Saturday will be an extremely busy day in the NHL as 26 of the league's 32 teams take the ice.

Let's look closer at a couple of cold Western Conference teams that could return to the win column on the road.

Kraken @ Senators

Dec. 2, 7 p.m. ET

I'm expecting some value on the road team here. The Senators are in action Friday night and will almost certainly start Joonas Korpisalo. Not only are they desperate for points, but they're also taking on Korpisalo's former team in the Blue Jackets. It's the perfect storm.

Korpisalo playing Friday would very likely mean Anton Forsberg starts Saturday night in Ottawa, which would be a welcome sight for a Kraken team struggling to score goals.

Forsberg has been one of the league's worst goaltenders this season. He owns an .850 save percentage and ranks dead last in goals saved above expected per start.

The Kraken are dealing with some injuries but have always been built off depth rather than relying on one or two players to do all the heavy lifting.

They still have Jared McCann, Matty Beniers, Jordan Eberle, Oliver Bjorkstrand, and Eeli Tolvanen, among others, at full health.

That's more than enough talent to give the Senators problems. Ottawa is a subpar team when it comes to limiting shots and scoring chances. Factor in its struggling goaltender and the fact that it's playing in a back-to-back against a fresh Kraken team, and things could get messy.

I like the Kraken at anything close to even money.

Canucks @ Flames

Dec. 2, 10 p.m. ET

The Canucks hit a bit of a roadblock. They dropped five of the past eight games, with the only wins coming against the Sharks, Ducks, and Kraken.

That said, I think the pendulum has swung a little too far on them right now. They were always going to regress following a start to the season in which absolutely everything went right. That the percentages have leveled out a little bit and they've lost a few games doesn't mean they're suddenly a bad team.

Vancouver ranks top 10 in expected goals for percentage at five-on-five over the last eight games. That's translated to 48.31% of the actual goals, good for 21st in the league.

The team is largely playing better than its record indicates. With a strong five-on-five profile, a dangerous power play, and Thatcher Demko between the pipes, it's only a matter of time before it starts winning games more consistently.

The Flames are a pesky side under head coach Ryan Huska. They lack the horses that can break games open, though, and sit 19th in xGF% over the last two weeks.

Calgary is essentially playing at the caliber of a bubble team. I think this is a good opportunity to buy low on a Canucks outfit looking to dig its feed in the ground on Hockey Night in Canada.

I expect the Canucks to open around even money in this game and would play them up to -130.

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @ToddCordell.

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We only have a two-game slate on Friday. Let's dig into the best ways to attack it.

Thomas Chabot over 2.5 shots

Chabot is expected to return to the lineup on Friday night. He'll be a welcome addition to a Senators team that's in the basement of the Eastern Conference.

Before his injury, Chabot was averaging better than 24 minutes per game. I don't think bench boss DJ Smith, who is likely coaching for his job right now, will hesitate to give his workhorse defenseman a ton of ice time.

It's certainly a great matchup for Chabot to jump back into. The Blue Jackets rank 29th in shots against per game this season and are one of the worst teams at limiting opposing defensemen. Only the Sharks, Islanders, and Coyotes have allowed more shots per game against the position.

The Blue Jackets' defensive profile was similar a season ago and Chabot took full advantage, piling up 12 shots on goal in three clashes.

Look for another active offensive performance this time around.

Jack Hughes over 4.5 shots

Hughes' shot volume is unmatched right now. He's 41 shots in six games since returning from injury, which equates to a ridiculous average of 6.83 shots on goal per contest.

That includes a game in which Hughes only had one shot on goal despite a whopping 11 attempts. His numbers could be - and should be - even higher.

Since rejoining the lineup, Hughes has averaged 12.16 shot attempts - and now has the best matchup of them all.

The Sharks are the worst team in the NHL. They give up shots and chances in bulk every single night and find themselves on a road back-to-back after taking on the powerhouse Bruins a night ago.

No team has allowed more shots per game this season - and a red-hot Hughes should take full advantage of that.

Odds: -135 (playable to -160)

Dawson Mercer over 0.5 points

Mercer has disappointed in the early going of this season, registering only nine points through 21 games. That's a 35-point pace, a far cry from the 56 he managed a year ago.

So why are we targeting him to find the scoresheet? One reason: Jack Hughes.

