Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Evgeni Malkin has been suspended four games for cross-checking Nashville Predators blue-liner Mark Borowiecki, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced Monday.

The play occurred in the final seconds of the second period in Sunday's game. Malkin was assessed a four-minute double-minor for high-sticking and a two-minute minor for slashing.

Borowiecki didn't return for the third period. Pittsburgh ultimately won the contest in overtime.

Malkin has one prior suspension in his career, coming in 2019 after he swung his stick at then-Philadelphia Flyers forward Michael Raffl.

Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews was suspended two games for a similar play last month after catching Rasmus Dahlin with a high cross-check.

Losing Malkin is a critical loss for the Penguins as they battle for playoff seeding. The club currently sits third in the Metropolitan Division with 94 points and eight games remaining, but the Washington Capitals are only four points behind with two games in hand. Malkin will miss half of his team's final regular-season games.

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Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty underwent successful wrist surgery on Monday and will miss the rest of the season, the team announced.

Los Angeles expects him to make a full recovery and be ready for next season.

Doughty has been out of the lineup since March 7. He was enjoying a solid campaign for the Kings, scoring seven goals and adding 24 assists in the 39 games he skated in.

Injuries have hampered the Kings all season long, with defensemen Mikey Anderson and Sean Walker currently on long-term injured reserve.

L.A. is in the thick of the playoff race in the Pacific Division despite the injury battle. The club is currently in third place with a 38-26-10 record.

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The Buffalo Sabres will finally get to see Owen Power in NHL action on Tuesday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The first overall pick of the 2021 draft and Mississauga native is even more excited that he gets to make his debut in his hometown.

"I think it's extremely special. Anyone's NHL debut is a really special moment, but to be able to have it in my hometown with all my family here, I think just makes it that much better," Power said Monday, according to TSN.

"I think just go out there and play my game. Like I said, I know it's gonna be an adjustment, but I don't think I need to change the way that I play. I think I'll adjust on the fly and just go out there, play my game, and have fun."

Power just wrapped up his second season at Michigan, where he scored three goals and added 29 assists in 33 games. He also represented Team Canada at the Olympics, managing one assist in five games.

Sabres head coach Don Granato noted how incredible he feels to see how Power's jumped from team to team over the past couple of years and stayed on the top of his game. He also represented Canada at the world juniors and world championship.

"If you think of how many teams he's been on in the last two years and the pressure's he's had on him or the hype he's had on him for the last two years, it just rolls off him," Granato said. "He handles it pretty well - especially when he puts his hockey gear on."

This is how the team's defensive pairings looked at practice Monday:

Power became the NHL's third defenseman to be taken first overall in the NHL since 2007. The Sabres selected Rasmus Dahlin in 2018, and the Florida Panthers took Aaron Ekblad in 2014.

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Two weeks remain in the NHL season, and the entire Eastern Conference is playing out the string with a 15-point gap between the final playoff team and the first team out. How that great divide will affect games between now and April 29 is anyone's guess, so bettors should tread lightly.

Meanwhile, things are heating up out west. With eight points separating six teams fighting for the wild card spots, it won't just be bettors keeping an eye on scoreboards. Tuesday night's feature in the wild Western Conference is a matchup between the Golden Knights and Canucks.

The Canucks took three out of four available points in a home-and-home with Vegas earlier in April and have won three straight to bolster their playoff hopes. However, the Golden Knights are 7-3 on the moneyline in their last 10 games.

Before even looking at the metrics, the situation and the way these two teams are fighting to climb the standings suggest a game that could go either way and should be priced as something of a coin flip.

The Canucks will continue a sweep-able homestand after Tuesday's matchup, while the Golden Knights will carry on to Alberta for games against better teams. What happens during this section of the schedule will drastically affect both clubs' playoff hopes. On Tuesday night, with each side needing to amplify its play from regular season to "playoff hockey," we'll get a strong indication if bettors can find value trusting or fading these two teams going forward.

