Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews knows his time in the Windy City could be nearing its conclusion.

"Regardless of what happens in the future this summer, it's definitely on my mind that this could be my last few weeks here in Chicago as a Blackhawk," Toews said Tuesday, according to Ben Pope of The Chicago Sun-Times.

Toews, who's spent his entire 15-year NHL career with the Blackhawks, is in the final season of an eight-year, $84-million pact he inked in July 2014. But contractual obligations aside, his ongoing health issues could potentially prevent him from playing hockey anywhere next year.

He said in February that he's still dealing with symptoms of long COVID and chronic immune response syndrome, the latter of which forced him to miss the entire 2020-21 season. Chicago's longtime captain said he had been experiencing steady improvement before his health worsened in January. He shut himself down and hasn't played since Jan. 28.

"When day after day you're just pushing through pain, it's like, to what end?" Toews said. "I'm at that point where it feels like more damage is being done than is a good thing."

Toews skated in 46 of Chicago's first 48 games this season, but he says it eventually became too much for his body to handle.

"It just got to the point where I couldn't move on the ice and didn't even want to put on my skates or roll out of bed to come to the rink," he said. "So it was pretty rough."

But he felt well enough to join the team for morning skate on Tuesday. He won't play Tuesday against the Dallas Stars, but he's making a push to return for the last few games of the regular season.

"That's definitely very important for me to just go out there, enjoy the game, soak it in, and just really appreciate everything I've been able to be a part of here in Chicago - and show my appreciation to the fans as well," he said.

Toews has won three Stanley Cups, a Conn Smythe Trophy, and a Selke Trophy during his time in Chicago. He's amassed 880 points across 1,060 regular-season games.

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We have a jam-packed night of games ahead of us, headlined by a clash between two of the Western Conference's best teams.

Let's take a closer look at the best way to attack that game - and the slate - with a pair of bets.

Oilers (-125) @ Golden Knights (+105)

Save for a healthy version of the Avalanche, I think the Oilers - with Stuart Skinner in goal - are as good as any team in the Western Conference.

The Oilers have controlled just under 55% of the high-danger chances at five-on-five over the past 10 games. They're playing very well at full strength.

Edmonton's power play is as good as anybody's and the Oilers lead the league in shorties. Thus, they'll win a ton of games when playing anywhere close to this level at five-on-five. That's what we're seeing right now, as they're 8-1-1 over the past 10 games.

Although I don't think the Golden Knights are as bad as their recent underlying metrics suggest, those numbers are certainly concerning. Vegas has controlled just over 43% of the high-danger chances over the past 10, which sandwiches it between the Canadiens and Blue Jackets. Not where you want to be.

The Golden Knights' poor numbers stem mostly from a surprising inability to defend. Across all situations, only the Blue Jackets, Ducks, Sharks, and Senators have conceded more high-danger chances over the last 10.

Even in a back-to-back situation, the Oilers are perhaps the last team you'd want to see when you're bleeding chances. That concern is only exacerbated when you're rotating through a handful of underwhelming netminders.

Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Co. don't need many opportunities in order to make you pay. With the way the Golden Knights are defending right now, they should get plenty.

The Oilers are fighting for home ice and, with a little luck, perhaps even a division title. Those hopes go out the window if they don't beat the Golden Knights tonight, and they surely know that. I expect Edmonton to come out and make a statement that it's every bit as good - if not better - than the Western Conference-leading Golden Knights.

Bet: Oilers (-125)

Canucks (-110) @ Blues (-110)

The Canucks are playing very good hockey. Great hockey, even. They have won three in a row and eight of 10, and they're full value for it.

Including all game states, the Canucks rank top five in expected goals and high-danger chance share. They're keeping company with playoff-bound teams like the Kings, Devils, and Penguins in that span.

Unsurprisingly, their ability to dominate the run of play is leading to success on the scoreboard. Vancouver has bested opponents 36-21 in aggregate over the past 10 games. Elias Pettersson, Quinn Hughes, and Co. are making magic happen nightly while, aided by the return of Thatcher Demko, the goaltending has been very good.

Rick Tocchet has the Canucks playing legitimately well at both ends of the ice. While a somewhat soft schedule has perhaps aided their numbers, that's not really the card to play when they're going up against the Blues.

