Monday was a solid night for our best bets. The Winnipeg Jets bested the St. Louis Blues in regulation and Pierre-Luc Dubois came through with three shots. Unfortunately, Jordan Kyrou missed the net six times and finished one shot shy of giving us a perfect 3-0 night.

We'll try our luck at perfection again with a pair of bets for Tuesday's slate of games.

Senators (-190) @ Canadiens (+160)

The Ottawa Senators are unlikely to make the playoffs once again - they would have to leapfrog too many teams in the second half of the season - but they could close the gap to as little as six points with a win tonight.

All signs point towards them getting one against a putrid Montreal Canadiens team.

Ottawa is in far better form at five-on-five, having controlled more than 54% of the high-danger chances over the last 10 games. That's a top-five rate in the NHL.

Comparatively, Montreal has posted a 43% high-danger chance share over the same period. That's a bottom-five rate.

The Senators are likely to have a significant edge in terms of controlling the run of play. That should prove fruitful given the talent advantage at hand.

They have Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, Alex DeBrincat, Thomas Chabot and Claude Giroux, among others, while an already thin Canadiens lineup is without its biggest scoring threat in Cole Caufield.

Not to mention, the top dogs on the Senators get to shoot on an ice-cold goaltender in Jake Allen. He has dropped eight of his last nine starts and conceded four goals or more in all but one of them. He owns a .877 save percentage in that span, ranking 63rd among 67 eligible netminders.

While Anton Forsberg hasn't been lights out, his .903 save percentage over that same period is actually above league-average. He should give the Senators an edge between the pipes and make it hard on the Canadiens to compensate for a lack of talent throughout the roster.

I like the Senators to take care of business inside 60 minutes.

Bet: Senators in regulation (-110)

Capitals (-210) @ Blue Jackets (+180)

We are going to get a little creative with this one. It is not a side - nor a game total - that stands out in this game. No, it is a first period market.

The Washington Capitals are a structured, slower-paced veteran team that sort of feels its way into games. That leads to very few goals in the opening frame, as they've netted just 35 through 52 affairs. Only five teams have scored fewer times in the first period this season, all of whom are near the basement of the NHL.

Unsurprisingly, the Columbus Blue Jackets are one of those teams. They have scored only 29 times in the opening period this season. That's more than the Chicago Blackhawks and nobody else.

They are a very shallow team that has to try and play things tight to the vest to hang around in games for any amount of time. They've done a good job of that against Washington this season, as the two sides faced off twice this month and neither meeting featured more than a goal in the first period.

I like that Washington is a structured defensive side that doesn't tend to have glaring defensive breakdowns. I like that the Blue Jackets are essentially a one-line team that struggles to score on a nightly basis. I also like that we're getting an ideal goaltending matchup.

Darcy Kuemper has quietly played very well for the Capitals in his debut season with the team. He has appeared in 34 games and owns a rock-solid .915 save percentage.

While Joonas Korpisalo lags a little behind, his numbers are strong as well. He has a .909 save percentage to date and has saved 3.8 goals above expected. In comparison, his tandem-mate Elvis Merzlikins has conceded 23.9 goals more than expected. That's an unfathomably large swing.

I don't see a ton of chances being traded early in this game and the goaltending should be competent at both ends. Expect a slower start in these teams' last game before the All-Star break.

Bet: Under 1.5 first period goals (+115)

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

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We have three games to look forward to on the last big slate in advance of All-Star weekend. Let's dig deeper into a few player props that stand out.

Thomas Chabot over 2.5 shots (-132)

The Ottawa Senators' top blueliner is sizzling hot. Chabot has generated at least three shots in five of the last six games and is tied with Brady Tkachuk - one of the highest volume shooters in the NHL - for the team lead in attempts over the last 10 games (65).

Chabot is playing a ton of minutes in all situations, giving him every opportunity to take advantage of plus matchups. He certainly finds himself in one Tuesday night against the Montreal Canadiens.

They rank dead last in shot suppression - at five-on-five and on the penalty kill - over the last 10 games. Unsurprisingly, they have given up a lot of volume to defenders in that span.

Chabot generated four shots on six attempts last game out against this same Canadiens team. I expect a similar effort this time around.