The recipe

Before the 2021-22 campaign, we devised a three-part series on how to use the regular-season point-total market to create team ratings, how to interpret home-ice advantage, and then how to use those to create your own moneylines.

This season's on-ice predictive metrics make up 80% of our total rating. Basing 20% of the ratings on preseason "priors" allows us to emphasize team metrics without going all-in on what's happened during this campaign, which is still a relatively small sample size that includes some tainted results from when COVID-19 ravaged lineups.

I also have a 5% win probability consideration for a side playing in the second game of a back-to-back with travel and 3% without travel.

How to use the guide

What follows is my fair price on the matchups (true moneyline) and the moneyline price I would need to bet on each side. I just need a 1% edge for a favorite if we're getting better than a fair price on the team more likely to win. For the underdog, I'll need 4% or better to make it a bet. You can establish your own threshold - you may decide on a higher cutoff for bigger underdogs, like 6%-7%. On games I've projected could be a near coin flip, a 2.5% edge is enough to make a wager worthwhile.

Tuesday, April 12

Compare the "Price to Bet" column with the prices the market offered. From there, compile a list of bets. The only reason not to make a bet is if our team ratings don't account for something - like a star player being a surprise scratch - or if you've put a team on the "Do Not Bet" list.

After you make your bets, come back before puck drop on game night to see if line moves created a valuable bet that wasn't there before. At that point, compare the price of your opening bet to its late price to see how much closing-line value you may be getting.

Matt Russell is a betting writer for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.

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This is the 14th edition of theScore's NHL Power Rankings for the 2021-22 campaign. Check back for updated rankings every second Monday during the regular season.

In this edition, we select an emoji for each team to represent its season.

1. Colorado Avalanche (52-14-6)

Previous rank: 2

😎: It seems like nothing can faze the Avalanche. They've battled more than their fair share of injuries, including current ailments to captain Gabriel Landeskog and Nazem Kadri, but they keep on winning. Bow down to greatness.

2. Florida Panthers (51-15-6)

Previous rank: 1

😼: This one feels a bit like a gimme, but the cat is making the same face the Panthers probably make when they execute another improbable comeback win. The Cardiac Cats are bringing their relentless ways to the postseason.

3. Toronto Maple Leafs (47-19-6)

Previous rank: 10

🤷: The Maple Leafs could go 82-0-0 in a regular season. It just won't matter if they lay another egg in the playoffs.

4. Carolina Hurricanes (47-18-8)

Previous rank: 3

🍿: The Hurricanes are always an enjoyable team to watch. It'll be even more compelling to see if they can hold off the team below them on this list for the Metropolitan Division title and finally make a Stanley Cup run with this group.

5. New York Rangers (47-20-6)

Previous rank: 6

🏆: Behold! An emoji representing the Vezina Trophy that Rangers star goaltender Igor Shesterkin will take home this season.

6. Calgary Flames (44-19-9)

Previous rank: 4

👷: Sure, the Flames have been the epitome of the flame emoji this season, but that's too easy. Head coach Darryl Sutter has brought structure and responsibility to Calgary, and he's got his team ready to work and compete in every game.

7. Boston Bruins (45-22-5)

Previous rank: 5

😤: The Bruins have the NHL's ninth-best record by points percentage but still might end up in a wild-card spot. That's just life when you're playing in the stacked Atlantic Division. Despite the tough competition, Boston has put its heads down and gone to work.

8. Minnesota Wild (44-21-6)

Previous rank: 8

🐐: Kirill Kaprizov, who's having the greatest season by a Wild player ever, is only scratching the surface of his talent. The Russian dynamo, who'll turn 25 later in April, set the franchise record for points in a campaign earlier this month and tied the team's single-season goals record Sunday.

9. Tampa Bay Lightning (44-20-8)

Previous rank: 7

😐: Nothing new from the Lightning this season. The team might be starting to feel a bit of fatigue after its back-to-back Cup runs, but Tampa Bay is still as good as anyone in the NHL.

