105) @ Ducks (-125)

The Anaheim Ducks are not a good team. The Ducks have won just two of their last 10 games and recently sold off key veterans like Rickard Rakell, Hampus Lindholm, and Josh Manson. Even so, I like Anaheim to pick up two points in this one.

As poorly as the Ducks are playing, the Chicago Blackhawks might be a tier below. The team has controlled just 43% of the (five-on-five) expected goal share over the last 10 matchups, ranking them 27th in the NHL - just below the Buffalo Sabres.

Anaheim has fared much better in that category, controlling more than 52% of the expected goal share over the same period of play. The Ducks don't have many good players to finish the chances they get, but routinely generating more than their opponents is a good sign.

I think the Ducks should be able to punch above their weight class in terms of finishing in this game. Why? With Marc-Andre Fleury out of the picture, Kevin Lankinen is now the Blackhawks' starter - and he has been an unmitigated disaster this campaign.

Among all netminders with at least 17 appearances, only one grades out worse in goals saved above expected per start. One.

It doesn't take much to beat Lankinen. If Anaheim can once again get the bulk of the chances, it should lead to success in this game.

Bet: Ducks (-125)

Trevor Zegras over 2.5 shots (+105)

Trevor Zegras finds himself in a very good spot at home against Chicago. The Blackhawks are among the league's worst teams at limiting shots to centers, ranking in the bottom 10 since the beginning of February and for the season as a whole. Whether you weigh the larger sample or recent play more heavily, Chicago looks very attackable.

Matchups are very important for a player like Zegras, as his volume tends to be inconsistent. He has proven capable of taking advantage of plus matchups, with previous outings against Chicago serving as the perfect examples.

Zegras registered at least three shots in both meetings versus the Blackhawks this season, combining for a whopping 13 shot attempts in that time. Look for that success to continue tonight.

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.

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Maple Leafs’ Mrazek to get 1st start since Heritage Classic

The Toronto Maple Leafs are turning back to goaltender Petr Mrazek on Wednesday against the New Jersey Devils.

Mrazek surrendered four goals on 37 shots in a loss to the Buffalo Sabres in his last appearance at the Heritage Classic on March 13.

With Jack Campbell sidelined and Mrazek struggling, rookie goalie Erik Kallgren took over the crease for the past three games. He earned a 35-save shutout in his debut and split his last two decisions. Kallgren gave up five goals on 33 shots in his previous appearance last Saturday.

"It's a good opportunity to get him going for us," Keefe said about naming Mrazek as Wednesday's starter, according to The Athletic's James Mirtle.

Mrazek has struggled immensely in his first season with the Maple Leafs, managing a .884 save percentage in 17 appearances. He went unclaimed after Toronto placed him on waivers last week.

The 30-year-old took the waiver assignment as a wake-up call and hopes he'll turn things around as the season winds down.

"You never know what can happen. The hockey career can change (in) a minute," Mrazek said, according to TSN's Mark Masters. "I'm happy I'm here."

He added: "It never feels good, you know, but now it's over, and we move on. It's like a reset button and let's get going."

Mrazek has allowed 20 goals on 148 shots in his last five games, producing a .865 save percentage in that stretch.

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Maple Leafs’ Mrazek to get 1st start since Heritage Classic

The Toronto Maple Leafs are turning back to goaltender Petr Mrazek on Wednesday against the New Jersey Devils.

Mrazek surrendered four goals on 37 shots in a loss to the Buffalo Sabres in his last appearance at the Heritage Classic on March 13.

With Jack Campbell sidelined and Mrazek struggling, rookie goalie Erik Kallgren took over the crease for the past three games. He earned a 35-save shutout in his debut and split his last two decisions. Kallgren gave up five goals on 33 shots in his previous appearance last Saturday.

"It's a good opportunity to get him going for us," Keefe said about naming Mrazek as Wednesday's starter, according to The Athletic's James Mirtle.

Mrazek has struggled immensely in his first season with the Maple Leafs, managing a .884 save percentage in 17 appearances. He went unclaimed after Toronto placed him on waivers last week.

The 30-year-old took the waiver assignment as a wake-up call and hopes he'll turn things around as the season winds down.

"You never know what can happen. The hockey career can change (in) a minute," Mrazek said, according to TSN's Mark Masters. "I'm happy I'm here."

He added: "It never feels good, you know, but now it's over, and we move on. It's like a reset button and let's get going."

Mrazek has allowed 20 goals on 148 shots in his last five games, producing a .865 save percentage in that stretch.

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Maple Leafs’ Mrazek to get 1st start since Heritage Classic

The Toronto Maple Leafs are turning back to goaltender Petr Mrazek on Wednesday against the New Jersey Devils.

Mrazek surrendered four goals on 37 shots in a loss to the Buffalo Sabres in his last appearance at the Heritage Classic on March 13.