Claude Giroux over 2.5 shots (+115)

Giroux is not someone I routinely target for shots but there is a lot to like with him right now.

First and foremost, he has been shooting the puck a lot since being placed on Ridly Greig's wing. Giroux has attempted more than 23 shots per 60 minutes with Greig as his center, essentially double his season average of 11.60. We're still dealing with a small sample size but that is a substantial uptick and very encouraging.

The other thing that really stands out is the mouthwatering matchup. The Canadiens are giving up shots at a higher clip than every team in the league right now and Giroux feasted on them just a few days ago, recording three points and four shots in a blowout victory.

Big games against Montreal are nothing new for Giroux, who has registered at least three shots in six straight head-to-head meetings.

Look for that streak to continue.

Alex Ovechkin over 4.5 shots (-115)

Alex Ovechkin continues to chug along like a well-oiled machine. The 37-year-old superstar has piled up 91 shot attempts over his last 10 games, which leads the entire NHL. It's not really close, either.

Roman Josi (82) is the only other player with more than 80 shot attempts over the same period of time.

Ovechkin, clearly, is never shy about pulling the trigger. He should have ample opportunity to do so against this Columbus Blue Jackets team. They are absolutely decimated by injuries and, unsurprisingly, that is leading to some treacherous numbers across the board. They get caved in at five-on-five on a nightly basis and are also subpar at preventing shots while killing penalties.

The Washington Capitals faced the Blue Jackets just over three weeks ago. Despite the Capitals getting outplayed in that game - and generating only 19 shots - Ovechkin still hit the over on his total while attempting eight shots.

With the Capitals in need of every point they can get, and the Capitals off until February 11th after this game, Ovechkin should get a full workload and then some.

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

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We have just one game scheduled for an eerily quiet Monday in the NHL. Luckily, with the help of player props, we can still put together a healthy card for the game we do have.

Let's get right to it.

Blues (+190) @ Jets (-220)

The St. Louis Blues and Winnipeg Jets both enter this game on losing streaks.

The Blues have dropped four games in a row - all by multiple goals - while the Jets have suffered three straight defeats, all of which were against teams on the outside of the playoffs looking in.

There has been a lot of talk from head coach Rick Bowness about the Jets not playing the way they're supposed to, and hitting a bit of a crossroads, but these losing streaks are very different.

St. Louis is a highly mediocre team struggling to get by without several key players. The Jets are a good - but not great - side that simply appear to be going through normal variance.

Take the numbers over the last 10 games, for example. At five-on-five, the Blues have controlled 44% of the expected goals and generated fewer high-danger chances than all but the Columbus Blue Jackets. Those are numbers that should lead to consistent losses.

It's a different story in Winnipeg. The team is hovering around 50% of the expected goal share and ranks 13th in high-danger chances generated during that stretch. Considering the goaltending they get from starting netminder Connor Hellebuyck, average-to-above average underlying metrics like that are generally going to lead to a lot of wins.

The Jets have more or less been called out by a head coach who has pressed all the right buttons this season. I expect them to come out with a strong effort against a bruised and battered Blues team and pick up a sixth consecutive win against their division rival.

Back the Jets to take care of business inside 60.

Bet: Jets in regulation (-145)

Jordan Kyrou over 3.5 shots (+100)

The Blues are missing a lot of firepower up front. With Ryan O'Reilly, Pavel Buchnevich and Robert Thomas out of the mix due to injuries, even more weight is falling on Jordan Kyrou's shoulders. He has been skating on the top line, top power play, and taking full advantage of the extra minute or two coming his way on a nightly basis.

The highly skilled winger has produced nine points over the last 10 games while recording 70 shot attempts, 42 of which hit the net. That's an average of seven attempts and 4.2 shots on target per game; very strong numbers.

What's especially impressive is how far Kyrou has distanced himself from any and all teammates over that period. For perspective, Justin Faulk ranks second on the Blues with 35 attempts in the past 10 games. That's half the volume we're seeing from Kyrou.

Winnipeg is a fairly solid shot suppression team but has struggled with opposing right wingers.

Expect Kyrou to generate his fair share of shots in this one.

