Thursday night was a great one for our shot props, as we swept the board with a clean 3-0 mark.

Timo Meier, Jason Robertson, and Cale Makar - all of whom were priced at -125 or better - took care of business for us to keep the prop train rolling.

Let's try and build on it with three more plays for Friday night's small slate.

Dougie Hamilton over 2.5 shots (-175)

The New Jersey Devils always heavily rely upon Dougie Hamilton. With top-four defensemen John Marino and Ryan Graves injured, he'll have even more responsibility on his plate.

Hamilton has registered 8.3 shot attempts per contest through three games without both defenders. He's also averaged around 24 minutes per contest during that span, which is a couple of minutes higher than his usual workload.

The shoot-first blue-liner will be given every opportunity to make his mark on the game, and the matchup is better than it looks on the surface.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have really struggled defensively of late. Believe it or not, only the Anaheim Ducks have allowed shots at a higher rate over the last 10 games.

It's also worth noting the Penguins have given up shots in bulk to opposing defenders all season long. Just four teams - including Arizona, Anaheim, and Columbus - have allowed more shots per game to defensemen.

Expect Hamilton to generate more than his fair share of attempts.

Roman Josi over 4.5 shots (+110)

I generally prefer to back Roman Josi on home ice. His volume is noticeably better in Nashville, which has been the case for some time. That being said, I can make an exception here since he's playing in Anaheim.

Whether you focus on the full season or the last 10 games, the Ducks have been the league's worst team at preventing shots at five-on-five. They're also a subpar penalty-killing team and are prone to taking penalties.

Add it all up, and they're the best team in the league to target for shots. Josi ranks sixth in the league in shot attempts and in the top 10 in shots on target, so he's the kind of guy who can really pop in a spot like this.

He's shown that versus Anaheim over the past year and change, registering five shots or more in three of four meetings dating back to last season.

I expect his success to continue against a horrendous Ducks team that's showing no signs of tightening up defensively.

Jared McCann over 2.5 shots (+115)

Death, taxes, and backing Jared McCann against the Edmonton Oilers. He has a very strong history against them dating back to his time in Pittsburgh, having hit the over in five consecutive meetings.

More important than the past, though, is the present. McCann leads all Seattle Kraken forwards in shot attempts over the last 10 games. He's at his best when playing opposite Jordan Eberle, which should be the case in this game.

At five-on-five, McCann averages nearly 16 attempts per 60 minutes when skating on a line with Eberle. He has a higher shooting output with Eberle than any of the other forwards he's skated with regularly this season.

McCann also sits second on the Kraken in power-play shot attempts. He's a focal point on the man advantage as well, giving him extra opportunities to pile up shots.

I think +115 is a very good price for McCann in this spot.

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

Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We split our shot props Wednesday night. Alex Pietrangelo came through with a first-period hit against the Anaheim Ducks, but Nikita Kucherov let us down with a dud at home to the Montreal Canadiens.

We'll set our sights higher as we dig into three standout plays for Thursday night's busy slate of games.

Cale Makar over 3.5 shots (-105)

The Makar train continues to chug along sans Nathan MacKinnon. Makar registered at least four shots on goal in eight of 10 games since MacKinnon went down with an injury. He also hit the over in six consecutive games, averaging nearly five shots in that span.

This hot streak is by no means smoke and mirrors. Makar attempted more than eight shots per game over the last 10, slotting him third in the NHL during that span. Only snipers David Pastrnak and Mikko Rantanen generated more volume in that time.

Makar is a much more prolific shooter without MacKinnon and does his best work on home soil. The Avalanche blue-liner averaged 8.2 attempts per game in Colorado this season, compared to just 6.6 on the road.

Unsurprisingly, he hasn't enjoyed nearly as much success away from home - his hit rate is 15% lower than it is in Colorado.

The Los Angeles Kings are generally not a team to target for shots on goal, but Makar is playing so many minutes - and being asked to carry so much of the offense - that I see value here anyway.

Timo Meier over 4.5 shots (+115)

Meier was seemingly automatic to start the season, recording five shots or more in eight of his first nine home games.

The San Jose Sharks winger hit five shots in just three of 10 home dates since that point, appearing to cool off immensely. However, Meier actually averaged 8.6 attempts per game in San Jose during that span, which is more than his season average at home (8.2).

