Islanders to extend winning streak against Canadiens

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We have a busy 10-game card ahead of us Thursday night. There's plenty of value on the board, but I see most in backing a couple of teams that still have a lot on the line. Let's look closer.

Devils (+170) @ Maple Leafs (-200)

The Devils appear ready to pack things in and call it a season. Despite getting high-end goaltending from Jake Allen, the club has won just six of its 16 games since deadline day.

New Jersey has controlled only 44% of the expected goal share in that span, putting it in the company of teams like the Blue Jackets and Ducks. And things are only getting worse.

With the playoffs completely out of the picture, the Devils have shut down Jack Hughes. That removes the most dynamic player from a lineup already looking pretty thin.

There isn't much meat on the bone remaining for a New Jersey team playing out its final string of games, while the Maple Leafs have plenty of incentive to put their best foot forward.

Home ice in the first round is still on the table for Toronto. The club's also chasing history with a 70-goal campaign very much within Auston Matthews' grasp.

The Maple Leafs are in much better form than the Devils and have a lot more to play for. I expect that to shine through en route to a win inside 60 minutes.

Bet: Maple Leafs in regulation (-125)

Canadiens (+175) @ Islanders (-210)

The Canadiens stomped the Flyers last time they played, but don't let that result fool you. Montreal has played poorly lately, particularly on the defensive side of the ice.

The Habs have given up an alarming amount of shots, chances, and expected goals over the past 10 games and rank in the bottom three in each category.

The Islanders aren't the most prolific offensive team. However, they have some players at the top of the lineup who can make you pay, namely Bo Horvat, Mathew Barzal, Brock Nelson, and Noah Dobson.

Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault has performed well this season, but his game has dipped lately. He's allowed three goals or more in eight of the past 11 starts and won only three of those.

With just five goals against over the last four contests, New York is doing a great job limiting opposing offenses. Montreal will have difficulty keeping up offensively with an Islanders squad still trying to clinch a playoff spot.

New York has won five in a row and six of seven. Look for the red-hot Islanders to pick up another two points in regulation.

Bet: Islanders in regulation (-135)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X at @ToddCordell.

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Ducks’ Silfverberg retiring from NHL after season

Anaheim Ducks forward Jakob Silfverberg is retiring from the NHL at the end of the 2023-24 season, the team announced Thursday.

Silfverberg, 33, has seven goals and 19 points in 78 games this campaign. The Swede is in the final season of the five-year contract he signed in 2019.

"Thank you to the fans around the league, specifically in Anaheim and Ottawa," Silfverberg said. "To spend 11 years in Orange County playing for the Ducks is something I will cherish every day, thanks in large part to all of you."

Silfverberg has accumulated 158 goals and 354 points in 769 contests with Anaheim. He tallied four 20-goal seasons and scored a career-high 49 points in 2016-17.

Acquired from the Ottawa Senators in 2013 in the Bobby Ryan trade, Silfverberg ranks fifth in games played and goals in Ducks franchise history.

"He was the ultimate character player for the Ducks, Senators, and his native Sweden, leading by example and always putting the team first," Anaheim general manager Pat Verbeek said. "His contributions on the ice and in the Orange County community will have a lasting impact."

Silfverberg performed well across seven postseasons. He scored 18 points in 16 games during the Ducks' 2015 run to the Western Conference Final, and he tallied a team-best nine goals in Anaheim's 2017 trip to the conference finals.

The Swede represented his nation on numerous occasions, most notably at the 2014 Olympics and 2016 World Cup. He captained Team Sweden at the World Championship last spring.

Drafted 39th overall in 2009 by the Senators, Silfverberg has totaled 168 goals and 373 points in 817 NHL games.

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Matthews to pile up shots vs. Devils

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We have one of our last jam-packed cards of the season Thursday night. Let's waste no time getting to our bets.

Auston Matthews: Over 4.5 shots

Matthews is firing on all cylinders as he continues his quest for 70 goals. He leads the NHL in scoring chances over the past 10 games and has recorded more shots on goal than all but Nathan MacKinnon in that span.

Playing with Max Domi has seen Matthews hit a different gear shooting the puck. Matthews attempts nearly 10 more shots per 60 minutes of five-on-five play when riding shotgun with Domi over Mitch Marner or William Nylander. He's also scoring 2.95 goals per 60 minutes with Domi, miles ahead of his 1.6 average with the other two players.