Pierre-Luc Dubois over 2.5 shots (-145)

Dubois is a little juiced but for good reason. He has feasted on the Blues in recent years, generating three shots or more in six of the last eight meetings.

One exception was a two-goal, three-point performance where Dubois missed the target a couple of times. The other saw Dubois attempt six shots - more than enough to hit on a consistent basis - but miss the target on five of them. He easily could be seven for eight, or eight for eight.

Even if you want to throw all of that history out the window, there's a lot to like about Dubois here. The Blues are one of the league's worst five-on-five sides right now and they're bleeding shots to opposing centers.

In fact, just six teams are giving up more shots per game to the position - with several of them (Anaheim, Columbus, Chicago) being in the Connor Bedard sweepstakes.

Look for Dubois, who has averaged 3.6 shots on target over the last 10, to stay hot in an enticing matchup.

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

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There are 13 games scheduled for an extremely busy Thursday in the NHL. Let's waste no time in getting to a few shot props that really stand out.

Patrik Laine over 3.5 shots (-125)

It hasn't been a banner year for Patrik Laine - or any member of the Columbus Blue Jackets - but the streaky sniper appears to be heating up.

Laine registered 29 shots and six points over the last six games. He's been far and away the Blue Jackets' most prominent shooter, attempting a ridiculous 50 shots during that stretch.

For perspective, Johnny Gaudreau (28) is the only other player on the team with more than 22 attempts over the same period.

Laine is shooting from anywhere and everywhere right now, and I expect that to continue in a mouthwatering matchup against the Anaheim Ducks. No team allowed a higher rate of shots at five-on-five or on the power play than the Ducks over the last 10 games.

Anaheim bleeds shots each and every night no matter the caliber of opponent. It allowed at least 35 shots in seven straight and 39 or more in six straight.

This Blue Jackets team should be able to send John Gibson plenty of rubber, and Laine will no doubt be the player doing the heavy lifting.

Miro Heiskanen over 2.5 shots (-120)

Heiskanen is somewhat of a cheat code right now. The fluid, minute-munching blue-liner recorded three shots or more in nine of the last 10 games.

The lone exception came Wednesday night against the San Jose Sharks. Heiskanen didn't struggle to generate opportunities, attempting five shots. He just failed to hit the target on three of them.

I like Heiskanen to bounce back quickly against the Los Angeles Kings. For one, the shot volume he's generating is almost unmatched.

He averaged 6.7 attempts per game over the last 10, which is more than anyone but Roman Josi and Dougie Hamilton. With that kind of output, the Dallas Stars blue-liner will hit very frequently.

Los Angeles' stingy shot-suppression defense hasn't hindered Heiskanen at all. He went over the number in each of the five times he faced the Kings since the beginning of last season, generating four or more shots four times.

Expect another strong performance Thursday night.

Alex Ovechkin over 4.5 shots (-125)

The Arizona Coyotes give up a lot of shots. They routinely get caved in at five-on-five and averaged more shorthanded time per game than all but two teams.

That should be music to the ears of Ovechkin, the NHL's distant leader in power-play attempts. He doesn't need a lot of time to pile up the shots on the man advantage. Facing an undisciplined team like the Coyotes definitely raises his floor and ceiling.

It's also worth noting the Coyotes rank dead last in shots against per game against left-wingers, which happens to be the position Ovechkin plays.

Ovechkin piled up 13 attempts and six shots on goal when he faced the Coyotes earlier this campaign. He should be in line for another big performance this time around.

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

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A very busy week of NHL action continues as we get set for a juicy 13-game slate.

Let's dive into a couple of my favorite plays on the board.

Wild (+140) @ Hurricanes (-165)

Although there are plenty of high-end forwards set to take the ice in this game, the defenses stand out the most.

The Minnesota Wild and Carolina Hurricanes are two of the very best defensive teams in the league, as has been the case for several years.

We'll start with the road side. Minnesota is the only team conceding fewer than 10 high-danger opportunities per 60 minutes of five-on-five play. They also grade out very well in terms of expected goals, allowing an average of 2.34 per 60 minutes. That's the third-best total in the league.

It just so happens the Wild are taking on one of the two teams ahead of them. The Hurricanes have given up 2.10 expected goals per 60 minutes of five-on-five play, establishing a fairly healthy gap between them and the Boston Bruins (2.30) and Minnesota (2.34).