He's still generating a lot of shots - they just haven't hit the net at the same clip. I doubt Meier magically forgot how to shoot on target, so as long as the volume is there, he's still a priority for me.

What I love about Meier tonight is the matchup. The Philadelphia Flyers rank 25th in shot suppression over the last 10 and, on the road, 29th for the season. They give up a ton of shots, and I expect Meier to be the primary beneficiary.

Jason Robertson over 3.5 shots (-125)

Robertson has some of the most insane home/road splits you'll see, and he's generally not someone to play outside of Dallas.

But tonight, Robertson finds himself in a sneaky spot against the Minnesota Wild. Their games featured a ton of special teams play of late, with the Wild averaging around 46 minutes of five-on-five time over the last 10 games.

Robertson is very reliant on the power play and has the ability to quickly pile up shots in bulk on the man advantage. He has 81 attempts on the man advantage this season, nearly double that of his closest Dallas Stars teammate, Miro Heiskanen (44). Clearly, Robertson is option Nos. 1 through 3 on the man advantage. Against an opponent that's been lending itself to a lot of special teams play, he could do some real damage.

He also has a strong history against this Wild team. Robertson recorded at least six shots in all three meetings against Minnesota this calendar year.

Look for his shooting success to continue.

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

Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Thursday features a busy 11-game NHL slate. Let's waste no time in getting to our best bets.

Red Wings (+140) @ Sabres (-165)

The Red Wings deserve a lot of credit for their comeback road win against the Penguins on Wednesday night - but they're still a team to attack.

Detroit has played poorly of late. The team has controlled just over 38% of all high-danger scoring chances at five-on-five over its last 10 games, better than only the Canadiens and Ducks.

The Red Wings have struggled at both ends of the ice over that span, ranking bottom five in both chance generation and prevention.

Though the Sabres aren't contenders, they're certainly capable of causing Detroit problems.

Buffalo's defense is surprisingly potent when healthy, so the imminent return of Owen Power will be huge. Led by Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch, Dylan Cozens, and Rasmus Dahlin, among others, the Sabres are also making noise on offense - especially on home ice.

Buffalo ranks second in goals per 60 minutes at home this season and is averaging a whopping 3.98 tallies through 17 games at KeyBank Center. After a taxing overtime victory, the Red Wings now have to travel and try to slow that offense down.

That's a difficult task, especially after starting netminder Ville Husso played against the Penguins - at least until they chased him; he isn't as fresh as he normally would be heading into a start.

This underrated Sabres offense is going to cause all kinds of issues for a pedestrian and fatigued Red Wings defense.

Look for Buffalo to take care of business in 60 minutes.

Bet: Sabres in regulation (+100)

Rangers (+110) @ Lightning (-130)

The Lightning enter this contest fresh off a Wednesday win over lowly Montreal, but the Rangers appear to be hitting their stride. They've won eight of their last 10 games and rediscovered the formula that made them so successful last season.

While their overall numbers still leave plenty to be desired, the Rangers are excelling in a few key areas.

New York has played well defensively during this winning spell, ranking top 10 in high-danger scoring chances against per 60 minutes at five-on-five. It's very difficult to score on Igor Shesterkin when opportunities are few and far between.

The power play has also found new life. The Rangers have averaged more than 10 goals per 60 minutes on the man advantage over their last 10 outings. It's a small sample size, but that rate is higher than it was last season when New York's power play was among the league's best.

The Rangers' power play is clicking right now, and Tampa Bay sometimes struggles with discipline; that could create opportunities for New York to make some noise with the man advantage.

The Rangers should also benefit from a substantial edge in goal. Shesterkin hasn't been as dominant this season as he was last year, but he remains one of the NHL's best netminders. His Lightning counterpart, Brian Elliott, owns an .894 save percentage on the year and has conceded 20 goals over his last six games.

With a hot power play, a superior goaltender, and a rest advantage, the Rangers offer value as healthy underdogs in this game.

Bet: Rangers (+110)

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

Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We have a fun little five-game slate on the docket Wednesday night as we look to get back in the swing of things.

Let's dive into the best ways to attack it.

Golden Knights (-190) @ Ducks (+160)

The Vegas Golden Knights are banged up and find themselves in the latter half of a road back-to-back as they come out of the holiday break. Even so, I expect them to get a result in this game.