Mercer was put on a line with the Devils' superstar center a few games ago, and he's found the scoresheet in every game since, racking up five points. He's always been an efficient point producer and collected them at a top-line rate when riding shotgun with Hughes.

The latter is playing the best hockey of his career, and the Devils are going up against the worst team in the league, so this isn't a spot where Mercer will go quiet.

As long as he's attached to the hip of a guy averaging nearly two points per game, there's value in backing Mercer at anything close to his current price.

Odds: -135 (playable to -165)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @ToddCordell.

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There are just three games on the NHL schedule Wednesday night. Although nothing stands out in terms of sides or totals, a few props caught my eye.

Let's take a closer look.

Cole Caufield over 3.5 shots

Caufield is a very matchup-dependent shooter. Take the past 10 games: Caufield faced seven teams currently holding playoff positions and three teams on the outside looking in.

He failed to register four shots in the seven games against playoff teams, falling well short on most nights. He only reached three shots twice.

Caufield teed off on the non-playoff teams, however, going over his total in all three games while generating 19 shots - better than six per night - in aggregate.

Caufield has a tantalizing matchup tonight against the Blue Jackets. They've struggled defensively all season long and recently lost one of their best blue-liners, Damon Severson, to injury. That bodes well for Caufield, who recorded eight shots on a whopping 15 attempts against the Blue Jackets earlier this season.

I'm not sure Caufield will match those outputs, but volume shouldn't be an issue against one of the worst defensive teams in the NHL.

Odds: -125 (playable to -145)

Kirill Marchenko over 2.5 shots

Marchenko - like many goal-scorers - has extreme home/road splits. He's feasted in Columbus this season, recording three shots or more eight times in 11 tries (73%) while averaging a healthy 3.6 shots on goal per game.

His numbers have fallen off a cliff away from home, however. Marchenko is averaging just 1.9 shots per game and has gone over his total in only three of 10 appearances on the road.

Marchenko finds himself in a very strong spot on Wednesday night. He'll have the luxury of playing on home ice - where he averages two more attempts per game - against a Canadiens team that allows more shots per night than anyone but the Sharks and Islanders.

Getting cushy usage against an exploitable opponent, Marchenko should have plenty of opportunities to fire in this one.

Odds: -140 (playable to -155)

Alex Ovechkin under 3.5 shots

Ovechkin isn't generating a ton of shot volume these days - at least, not compared to his usual standards.

He has gone under the number in 10 of 18 games this year and eight of the past 12 overall. Similarly to Caufield, he is mostly enjoying shooting success against weak opponents.

Ovechkin's only hits over the past 10 games came against the Sharks, Islanders, and Sabres. He failed to get the job done versus better shot-suppression teams like the Panthers, Devils, Golden Knights, and Oilers.

That likely spells trouble heading into a game against the Kings. They rank third in shots against this season and their numbers are better when playing at home.

The Kings are very structured and - led by Anze Kopitar and Phillip Danault - they have a fantastic combination of defensive centers they can throw at top players to defang them offensively.

It will likely be sweaty - sometimes it takes just one or two power plays for Ovechkin to get within striking distance - but I see value in targeting his under in Los Angeles.

Odds: -130 (playable to -150)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @ToddCordell.

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We have a big night of hockey ahead of us - 20 of the league's 32 teams are set to hit the ice. Let's get to the best ways to attack the slate.

Hurricanes (-165) @ Flyers (+145)

The Flyers are very good at limiting opposing offenses - particularly when Carter Hart is between the pipes.

Hart has made 12 starts this season, though he left one appearance very early on with an injury. If you exclude that game, eight of Hart's 11 starts featured six goals or fewer. He's an under machine.

Hart owns a solid .911 save percentage and has only allowed more than three goals once all season. He gives the Flyers a chance every night.

I don't see Hart suffering through this game. Defensively, the Flyers have played exceptionally well at home this season, allowing just 25 shots per contest. That's the second-best mark in the league.

It just so happens that the Flyers are squaring off against a lethal Hurricanes defense that has done a better job than anybody at preventing shots this season.

This figures to be a tight, low-event affair where both teams are forced to grind for every offensive inch.

The Canes are a middling team in terms of finishing ability, and the Flyers lack firepower up front, so the conversion rates are unlikely to be high enough to push this game over the number.