With Jack Campbell sidelined and Mrazek struggling, rookie goalie Erik Kallgren took over the crease for the past three games. He earned a 35-save shutout in his debut and split his last two decisions. Kallgren gave up five goals on 33 shots in his previous appearance last Saturday.

"It's a good opportunity to get him going for us," Keefe said about naming Mrazek as Wednesday's starter, according to The Athletic's James Mirtle.

Mrazek has struggled immensely in his first season with the Maple Leafs, managing a .884 save percentage in 17 appearances. He went unclaimed after Toronto placed him on waivers last week.

The 30-year-old took the waiver assignment as a wake-up call and hopes he'll turn things around as the season winds down.

"You never know what can happen. The hockey career can change (in) a minute," Mrazek said, according to TSN's Mark Masters. "I'm happy I'm here."

He added: "It never feels good, you know, but now it's over, and we move on. It's like a reset button and let's get going."

Mrazek has allowed 20 goals on 148 shots in his last five games, producing a .865 save percentage in that stretch.

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Canadiens’ Hughes ‘hopeful’ to sign prospect Jordan Harris

Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes just wrapped up his first NHL trade deadline, and now his focus will be on signing defenseman Jordan Harris.

The Canadiens selected Harris with the 71st pick in the 2018 NHL Draft. He's spent the last four seasons at Northeastern University and will become a free agent this summer if he opts not to sign his entry-level deal with Montreal.

"We've talked about what the opportunity would be in Montreal for him if he chooses to (sign). He's an impending free agent if he doesn't sign with us," Hughes said. "Our hope is that he does. We kind of laid out what we're trying to do with the organization, what our plan is, and how we see him fitting in."

Hughes added that he's known Harris for a long time, coached him in the past, and his oldest son has played with and against him since childhood.

"Hopeful that there's a little bit of familiarity that works in our favor," Hughes said.

The 21-year-old blue-liner has been one of the NCAA's premier defensemen over the past few seasons and was named Northeastern's captain this year. He's shown immense promise in his two-way game as a skater who can get things done both offensively and defensively.

Despite being left-handed, Harris has played most of his college career on the right side. Harris won't be eligible to sign a contract until his team's season is over. The NCAA playoffs could last until April 9.

Harris has collected 73 points in 129 games over the past four seasons at Northeastern.

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Stanley Cup odds update: Teams to buy or sell post-deadline

There was no shortage of activity at the 2022 NHL trade deadline. Where do things stand following all the movement?

Here, we'll look at a few teams to buy or sell post-deadline.

TEAM ODDS (3/22) ODDS (3/14)
Colorado Avalanche +400 +400
Florida Panthers +650 +750
Calgary Flames +750 +850
Carolina Hurricanes +800 +800
Tampa Bay Lightning +850 +800
Toronto Maple Leafs +1200 +1100
Vegas Golden Knights +1600 +1000
Pittsburgh Penguins +1600 +1600
New York Rangers +2000 +2000
Boston Bruins +2000 +2000
Minnesota Wild +2100 +2100
St. Louis Blues +2100 +2100
Washington Capitals +2400 +2700
Nashville Predators +2500 +2700
Edmonton Oilers +2500 +3000
Dallas Stars +3500 +3000
Los Angeles Kings +3500 +3500
Winnipeg Jets +9000 +12500
Vancouver Canucks +10000 +7500
Anaheim Ducks +25000 +12500
Columbus Blue Jackets +50000 +30000
New York Islanders +50000 +30000
San Jose Sharks +100000 +30000
Detroit Red Wings +100000  +50000
Chicago Blackhawks +250000 +100000
Buffalo Sabres +250000  +300000
New Jersey Devils +500000 +50000
Philadelphia Flyers +500000  +100000
Ottawa Senators +500000 +150000
Montreal Canadiens +500000 +500000
Arizona Coyotes +500000 +600000
Seattle Kraken +500000 +600000

Buy

Colorado Avalanche (+400)

The Avalanche, who were the best team heading into the deadline, made meaningful improvements to further increase their chances. Josh Manson isn't the player he once was, but he should bolster the top four and work nicely with Sam Girard on the second pairing. Artturi Lehkonen is an excellent middle-six forward who fits perfectly with the team's style of play. He also brings real playoff experience, having made it to the dance with the Montreal Canadiens last season. Additionally, Andrew Cogliano is a nice, speedy role player who improves the team's depth. The Avalanche didn't add any marquee names, but they didn't need to.