We've targeted the Anaheim Ducks all season long, and we're not going to stop now. Put simply, the Ducks are an unmitigated disaster. They rank 31st in goals for and 32nd in goals against, and their underlying numbers are equally painful.

At five-on-five, no team has allowed more shots, expected goals, or high-danger chances per minute than Anaheim both this season or over the last 10 games. There are no signs of improvement with this team.

Making matters worse, the Ducks are undisciplined. It's awfully difficult to compensate for horrendous five-on-five play when you're often shorthanded and struggle to survive when that's the case.

Injuries or not, the Golden Knights still rank in the top 10 in expected goal and high-danger chance share over the last 10 games. They've also been firing on all cylinders on the power play, scoring at a more efficient rate than all but the Edmonton Oilers.

This is a dream matchup for the Golden Knights as they look to rebound from a tough divisional loss Tuesday night.

There could be reinforcements on the way, too, as Jonathan Marchessault has been traveling on the team's California road trip.

Whatever the case may be, I expect Vegas to take care of business inside 60 minutes.

Bet: Golden Knights in regulation (-120)

Nikita Kucherov over 3.5 shots (-110)

Nikita Kucherov continues to be a player we target primarily on home ice. Although his hit rate is only 6% higher in Tampa than on the road, the process is much better at home.

He averages 7.6 attempts per game in Tampa and has generated eight or more on eight different occasions. On the road, Kucherov generates 6.3 attempts per contest and has cleared eight only three times.

Beyond Kucherov simply being more productive at home, there's a lot to like about his matchup Wednesday. The Montreal Canadiens aren't a good five-on-five team and, perhaps more importantly, they tend to offer opponents plenty of power-play opportunities.

The Canadiens have spent more than six minutes per game killing penalties over their last 10 contests, which ranks in the bottom eight in the NHL. They also bleed shots on the penalty kill.

Look for Kucherov to have a big night.

Alex Pietrangelo over 2.5 shots (-115)

Alex Pietrangelo has been a shooting machine since returning to the lineup. Through five games, the veteran defenseman has led Vegas with 34 shot attempts. He's also averaged better than 26 minutes per game and logged nearly 30 more than the closest teammate.

With so many key players missing for the Golden Knights, and against the Ducks, Pietrangelo's shooting ways should continue Wednesday night. Anaheim ranks dead last in attempts against per minute at five-on-five over the last 10 games. The Ducks have also paraded to the box during that span, spending a league-high 7:21 per contest undermanned.

This is a mouthwatering matchup for Pietrangelo. Given his current workload, he'll have every opportunity to take advantage of it.

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

Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It was another good night for our shot props as we went 2-1, putting us at 8-4 for the week.

Let's look at three of my favorite plays for a busy Friday night and hope to keep the ball rolling.

Seth Jones over 2.5 shots (-115)

Jones is heating up. He's registered at least three shots in five consecutive games, averaging four shots per contest over the stretch.

He's in arguably the best possible matchup Friday to keep his shooting success going. The Blue Jackets have conceded shots at a higher rate than all but the Ducks over the last 10 games. They're giving up a ton of volume.

With all the injuries Columbus is dealing with, the club should continue to bleed shots - even against a weaker opponent like the Blackhawks.

The Blue Jackets have been particularly bad at defending opposing blue-liners. No team has given up more shots per game to the position this season. That should be music to the ears of a gifted offensive defenseman who plays a ton of minutes like Jones.

There's also a little bit of a revenge factor here. Jones has faced the Blue Jackets once since the team traded him to Chicago. He registered four shots - and found the scoresheet - in that game.

I expect a similar result this time around.

Kevin Fiala over 2.5 shots (-135)

We have successfully backed Fiala several times during his insane shooting run at home. This game won't be played in Los Angeles - where his volume is generally higher - but there's still plenty of reason to get on the Fiala train again.

Fiala has gone over his shot total in five straight contests, two of those on the road, and averaged a whopping 5.4 shots on goal during the stretch.

If we extend the sample to 10 games, Fiala has hit seven times and leads the Kings in attempts, shots on goal, and scoring chances. He's red-hot right now.

The Coyotes are one of the worst teams in the league. They spend most games chasing play in the defensive zone and bleeding shots. It's been that way for a while, and Fiala has often taken advantage, hitting in four of his last five versus Arizona.