Both the Wild and Hurricanes are capable of suffocating opponents in any third. They can forecheck, cause turnovers high up the ice, and sustain shift after shift working down low in the offensive zone. They also have the ability to handle their assignments and prevent glaring breakdowns in the defensive zone.

Given those characteristics, it's hardly surprising the Wild and Hurricanes are quite adept at killing penalties. They rank inside the top seven of limiting expected goals in undermanned situations.

The Wild and Hurricanes combined to score only 12 goals in their three meetings during the 2022 calendar year, going under the number each time out.

I expect similar Thursday night.

Bet: Under 6 (-125)

Capitals (-190) @ Coyotes (+160)

The Arizona Coyotes have hit a new level of bad. They won just one of the last 10 games, needing overtime to grind out the lone victory against a mediocre Detroit Red Wings team - in the latter half of a back-to-back.

Hockey is a very luck-driven sport - sometimes you play well and don't get the bounces, making you look worse than you are. This isn't one of those times.

Over the last 10 games, the Coyotes rank 31st in expected goal generation and in the bottom five in expected goal suppression. They're having a miserable time at both ends of the ice.

Earlier in the year, Karel Vejmelka was able to mask some of those problems and help the Coyotes steal a few wins. Whether he was playing over his head or whether the workload has simply caught up with him, Vejmelka has really slowed of late.

Of 38 netminders to log at least 400 minutes over the past month, Vejmelka ranks 34th with a putrid .884 save percentage. No matter the circumstances, that's never going to be good enough.

The Washington Capitals may have tailed off a little bit of late, but there isn't any real cause for concern. I think they've simply been going through an adjustment period while working a few key players back into the lineup.

Considering how poorly the Coyotes are playing at both ends of the ice and the level of goaltending they're getting from Vejmelka right now, this is a perfect spot for the Capitals to get the ship moving in the right direction.

Look for Washington to take care of business inside 60 minutes.

Bet: Capitals in regulation (-120)

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

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

Tuesday features an eight-game NHL slate. Let's explore a couple of plays that stand out from the pack.

Sabres (-175) @ Blackhawks (+150)

The Sabres enter this game on a 1-4-0 run and desperately need points as they look to remain firmly in the Eastern Conference playoff race. They should be able to get what they need against the Blackhawks.

In a season with some unbelievably bad teams in the league basement, the Blackhawks continue to make a strong case as the very worst. They're completely inept offensively at five-on-five, ranking 32nd in both expected and actual goals per 60 minutes.

Chicago also struggles on the defensive side of things, ranking 29th in goals against per 60 minutes at five-on-five.

Even on the tail end of a back-to-back, Buffalo should be able to play on its front foot for much of this game.

The Sabres are far better at full strength, have significantly more high-end talent, and a great deal of youth. One would think that will serve them well in a back-to-back situation; they can recover quicker and should have more gas in the tank.

Buffalo secured an overtime win when these teams met earlier in the season - and a well-deserved one at that. The Sabres generated 31 more shot attempts, 14 more scoring chances, and eight more high-danger scoring opportunities than their opponents.

Even more impressive was the fact the Sabres did that with a banged-up blue line featuring Kale Clague, Lawrence Pilut, and Casey Fitzgerald; none of those three should be in the lineup Tuesday.

With a much healthier defense, Buffalo is better equipped to slow down Chicago's meager offense - the Sabres allowed three goals on 26 shots in the previous meeting - and should spend more time on the attack.

Though Petr Mrazek starting would have been the icing on the cake, Blackhawks netminder Alex Stalock has conceded three goals or more in four of five appearances and looks to be coming back down to earth after a hot run.

Bet: Sabres in regulation (-120)

Ducks (+170) @ Flyers (-200)

Backing an under is always a scary proposition in Ducks games. Anaheim's defense is so putrid that any opponent can potentially surpass the game total singlehandedly.

That being said, value is value - and there's value on the under in this contest. The goaltending matchup hardly seems high-end on paper, but there could be more to it than that.

Samuel Ersson has played very well since joining the Flyers on a full-time basis. Through six appearances, he owns a 4-0-0 record and a .917 save percentage, which is well above the league average of .900.