Bet: Under 6.5 (-135)

Lightning (-120) @ Coyotes (+100)

This game has the potential to turn into a shootout. Andrei Vasilevskiy started on Monday - having just worked his way back from injury - so the Lightning will no doubt defer to Jonas Johansson in the latter half of this back-to-back set. That spells trouble for the under.

Johansson fared pretty well early in the season but came back down to earth toward the end of his run as Tampa Bay's starter. Johansson posted a save percentage that was below .900 in seven of his last nine starts, allowing three goals or more in all but one of them. The exception came against the lowly Blackhawks.

Any team with an offensive pulse has been able to score at least three goals on Johansson. The Coyotes aren't exactly Wayne Gretzky's Oilers, but they have enough high-end weapons - Clayton Keller, Logan Cooley, and Nick Schmaltz, to name a few - that they should be able to do damage in this game.

Conversely, the Lightning have played in track meets all season long and know they have to outscore their problems with Johansson between the pipes. They certainly have the ability to do just that, ranking fifth in the league with an average of 3.59 goals per game.

Nikita Kucherov is creating nearly a couple of goals per night by himself. He - and the Lightning offense as a whole - should be able to muster up plenty of chances against a leaky Coyotes defense that ranks 29th in shot suppression over the last 10 games.

Expect both teams to contribute their fair share of goals in this one.

Bet: Over 6.5 (-115)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @ToddCordell.

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Headlined by the Tkachuk Bowl, there are six games on an abnormally fruitful Monday night slate.

Let's take a look at the best ways to attack them.

Panthers (-125) @ Senators (+110)

The Panthers are a solid defensive team, but their high-powered offense doesn't shy away from a track meet if needed. That always seems to be the case when they square off against the Senators.

Since last season - the beginning of the Matthew Tkachuk era in Florida - the Panthers have met Brady Tkachuk and the Senators thrice.

The two sides combined to score 24 goals (eight per contest) while going over a 6.5 total in each meeting. The shot outputs suggest that was by no means a coincidence.

They generated a whopping 233 shots on goal over the course of three meetings. That's 77.6 per game, approximately 15 more than you'd expect in an average NHL contest.

If we see anywhere close to that volume in this game, I expect the two sides to soar past the total.

Sergei Bobrovsky owns a .906 save percentage this season and has graded out roughly even in terms of goals saved above expected. He's playing adequate hockey but is by no means stealing games for the Panthers.

Joonas Korpisalo has conceded at least three goals in four of his past five starts and is just returning from a minor injury. This isn't the ideal spot to ease back into things.

With all the firepower featured in this game, as well as mediocre goaltending and a shaky Senators defense, there are a lot of pathways to goals. Expect a bunch of them.

Bet: Over 6.5 (-140)

Capitals (-215) @ Sharks (+180)

I am the furthest thing from a Capitals believer, yet I still think this price is too short.

For all the Capitals' faults, they're an opportunistic team going up against the NHL's worst shot-suppression side. The Sharks rank dead last in shots allowed per game and are showing no signs of improvement.

They also take minor penalties at a high rate, averaging nearly 3.75 per game. Only seven teams have been more undisciplined.

Although the Capitals haven't converted many chances into goals, they've piled up quality looks while on the man advantage. It's only a matter of time before a unit featuring power-play specialists like Alexander Ovechkin, John Carlson, and T.J. Oshie starts to find the back of the net.

The Sharks rank dead last in expected goals allowed - and 30th in goals against - per 60 minutes of shorthanded play. They should be just what the doctor ordered.

On the flip side, the Capitals don't take many penalties. They're unlikely to provide the Sharks with many power-play opportunities, forcing the league's worst five-on-five offense to do damage. I don't see that happening.

Look for the Capitals to rebound from an ugly defeat with a regulation win over the Sharks.

Bet: Capitals in regulation (-130)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @ToddCordell.

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We have a juicy six-game slate to begin the week. Let's look at a few of my favorite props as we look to start off on a winning note.

Aleksander Barkov over 2.5 shots

Barkov is somewhat of a matchup-dependent shooter. The good news is that he has a great one Monday night in Ottawa.

The Senators are dealing with injuries on defense - and bleeding shots as a result. Only the Sharks, Islanders, and Blue Jackets have conceded five-on-five shots at a higher clip over the past 10 games. That should benefit Barkov, who has one of the highest even-strength shot rates on the Panthers this season.