Matthews is the biggest shooting threat in the league right now. There's no reason to expect that to change against the Devils.

The 26-year-old is chasing history and has an excellent matchup in front of him. New Jersey is bleeding shots every night. And with Jack Hughes shut down for the season, they're spending even more time on their heels.

This is a spot where Matthews could produce a multi-goal performance and put himself within reach of 70. I expect him to be firing early and often.

Odds: -114 (playable to -135)

Erik Karlsson: Over 2.5 shots

Karlsson has gone over this total in six of the past 10 games, averaging nearly seven shot attempts per contest.

His recent shooting success should continue in an advantageous matchup against the Red Wings. They're giving up a lot of shot volume nightly, especially to opposing defensemen. Only the Blue Jackets have allowed more shots on goal per game to the position over the last 10 contests.

Karlsson averages more than 24 minutes per game and is one of the few offensively dynamic weapons the Penguins feature.

Head coach Mike Sullivan will no doubt heavily rely on Karlsson to create offense in a matchup between two sides fighting for the Eastern Conference's final wild-card spot.

Karlsson had no problem doing so in recent meetings, recording four shots on goal in four of the past five versus Detroit. Expect him to make his mark offensively again.

Odds: -134 (playable to -150)

Brock Nelson: Over 2.5 shots

Nelson is one of the most consistent shot-generators in the league on home ice. He's registered at least three shots in 25 of 38 games in New York, good for a 66% success rate.

Although his volume has dipped a little lately, the Canadiens could be just what the doctor ordered to get back on track.

Columbus and Detroit are the only teams to have conceded more shots on goal than Montreal over the past 10 games.

The Canadiens also sit 30th in shots allowed to opposing centers in that span, making this an opportune spot for Nelson to make noise.

With the Islanders still trying to solidify a playoff position, Patrick Roy will give Nelson and the team's top players a full workload.

Odds: -125 (playable to -140)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X at @ToddCordell.

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Tourigny: 1st relocation rumor had ‘huge impact’ on Coyotes

The Arizona Coyotes have a Utah-sized elephant in the room, and head coach Andre Tourigny isn't shy about addressing it.

News Wednesday indicated the Coyotes could move to Salt Lake City for next season, and an announcement about the relocation could come as early as April 18.

Ahead of Arizona's contest Wednesday, Tourigny said he believes the rumors about the franchise's possible move proved to be a major distraction when the club first heard the speculation several months ago.

"The first time that (relocation) rumor came, it was Jan. 24, and that's the day we started a 14-game losing streak, so we cannot pretend it did not affect our team," Tourigny said, per Hockey Daily 365. "Unfortunately, that had a huge impact on our season. We did not deal with it the right way at the time."

Ryan Smith, owner of the NBA's Utah Jazz, noted on Jan. 24 that he could immediately bring an NHL franchise to Salt Lake City and formally requested the league to initiate the expansion process.

The Coyotes were two points out of a playoff spot prior to Smith's announcement, but their 14-game losing streak ultimately put a dagger in their season.

Arizona had a chance at redemption Wednesday on the road against the Pacific Division-leading Vancouver Canucks and pulled off a 4-3 overtime win.

"We did not manage the distraction really well the first time," Tourigny said postgame. "Not everybody (gets) a second chance, but we had a chance to do better this time, and I really like the attitude."

Rookie forward Logan Cooley played the role of hero by scoring the OT winner.

"It's always tough when media's going around saying we're gonna be here, we're gonna be there. We just need to stick together as a group and that's what we did," Cooley said postgame. "There's no quit in our team all year, whether that was when we were going through that losing streak (or) the arena news. It's a pretty special group we have in there."

The Coyotes have two more games on their current road trip before finishing their season at home against the Edmonton Oilers on April 17, potentially the franchise's last game in Arizona.

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Post Game: Stray Dogs

Sat Shah and Jamie Dodd breakdown the Canucks 4-3 OT loss to the Arizona Coyotes. Hear from Head Coach Rick Tocchet (36:24), Elias Lindholm, (1:09:52) post game. Plus Brett Festerling and Iain McIntyre (1:12:08) provide their analysis. 

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