10. Edmonton Oilers (42-25-6)

Previous rank: 16

🥴 : It wasn't too long ago that the Oilers looked poised to miss the playoffs and waste another year of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. The team has now won 12 of its last 16 games and is in good shape with just a handful of contests left. Fans probably don't know what to feel at this point after the club went through all the emotions this season.

11. St. Louis Blues (42-20-10)

Previous rank: 15

🎸: Every time Robert Thomas does something good, out come the Matchbox 20 and "Smooth" references. The Blues pivot has heard more of them than ever in 2021-22 as he's enjoyed a breakout campaign centering the team's top line. Man, it's a hot one, indeed.

12. Washington Capitals (40-22-10)

Previous rank: 11

8️⃣: The Capitals' campaign has been all about Alex Ovechkin and his ability to defy time. The Great Eight climbed his way to third place on the NHL's all-time scoring list this season as his pursuit of Wayne Gretzky continues.

13. Pittsburgh Penguins (42-22-10)

Previous rank: 9

💪: Despite barely ever icing a fully healthy lineup this season, the Penguins once again proved resilient and are on the verge of clinching a playoff spot.

14. Nashville Predators (41-26-5)

Previous rank: 13

💯: Predators fans must be clenching their teeth watching the playoff race wind down, but their eyes are also surely on captain Roman Josi's hunt for 100 points. The star defenseman is already at 87 and will need 13 in his final 10 games to hit the mark.

15. Dallas Stars (41-27-4)

Previous rank: 17

😨: The Stars have been a bubble team virtually all season long. They should be fearful of missing the postseason for the second straight year after reaching the Cup Final in 2019-20.

16. Los Angeles Kings (38-26-10)

Previous rank: 12

😯: Some pegged the Kings as a dark horse candidate this campaign after a sneakily good offseason, but not many expected them to be this good. Their first playoff appearance since 2018 is a real possibility thanks to their underwhelming Pacific Division opponents.

17. Vegas Golden Knights (40-29-4)

Previous rank: 19

🤕: The 2021-22 season hasn't gone to plan for the Golden Knights. Every team experiences injuries to key players over the course of 82 games, but the injury bug has bitten a chunk out of Vegas' playoff hopes.

18. New York Islanders (33-29-9)

Previous rank: 20

🃏: The Islanders were dealt a bad hand this season, and there wasn't too much they could do about it. The team started the campaign off with a daunting 13 straight games on the road as its new arena finished construction, and then, to top it off, COVID-19 ravaged its way through the team.

19. Vancouver Canucks (35-28-10)

Previous rank: 18

🎢: The Canucks have had a roller coaster of a season, starting off terribly and then catching fire with Bruce Boudreau's arrival. The playoffs seemed impossible early on, then they seemed within reach, but now it appears the club will fall just short.

20. Winnipeg Jets (34-28-11)

Previous rank: 14

💥: This is what happened to Winnipeg's playoff hopes. The Jets severely underperformed this season, and their struggles to stay consistent blew up their chances at making a run.

21. Buffalo Sabres (26-37-11)

Previous rank: 23

😏: The Sabres aren't contenders yet, but they are an unexpectedly fun squad with a surprisingly potent top line of Jeff Skinner, Tage Thompson, and Alex Tuch. They've caught some opponents off guard this season with their stealthy skill, and Owen Power's arrival will make them even more entertaining.

22. Columbus Blue Jackets (34-33-6)

Previous rank: 21

😌: It's been a forgettable season for the Blue Jackets as a whole, but Columbus must be relieved that Patrik Laine has returned to form after struggling upon being dealt to Ohio. Laine, who'll turn 24 next week, is averaging nearly a point per game in 2021-22.

23. San Jose Sharks (29-33-9)

Previous rank: 22

🆕: The Sharks had a rather underwhelming season all around, but with longtime general manager Doug Wilson stepping away from the team, the offseason suddenly got a lot more interesting. Wilson had held the post since 2003, and the club will surely take an extensive look at who'll succeed him.