Barkov also has a very strong track record against the Senators: He's registered 19 shots on goal and 31 attempts over the past five head-to-head meetings. Unsurprisingly, he went over his shot total in four of them.

The Panthers are coming off a pair of losses and had three of the past four days off. Barkov, well-rested and hungry, should get a full workload against an exploitable Sens defense.

Odds: -114 (playable to -130)

Vincent Trocheck under 2.5 shots

Trocheck has gone under his shot total in 13 of 19 games (68%) and often falls well short. He's averaging just 1.7 shots on goal and has finished with one or fewer in nine of 19 tries. Obviously, he's not a big shooter.

I'm not sure the Sabres are the best matchup to extract a ceiling performance. They rank sixth in five-on-five shot suppression over the past 10 games and are one of the league's best teams at limiting volume to opposing centers.

Of note, centers with 2.5 shooting lines like Evgeni Malkin (twice), Mark Scheifele, Connor Bedard, and Sebastian Aho have recently fallen short against the Sabres. The last pivot with a 2.5 total to go over was the Senators' Josh Norris - and that happened in October.

Although Trocheck did go over his total against the Sabres in early October, he failed to get the job done on three different occasions this past spring. I expect that to be the case again this time around.

Odds: -130 (playable to -145)

Jack Eichel under 3.5 shots

Eichel doesn't need a ton of attempts to find the back of the net on any given night. He's an accurate shooter, which makes him a scary player to fade - but this contest against the Flames is worth taking the plunge.

He's very dependent on the power play for shooting success. Over the past 10 games, Eichel's generated 34 shots (3.4 per game) 14 of which came on the power play. That's more than 41% of his volume.

I don't think power-play dependency is a good recipe for success against the Flames. They've been one of the 10 best teams at avoiding penalties this season - and they're only getting more disciplined.

It's also worth noting the Flames aren't a great positional matchup. They're 24th in shots allowed per game to centers, on par with the Kings, Jets, and Avalanche.

Additionally, Eichel has registered four attempts or fewer in five straight outings against the Flames. Although Darryl Sutter is gone, the Flames' defensive numbers are solid and the team's core remains intact. This isn't a great spot for him.

Odds: -135 (playable to -150)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @ToddCordell.

Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We have a stuffed schedule ahead of us on Black Friday, as 30 of the league's 32 teams are set to hit the ice.

Let's waste no time getting to a few of my favorite players to back - or fade - on what should be an eventful day of hockey.

Cole Caufield over 3.5 shots

Note: This prop has a 3:30 ET start.

Caufield has gone cold of late, recording three shots or fewer in seven of his past 10 games. But I don't think that's any cause for concern.

Caufield dealt with a lot of good teams during this rough patch. He faced the Golden Knights, Canucks, and Bruins twice, among others. Those teams are winning games in bulk and giving up very few shots along the way.

It's also worth noting Caufield has given opponents a good run for their money, averaging 6.9 shot attempts over the past 10 games. Although that's a little below his usual pace, it's still pretty good volume, considering the level of competition.

Caufield broke out last game with a five-shot performance against the Ducks. I expect he'll have something similar in store on Friday.

The Sharks rank dead last in shots against per game this season, giving up nearly 40 per game. They can't stop a nosebleed.

The Canadiens should be able to put forth a ceiling performance in terms of shot generation, and Caufield will be the focal point of it all.

Odds: -140 (playable to -160)

Brayden Point under 2.5 shots

Point has drastic home/road splits. He's registered at least three shots on goal in eight of 11 games in Tampa Bay this season. His attempt volume - five per game - isn't anything to write home about, but he's a player who's selective with his shooting and generates most of his looks from in-tight, offering a higher chance of hitting the target.

Dating back to the beginning of last season, Point's success rate on the road is 17% lower. That's carried over this year, with Point failing to get the job done in five of nine tries away from home.

Although that doesn't sound too bad on the surface, there are a couple of things worth noting. Point has gone over against the Blackhawks, Senators, Canadiens, and Sabres. All four of those teams have defensive issues - some more than others - and sit outside of playoff spots.

He generated only three shots on goal combined against the playoff teams he faced on the road (Red Wings, Blues, and Maple Leafs).