The Blues have lost the expected goals battle at five-on-five in 10 straight games. That's unfathomably bad considering they've faced the Ducks, Red Wings (twice), Blue Jackets, and Sharks in that time.

They are getting outplayed each and every night and Jordan Binnington (minus-12.7 goals saved above expected) is not going to mask their problems.

While a Demko start would be ideal, I see an edge on the Canucks regardless of who's between the pipes. Don't expect them to cool off in St. Louis.

Bet: Canucks (-110)

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

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Our shot props stayed hot on Monday night, as two of three came through for us. Naturally, it was superstar Leon Draisaitl - in a dream spot against the Coyotes - that failed to get the job done.

We'll look to build on Monday's success with three more props for Tuesday night's big slate. Let's dig in.

Roope Hintz over 2.5 shots (-110)

Hintz is quietly on a nice little shooting run away from home. He has hit in 60% of his last 20 road dates, including seven of the past 10. The volume discrepancy we've seen from Hintz on the road compared to at home has been noticeable all season long, and it's only growing.

We'll use recent 10-game increments for perspective. Hintz has averaged 3.7 shot attempts over his last 10 in Dallas. That's not exactly an ideal volume for someone you need three shots on target from to have success.

Luckily, his road volume is much higher. Hintz has averaged 5.5 over his past 10 away from home. Significantly better.

Perhaps even more important than his road splits, which are much better, is the matchup against the Blackhawks. They rank dead last in shots allowed per game to centers over the last 10.

Hintz took full advantage when he faced Chicago a couple of weeks ago, piling up seven shots on a whopping 12 attempts.

Although I don't expect Hintz to replicate those numbers, he's very much worth backing on the road in a mouth-watering matchup.

Shea Theodore over 2.5 shots (-105)

Opposing defensemen have been the Oilers' Achilles' heel all year long. Although their numbers are a tad better of late, the Oilers rank 28th in shots allowed per game to defenders. Enter Theodore.

The gifted Golden Knights blue-liner has been the team's best shot generator of late - particularly on home soil. Theodore has generated 64 attempts over the past 10 games in Vegas, which puts him 15 clear of the next-closest Golden Knight, Jack Eichel.

A nice little bonus for Theodore is that the Oilers take a lot of penalties. Only five teams have spent more time shorthanded than Edmonton this season.

With Theodore quarterbacking the top power play and taking his fair share of shots on the man advantage, he should have an extra couple of opportunities that could well be the difference in going over the number.

Win or lose, I expect Theodore to be heavily involved in Vegas' attack.

Viktor Arvidsson over 0.5 points (-120)

Arvidsson is as hot as any shooter in the NHL, having gone over his total (3.5) in eight of the past 10 games while falling just one puck short in each exception.

It just so happens one of those losses came against tonight's opponent: the Flames.

Rather than back Arvidsson to hit against one of the league's best shot-suppression sides, we're going to take a different route with Arvidsson: the point market.

All of his shooting - and the Kings' ability to control play when he's on the ice - is leading to production. Arvidsson has put up 12 points over the past 10 games, tied for tops on L.A.

Arvidsson has a strong history against the Flames as well. He has registered at least a point in five of his last six against Calgary, totaling seven points in that span.

With the Adrian Kempe line likely to draw Calgary's top players at even strength, Arvidsson should get an easier matchup at five-on-five. He also skates on the top power play, giving him exposure to all of the team's top players with extra time and space to work with.

Jacob Markstrom hasn't exactly been great this season. Give me the hot hand to find the scoresheet at least once at a very reasonable price.

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

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The idle Toronto Maple Leafs got a little help from their provincial rivals to become the first Canadian team to clinch a spot in the playoffs this season.

The Ottawa Senators defeated the Florida Panthers 5-2 on Monday night, officially sending the Maple Leafs to the postseason for the seventh consecutive campaign.

Toronto is in second place in the Atlantic Division with a 44-20-9 record and is virtually locked into another first-round matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Maple Leafs have failed to make it out of the opening round in each of the past six seasons. The Bolts eliminated them in seven games last year en route to making their third straight run to the Stanley Cup Final.

Toronto is seven points clear of Tampa Bay in the standings with one game in hand.

Mitch Marner paces Toronto with 94 points in 73 games this season, while Auston Matthews and William Nylander are tied for the team lead in goals with 36 apiece.

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