It's unlikely Ersson is as good as he's shown thus far, but the bottom-feeding Ducks are probably not the team to slow him down.

Anthony Stolarz, meanwhile, is better than his surface stats suggest. He's conceded minus-0.068 goals above expected on a per-start basis, which means he's stopping what he should; that's not an easy task playing behind a Ducks team that depends heavily on its netminders.

John Gibson, in comparison, has conceded almost 0.40 goals more than expected on a per-start basis. Stolarz has clearly outperformed him.

Though Anaheim tends to bring out the best in opposing offenses, the Flyers slot 24th in shots per game and 26th in goals per game. Philadelphia is hardly a team Stolarz can't keep in check.

Expect a 4-1 or 3-2 game for the under.

Bet: Under 6 (-105)

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

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We have a full day of hockey ahead of us Monday. The action begins at 1 p.m. ET and runs almost the entire night.

Let's waste no time getting to our best bets.

Senators (-115) @ Blues (-105)

On the surface, the Blues seem to be handling themselves just fine without Ryan O'Reilly and Vladimir Tarasenko. Since the pair of top-six forwards went down with injuries on Dec. 31, St. Louis has managed a respectable 4-3 record.

Don't let the results fool you. The Blues haven't played well. They've controlled just 42% of the expected goal share at five-on-five, putting them behind all but the Coyotes, Blackhawks, and Ducks. Those are three teams heavily in the Connor Bedard sweepstakes.

St. Louis has struggled at both ends of the ice in that time. It ranks 30th in expected goal generation and is in the bottom 10 in xG prevention at five-on-five.

If not for unsustainably high shooting percentages, things would look bleaker for the Blues.

Despite not getting a lot of saves and losing some games lately, the Senators have played pretty well. Their expected goal share ranks just outside the top 10, sandwiching them between the Maple Leafs and Golden Knights.

Save for the last time out against a desperate Avalanche team, Ottawa has primarily controlled the run of play since the calendar flipped.

I expect the Senators to do that against this undermanned Blues squad. Given the goaltending they're getting from Jordan Binnington right now, Ottawa's struggles between the pipes will likely prove less costly.

Look for the Sens to get back in the win column Monday night.

Bet: Senators (-115)

Lightning (-130) @ Kraken (+110)

The Kraken enter play riding an eight-game winning streak, having won the last seven on a historically good road trip.

It's been Seattle's offense leading the charge. The club found the back of the net 41 times in its last eight contests, scoring at least four goals in seven games.

Although they don't possess a true superstar, the Kraken have a deep and balanced forward group that gives you scoring on all four lines.

With all that said, this is a very unsustainable run. Seattle has scored on nearly 18% of their shots and netted 17 more goals than expected based on the shots and chances generated.

You may believe the Kraken have the talent to outproduce that of a normal team, as the Capitals have for years. But it's a stretch to think the gap should be anywhere close to this drastic.

Perhaps a date with the Lightning is the perfect spot for Seattle to start coming back down to earth.

The Bolts are playing some of their best hockey right now. No team has controlled a larger percentage of the high-danger chances at five-on-five over the past eight games.

Tampa Bay doesn't concede a whole lot of quality opportunities. When it does, the team has Andrei Vasilevskiy to bail them out. I don't think the Kraken can expect to have anywhere close to the same level of shooting success against one of the league's best netminders.

On the flip side, Seattle's goaltending is worrisome going up against the Lightning. No side has been more efficient than Tampa at generating high-danger opportunities over the last eight games, and we all know the team's firepower.

I don't see Martin Jones (.895 save percentage) or Philipp Grubauer (.885 save percentage) holding up against the chunk of top-tier chances they'll see.

Look for the Lightning to end the Kraken's winning streak.

Bet: Lightning (-130)

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

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We split our best bets on Thursday night. The Flames came through with a regulation win in St. Louis at +100, but three goals were scored in the final five minutes of the Hurricanes game to erase what was a promising looking under.

Let's dig into a couple of plays that stand out for the weekend ahead as we search for a pair of victories.

Jets (+150) @ Penguins (-175)
Jan. 13, 7 p.m. ET

It's not a side but a total that stands out most to me in this game. I like the over.