If he struggled against those teams, he's likely in for a rude awakening against the Hurricanes. They're the best shot-suppression team in the NHL and allow fewer shots per game to centers than any other club.

Point has failed to record three shots in all five meetings with the Hurricanes since the beginning of the 2022-23 season. I expect that trend to continue in this one.

Odds: -114 (playable to -135)

Elias Lindholm over 2.5 shots

Death, taxes, and backing Lindholm against the Stars. The Flames' top center has registered at least three shots in six consecutive meetings with Dallas.

The stars are aligning - no pun intended - for another productive showing this time around. Lindholm has been a monster on the road this season, going over his total in 10 of 12 games. That's an 83% success rate.

Lindholm has averaged 5.2 attempts per game on the road, a tier above the 4.1 he's managed when playing in Calgary.

The Stars are a strong defensive team but are susceptible to giving up volume against centers. Only 13 teams have allowed more shots per game to the position.

With Lindholm generating shots at a higher clip on the road and the Stars giving up plenty to centers, Lindholm is a sneaky target on Friday night.

Odds: -114 (playable to -130)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @ToddCordell.

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We're roughly 20% through the 2023-24 NHL season and - much like with the Hart Trophy market - we haven't seen a lot of separation in the Vezina race.

There are a handful of very strong candidates but nobody is truly running away with it.

Let's take a closer look at where things stand.

Note: Only goaltenders with 50:1 odds or shorter are listed.

Jake Oettinger and Thatcher Demko are co-favorites to bring home the hardware, and their numbers are eerily similar through the first six weeks of the season. Oettinger has won eight of 13 starts and owns a .920 save percentage. Demko, for his part, has won nine of 14 starts and managed a .923 save percentage.

Oettinger hasn't graded out as well by advanced metrics. He currently sits 11th in Goals Saved Above Expected (GSAx). Demko, meanwhile, leads the league and has done better with a more difficult workload.

But Oettinger plays on a better team. The Canucks are enjoying a strong season so far, but the Stars are more established as a high-end franchise and their winning process this season looks more sustainable. Demko has his work cut out for him if he wants to keep up.

Jeremy Swayman and Igor Shesterkin round out the top four. Among the 44 netminders to appear in at least eight games this season, Swayman leads the charge in GSAx. He's playing near-perfect hockey and comes up big whenever the Bruins need him.

Swayman needs to continue putting up video game-like numbers to stay competitive in this race. He won't see as many starts as his competitors, which means he needs to really separate himself on a per-game basis.

Shesterkin's numbers, meanwhile, aren't where you'd expect them to be, but he's still won seven of 10 starts. The Rangers look very good under new head coach Peter Laviolette, so it's fun to think about the kind of numbers Shesterkin could put up when he really hits his stride. I think he's a threat, even if he's lagging a little right now.

Of the rest, Adin Hill and Juuse Saros are a couple of names to monitor. Hill has picked up where he left off following last year's terrific playoff run, posting an absurd .932 save percentage to date. Only Demko ranks ahead of Hill in GSAx - and the latter will continue to win while playing behind the defending Stanley Cup Champions.

Saros is underperforming thus far, ranking among the bottom half of the league's goalies. But he's notorious for getting hot halfway through the season and never letting up. If the retooling Predators ship Saros to a contender for a bounty, he could put himself into the Vezina conversation in a hurry if he gets hot.

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @ToddCordell.

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The NHL is back in full swing following a dark, action-free night. While there's plenty of value on the board, I see the highest reward in backing the top two teams in the Eastern Conference.

Let's take a closer look.

Bruins (-115) @ Panthers (-105)

The Bruins' loss was disappointing last time out. They blew a lead in the final five seconds of the game before losing to the Lightning in overtime.

I expect them to get things back on track Wednesday night against the Panthers.

These Bruins are elite. They're fantastic at five-on-five, their power play ranks in the top 10 in goals per minute, and their penalty kill is the league's best. Oh, and they have two of the league leaders in Goals Saved Above Expected.

It takes a near-perfect effort to beat Boston and, even then, it's very difficult. There's a reason the Bruins have only dropped one game in regulation.

On the flip side, I've been impressed with the Panthers this season, and getting Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour back from injuries will only raise their ceiling.