Tampa Bay Lightning (+850)

Since the last odds update, the Lightning added Brandon Hagel and Nick Paul, only losing Mathieu Joseph. Hagel is a speedy, forechecking fiend who's on pace for well over 25 goals; Paul is a responsible, versatile, two-way forward. They provide another impressive layer of depth to an already loaded team. Yet Tampa Bay's odds to win the Stanley Cup decreased. I think that's a mistake. Yes, the Lightning have a nightmarish path through the Atlantic Division. But that didn't stop them last year, or the year before. This team looks just as impressive as recent renditions.

Pittsburgh Penguins (+1600)

The Penguins entered the deadline with only one real weakness: finishing. They're among the league's best chance-generation teams, sitting seventh in expected goals at five-on-five. But their actual output has lagged behind, as 12 teams have netted more goals. It went to the wire, but the Penguins did pluck Rickard Rakell from Anaheim to get Evgeni Malkin some help. Rakell's on pace for 26 goals this season and will no doubt benefit from joining a team as talented as Pittsburgh. I think these odds sell the Pens a little short.

Sell

Vegas Golden Knights (+1600)

Things are going from bad to worse for the Golden Knights. They're struggling to stay afloat while losing key player after key player. Vegas technically holds a playoff spot but is behind the Dallas Stars in points percentage. There's still time for the Golden Knights to find their footing, but it feels like health is going to be a severe issue for them whether they sneak into the playoffs or not. If that's the case, they're not going to do much damage.

St. Louis Blues (+2100)

The Blues' record oversells them. They routinely get outshot and outchanced, which isn't a recipe for a sustained playoff run. I like their forwards, but the defense leaves a lot to be desired. I really thought they needed an impact defender who can help suppress chances and get play moving in the right direction. Nick Leddy isn't that.

Dallas Stars (+3500)

What is this team going to do? The Stars would be the final wild-card team if we went by points percentage, though they're currently out of the playoff picture. They have one legitimately good line and one good defensive pairing. Even if Dallas makes it to the playoffs, the team is likely to be pummelled by the Avalanche. And if the Stars grab the top wild-card spot? The end result would be the same against the Calgary Flames. Truth be told, this team would've been better served moving on from a guy like John Klingberg and netting a haul of future assets.

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.

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Maple Leafs collaborate with Bieber to make new reversible jersey

Justin Bieber and the Toronto Maple Leafs are officially in business together.

The pop superstar and the NHL club collaborated to make the first-ever reversible jersey in North American sports history. The Maple Leafs will wear the black and blue side of the jersey on March 23 for its annual Next Gen game against the New Jersey Devils.

The Maple Leafs introduced the Next Gen game in 2017 to "mark a celebration of youth in the community and to unite fans of all ages through the team and the game of hockey."

Bieber, who grew up near Toronto and is a lifelong fan of the Maple Leafs, explained the importance of the collaboration to him.

"My love for the Maple Leafs has always been a big part of who I am, and my passion for the team, and the passion of millions of fans, is stitched into this Next Gen sweater," Bieber said. "I'm grateful to the Leafs for the chance to team up again to create something so authentic for the team and its fans."

The jerseys are now available for sale.

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NHL Tuesday player props: 3 shooters to target

We have a juicy 11-game slate on the docket Tuesday night, which means there's no shortage of player props to attack.

Let's dive into three of my favorites.

Jack Hughes over 3.5 shots (+105)

Jack Hughes is heating up, especially on home ice. The New Jersey Devils' star pivot has averaged a whopping 4.2 shots per game over the last 10 home dates.

I expect that trend to continue against the New York Rangers. While they're a strong team, the Rangers are prone to giving up shots in bunches, even more so to centers.

New York concedes 11.38 shots per game to the position, which is more than all but the lowly Montreal Canadiens (11.40). Look for Hughes to take advantage of this plus matchup.

Roope Hintz over 2.5 shots (-134)

There was a time when Roope Hintz was an automatic play during any game in Dallas. He registered at least three shots in 10 straight home contests to start the season. While Hintz has cooled off, he's still a guy you can comfortably back.

Hintz went over the number in his first meeting with the Edmonton Oilers this season. He also enters play Tuesday having registered at least three shots in three of his last four games in Dallas.

With Miro Heiskanen out of the lineup, the Stars are giving up more defensively. That puts greater emphasis on creating additional offense, which could help Hintz inflate his shot totals.

I like him in this spot against an Oilers team coming off a taxing overtime game against the Colorado Avalanche.

Noah Dobson over 2.5 shots (-112)

These are very generous odds for Noah Dobson. He leads the New York Islanders in shot attempts and shots on goal over the last 10 games. Now, Dobson finds himself in one of the best spots imaginable against the Ottawa Senators.

Only the Arizona Coyotes, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Devils have allowed more shots per game to defensemen than the Senators this season.

Ottawa gives up a lot to the position at the best of times, and now the team is without arguably its best player in Thomas Chabot. The Sens also play fairly high-event hockey, which should raise Dobson's ceiling.

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.

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