The Jets are a very strong offensive team. They rank top-10 in goals per game, and that's despite playing much of the season without Nikolaj Ehlers and, at times, Blake Wheeler. The former has produced 65 points in 66 games dating back to the start of last season, while Wheeler is flirting with a point per game.

Having both healthy again gives the Jets a full arsenal of dangerous wingers to put around their one-two punch of Pierre-Luc Dubois and Mark Scheifele.

The early returns have been extremely promising, as the Jets have netted at least four goals in all four games since Ehlers returned to the lineup.

I expect Winnipeg will continue to score in bunches Friday night against the Penguins. The Pens have really struggled at five-on-five of late, slotting 25th in expected goals against per 60 over the last 10 games.

They're going to have their hands full slowing down this healthy Jets top six - especially with Tristan Jarry out and Casey DeSmith struggling.

On the flip side, the Penguins should be able to create their fair share of offense as well. The Jets are a mediocre defensive team in the latter half of a road back-to-back.

They'll give up their share of chances, and David Rittich is generally not somebody who can be relied upon to stop a big chunk of them. While he has played adequately this season, Rittich has conceded 11 goals over his last four starts and played just once since Christmas.

There could be some rust in Rittich's game, which isn't ideal when going up against Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Jake Guentzel, and Co.

Look for both teams to do some damage in what should be a high-scoring affair.

Bet: Over 6.5 (-105)

Flyers (TBD) @ Capitals (TBD)
Jan. 14, 7 p.m. ET

The Flyers are on a 7-3-0 run and have burned me a couple of times during that stretch.

While some would undoubtedly argue the team is simply turning a corner and it's time to give them more respect in the market, they are more or less just riding a shooting percentage bender.

The Flyers have scored on 13.33% of their shots over the last 10 games, slotting them just a hair out of the league lead in that time.

Although they deserve credit for making the most of their opportunities, I'm not sure we have much reason to believe it will continue.

In 32 games prior to this heater - a much more substantial and, thus, more accurate sample size - the Flyers ranked 30th in the NHL with an 8.23 shooting percentage.

Considering the roster hasn't changed, I have a hard time believing the Flyers have transformed from one of the least clinical offenses in the league to one of the best. They simply don't have the talent for that to be realistic.

Regression is going to come for this Flyers team, and Saturday's game against the Capitals is a good place for it to start.

The Capitals have largely been a stout defensive team this season, the goaltending has been consistently strong, they're getting healthy, and they're at home looking to bounce back from a disappointing effort against this same Flyers side.

I like the Capitals to win this game within 60 minutes.

Bet: Capitals in regulation (should be around even money)

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

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Thursday was yet another great night for our player props as we won all three plays, pushing our weekly record to 9-2.

Although there are only three games scheduled for Friday night's NHL slate, there is plenty of value on the board. Let's dive into a few of my favorite plays.

Jack Hughes over 4.5 shots (-130)

The New Jersey Devils' budding superstar has generated shots at a nearly unmatched rate of late, piling up 91 attempts over his last 10 games.

Although Hughes' prop line has moved from 3.5 to 4.5 as a result, that hasn't stopped him from going over the total in eight of his last 10 showings.

Hughes is dominating the puck and very clearly establishing himself as the undisputed No. 1 scoring option on the team. He has recorded 64 shots on target over the past 10, which is nearly double that of the closest teammate to him (Nico Hischier with 34).

He is in the best spot imaginable to continue his success on Friday night. The Anaheim Ducks have been the worst shot-suppression team in the NHL over the course of the season *and* the last 10 games. Their form is consistently horrendous.

They also take a lot of penalties - offering plenty of opportunities for Hughes to generate multiple shots in quick succession - and allow more shots per game to centers than every other team in the league. Hughes should be able to keep the ball rolling in this game.

Pierre-Luc Dubois over 2.5 shots (-125)

It's fair to say Pierre-Luc Dubois is the prime beneficiary of Nik Ehlers' return to the lineup. Ehlers has skated with Dubois and Kyle Connor the past four games, and they've made magic together, helping the Winnipeg Jets control 63% of the expected goal share while piling up the shots in bulk.