Having said that, they're expected to be without Aleksander Barkov in the short term. It's hard to overstate how important he is to the Panthers. Barkov averages more than a point per game while driving play and logging a ton of minutes in every situation. He leads the entire NHL with an average Game Score of 1.87.

The Bruins, fresh off an ugly loss, aren't a team you want to run into without your captain.

Bet: Bruins (-115)

Rangers (-115) @ Penguins (-105)

The Penguins are a top-heavy team when it comes to generating offense. The top of their lineup is dynamic and productive while the bottom lacks creativity and is essentially in place only to try and prevent goals.

That kind of roster construction can work when everyone is healthy. Injuries are inevitable, though, and the Penguins have run into a few of them.

Rickard Rakell has shockingly not found the back of the net this season - but it's not for a lack of opportunities. He's piled up 46 scoring chances, which ties him with Evgeni Malkin for fourth on the team. He's now sidelined long-term with an injury.

Bryan Rust has produced slightly under a point per game. Sidney Crosby is the only Penguin with more goals than Rust, while Jake Guentzel is the lone man ahead of him in terms of chances. Rust didn't skate this morning, though, and there's a real possibility he'll miss Wednesday's game as well.

Playing without Rakell alone would be problematic. If Rust is out as well, it could be a crucial loss against a Rangers club playing lights out defensively.

Boston is the only team better than Pittsburgh at limiting goals against. But New York is also in the top portion of the league in terms of shot and chance suppression.

I think the Rangers are a tier or two above the Penguins - especially the bruised version. Rust not playing would be preferable, but I see an edge in backing the Rangers on Wednesday regardless.

Bet: Rangers (-115)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @ToddCordell.

Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We have an astronomically large slate Wednesday - 28 of the league's 32 teams will be in action on the eve of a short break for American Thanksgiving.

Let's waste no time in getting to a few plays that pop off the page.

Adam Fantilli over 2.5 shots

Fantilli is red-hot on home ice. He recorded 44 attempts and 26 shots on target over his past six games in Columbus.

With an average of 7.3 attempts per contest, it should be no surprise Fantilli has gone over his shot total in five of six games.

There's every reason to believe he'll stay hot Wednesday night against the Blackhawks. They're horrendous defensively and concede more shots per game than every team but the Sharks and Islanders.

They also allow well over 14 shots per game to opposing centers - the highest mark in the NHL. Fantilli plays in the middle of the second line and sees time with the man advantage, so he's a prime candidate to make noise against Chicago.

There could also be a little extra pep in Fantilli's step going up against Connor Bedard, who was selected atop his draft class.

Odds: -122 (playable to -140)

Jack Hughes over 3.5 shots

Hughes picked up right where he left off after returning from injury. He made his comeback against a very good Rangers team and showed absolutely no sign of rust or lingering ailments. In that contest, he recorded 13 shot attempts, eight shots on goal, and a pair of points.

I'm expecting another active offensive performance against the Red Wings, who average more than 30 shots against per game. He should generate plenty of shots at five-on-five - especially with Timo Meier, who's a bit of a shot hog, sidelined.

Additionally, only three teams have taken penalties at a higher rate than Detroit. The Devils' power play, meanwhile, is clicking at a historically good rate, and Hughes is the guy facilitating everything. He'll benefit from those extra power-play opportunities.

Odds: -140 (playable to -150)

Filip Forsberg over 3.5 shots

Forsberg's played nine home games this season and registered at least four shots on goal in eight of them. The exception came against the Maple Leafs when Forsberg finished with three shots and missed a couple of opportunities to get a fourth.

He isn't just grinding out wins by the skin of his teeth. Forsberg routinely goes over his shot total, averaging five on a whopping 9.1 attempts per game.

Predators head coach Andrew Brunette has Forsberg regularly flirting with 20 minutes of ice time. That wasn't the case a season ago, as former head coach John Hynes had the Swede closer to the 18-minute mark.

For an efficient shot-creator, extra ice time makes a world of difference. We're seeing that in Forsberg's remarkably high shot outputs - especially when he's benefiting from cushier matchups on home ice.

Although the Flames are fairly good at even-strength shot suppression, their penalty kill gives up a lot. They also allow a couple more shots per game on the road.

Forsberg found success against strong teams like the Avalanche and Canucks. It should continue versus the mediocre Flames.

Odds: -134 (playable to -150)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @ToddCordell.

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