24. Detroit Red Wings (28-34-10)

Previous rank: 27

👶: The Red Wings' rebuild is chugging along. Thanks in large part to the performances of rookies Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond, they've been more fun to watch. The Calder Trophy might just be heading to Detroit.

25. Anaheim Ducks (29-33-12)

Previous rank: 28

🤯: This is just the face everyone makes when watching Ducks phenom Trevor Zegras go viral for what feels like the millionth time this campaign.

26. Philadelphia Flyers (23-38-11)

Previous rank: 25

📉: The Flyers continuously reached new lows after falling flat on their face following a solid 6-2-2 start to the season. Their campaign was punctuated by a 13-game losing streak that set a new franchise record in futility.

27. Chicago Blackhawks (24-37-11)

Previous rank: 24

💔: The Blackhawks have been a travesty both on and, most importantly, off the ice.

28. Montreal Canadiens (20-41-11)

Previous rank: 26

🔄: Yes, the Canadiens made a miracle run to the Cup Final last year and are in the basement of the league this year. But the team did a complete 180 midseason by bringing in a refreshing Martin St. Louis behind the bench, as well as a new front office group. The club seems to be headed in the right direction after a disastrous season.

29. Ottawa Senators (26-40-6)

Previous rank: 29

⏳: The Senators have a promising core with Brady Tkachuk, Thomas Chabot, Josh Norris, Tim Stutzle, and Drake Batherson. But how long will it take for Ottawa to make real progress? The club will miss the playoffs for the fifth straight year, and it may only be a matter of time before the fans' patience runs out.

30. Seattle Kraken (23-43-6)

Previous rank: 31

🛑: Being the new guys on the block can be hard. Unlike the Golden Knights in 2017-18, the Kraken never really took off in their inaugural season. At all. It's like they hit every single stop sign on the road to success.

31. New Jersey Devils (25-41-6)

Previous rank: 30

😔: The Devils were once again expected to make the leap this season with the addition of Dougie Hamilton and the progression of their young stars, but they'll once again be a prominent lottery team. The pieces are in place to succeed, but fans might start getting impatient if the results don't come.

32. Arizona Coyotes (22-45-5)

Previous rank: 32

😳: The Coyotes are once again the biggest embarrassment in the NHL for numerous reasons. Arizona is the worst team in the league, and the club has been mercilessly mocked for having to play in a 5,000-seat college arena beginning next season until it can find a permanent home.

(Analytics sources: Evolving Hockey, Natural Stat Trick)

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Sidney Crosby achieved a career benchmark and joined some impressive company Sunday when he scored in overtime to lift the Pittsburgh Penguins over the Nashville Predators.

The Penguins captain skillfully tapped home a slap pass from Rickard Rakell in the extra frame.

Crosby became the seventh-fastest player in NHL history to notch 1,400 points, and he accomplished the feat in his 1,100th game.

The Penguins superstar also passed Jari Kurri for 22nd on the NHL's all-time points list when he assisted on Jason Zucker's third-period marker. Kurri collected 1,398 points in 1,251 games played.

Crosby posted three points in Sunday's victory. He opened the scoring off a feed from Rakell just under five minutes into the contest.

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Sidney Crosby achieved a career benchmark and joined some impressive company Sunday when he scored in overtime to lift the Pittsburgh Penguins over the Nashville Predators.

The Penguins captain skillfully tapped home a slap pass from Rickard Rakell in the extra frame.

Crosby became the seventh-fastest player in NHL history to notch 1,400 points, and he accomplished the feat in his 1,100th game.

The Penguins superstar also passed Jari Kurri for 22nd on the NHL's all-time points list when he assisted on Jason Zucker's third-period marker. Kurri collected 1,398 points in 1,251 games played.

Crosby posted three points in Sunday's victory. He opened the scoring off a feed from Rakell just under five minutes into the contest.

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