Dubois has been the trigger man for that unit, averaging six attempts per game at five-on-five alone. Special teams included, Dubois has piled up 30 attempts over just four games since Ehlers returned. That's nine more than any other player on the Jets.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have not exactly been stout defensively without Jeff Petry and, more recently, Kris Letang. They are giving up plenty of shot volume and suppressing shots against centers has been an issue for them all season long. In fact, the Ducks are the only team below them in shots against per game against the position.

Look for Dubois - aided by the return of Ehlers - to stay hot in a sneaky good matchup.

Darnell Nurse over 2.5 shots (-120)

Death, taxes, and Darnell Nurse hitting his shot total. The minute-munching blue-liner has recorded three shots or more in 10 of his last 12 games.

Although he doesn't carry the same reputation as most of the marquee offensive defensemen in the sport - understandably so - volume is volume, and Nurse provides it.

Only seven defensemen in the NHL have attempted more shots than Nurse this season. He generates shots at an efficient clip and plays so many minutes that, at times, he doesn't even need to make the most of his time to get the job done.

The San Jose Sharks are a surprisingly potent shot-suppression team but they're more vulnerable to defensemen than centers or wingers. We'll look to take advantage of that in backing Nurse.

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

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

Wednesday was a winning night for our best bets, as we won two of three plays. We lost our lone side, though, as the Washington Capitals couldn't grind out a result against the Philadelphia Flyers.

We'll look to get back on track with a side, and a total, for Thursday's busy slate.

Hurricanes (-320) @ Blue Jackets (+260)

The Carolina Hurricanes have dropped four consecutive games and have been unusually leaky in that time, conceding 18 goals.

As talented as the Hurricanes are, they have always taken pride in being a hard-working and stout defensive club under head coach Rod Brind'Amour. They'll be looking to get back to those ways in a wonderful get-right opportunity against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night.

The Blue Jackets have some star power - most notably wingers Johnny Gaudreau and Patrik Laine - but that hasn't been enough for them to create offense with any consistency this season. They rank 30th in goals per game and also slot bottom five in terms of shot generation.

This is a spot where the Hurricanes, the NHL's No. 1-ranked side in shot and chance prevention at five-on-five, should be able to flex their muscles and suck the life out of the Blue Jackets' offense.

Meanwhile, the Blue Jackets are so bruised and battered defensively that they should be on their heels for much of the game. I think the Hurricanes will be able to forecheck them into the ground and spend a lot of time working defenders over down low, keeping the puck far, far, away from their own cage.

The Hurricanes will generate their fair share of chances - and then some. But Joonas Korpisalo has held up extremely well in dire circumstances this season and will offer up real resistance in goal.

Of the 66 netminders to appear in at least 10 games thus far, Korpisalo ranks 10th in goals saved above expected per start. His running mate, Elvis Merzlikins, is last, to offer more perspective on how well Korpisalo has handled himself behind this porous Blue Jackets team.

With the Hurricanes looking to tighten the screws at one end and Korpisalo playing very well at the other, I expect this game to go under the number.

Bet: Under 6.5 (-120)

Flames (-160) @ Blues (+140)

The Calgary Flames let us down last time out against the St. Louis Blues, but I thought the process was strong.

Calgary led 3-1 through 40 minutes of play and controlled nearly 62% of the expected goals share in that time.

The Andrew Mangiapane, Mikael Backlund, and Blake Coleman line in particular feasted on the Blues' depth and seemed to cause problems every shift.

Jacob Markstrom fell apart down the stretch, allowing three goals on nine shots over approximately 21 minutes of play, and that was the difference.

While Markstrom - and the Flames' goaltending as a whole - has been up and down this season, the same can be said of St. Louis' tandem. The Blues rank 26th in total save percentage this season, putting them five slots below the Flames.

Even if the difference is negligible, I'd prefer to back the side doing a better job of both generating and limiting chances, and that is definitely Calgary.

At five-on-five, the Flames rank second in the NHL in expected goals share over the last 10 games. They sit well above 57%, whereas the Blues come in at 45.5%. That's a huge swing.

If the Flames can do a better job of staying out of the box and the goaltending can be respectable for a full 60, they should be able to rebound with a much-needed victory.

Bet: Flames in regulation (+100)

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

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