I expect one more big game from him before heading into the break.

Cale Makar over 3.5 shots (+120)

Makar is one of my favorite players to back for shots right now. With so many key players out for the Avalanche, the onus is on him to get up in the play and help create offense every chance he gets.

Without Nathan MacKinnon, in particular, we've seen Makar take off. He's registered at least four shots in six of the last seven games. He generated absurd volume over that span, attempting 10-plus shots in four contests and exceeding seven in all but one.

That should continue versus a Predators team that Makar has enjoyed plenty of success against. He's averaged 4.4 shots over 18 meetings against Nashville.

At +120, there's plenty of value in backing Makar to go over the number again.

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

Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We split our best bets Thursday night, pushing our record to 6-2 for the week.

Let's dive into a couple of sides that stand out on a busy Friday night.

Panthers (-115) @ Islanders (-105)

The Panthers have been a big disappointment through the first chunk of the season. Projected to be one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference, Florida has won just 15 of 34 games and currently sits outside of the playoffs. Injuries have played a big part, but even the team's biggest detractors wouldn't have expected this.

Although I don't think the Panthers are Stanley Cup contenders, they are - and have been - better than the results suggest.

Florida has done a lot of good things, particularly at five-on-five. Its share of the high-danger chances over the last 10 games sits above 56%, sandwiching the club between the Hurricanes and Devils. However, the Panthers' reward for their strong process was just four wins.

I think this is a nice get-right spot for them as they get set to head into the holiday break. And this Islanders team is quite flawed.

New York's power play isn't good. The club gives up a lot of opportunities at five-on-five. And tonight, the Islanders are playing in the latter half of a back-to-back.

That could mean a night off for Ilya Sorokin, who owns a ridiculous .924 save percentage and ranks third among goaltenders in goals saved above expected.

If Sorokin isn't playing, it'll improve the Panthers' already solid win probability by a few percent.

Look for the Fancy Cats to get a well-deserved two points and head into the break on a positive note.

Bet: Panthers (-115)

Canucks (+180) @ Oilers (-210)

The Oilers have won only five of their last 10 games, but they're quietly playing some strong hockey.

They've controlled better than 54% of the expected goal share and high-danger chances at five-on-five during this stretch. Both outputs rank them inside the top 10 in the NHL.

Edmonton is a very scary team when it's clicking at full strength because it always has a lethal power play in its back pocket. Normally, the Oilers' power play is used to make up for any shortcomings at five-on-five. But now, it can be used to build on what the club is accomplishing rather than just getting it back to square one.

I expect Edmonton to flex its five-on-five muscles in this game. The Canucks rank 23rd in expected goal share over their last 10 contests and have been anything but consistent all season. A get-out-of-town game in the latter half of a back-to-back is probably not where they'll find their footing.

Beyond having more high-end talent, a better five-on-five profile, and arguably the league's most terrifying power play, the Oilers should also benefit from a goaltending edge.

Stuart Skinner owns a .913 save percentage this season, well above the league average of .900. He's also a net positive in goals saved above expected.

Collin Delia, Skinner's expected counterpart, has managed a .888 save percentage through nine AHL starts this campaign. He conceded nearly five goals more than expected over eight starts with the Blackhawks last season.

Look for Edmonton's big guns to cause Delia real problems en route to a regulation victory.

Bet: Oilers in regulation (-140)

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

Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Wednesday was another good night for our best bets as the Nashville Predators took care of business inside regulation (-110) and the underdog Edmonton Oilers (+120) picked up a multi-goal victory in Dallas. Those two wins push our best bets to 5-1 on the week.

Let's keep the ball rolling in the right direction with two plays for Thursday night's slate of games.

Capitals (-115) @ Senators (-105)

We successfully targeted the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night when Tim Stutzle was out of the lineup. The expectation is that he'll be back centering the top line tonight, which means there's value in backing Ottawa.

The Senators are a completely different team with Stutzle in the lineup. Not only is he a fantastic player in his own right, but he also helps get the most out of Ottawa's other top players.

Brady Tkachuk and Claude Giroux posted a putrid 37.5% expected goal share when Derick Brassard centered them on the top line. That trio was completely destroyed.

With Stutzle playing alongside Tkachuk and Giroux, the Senators have a whopping 66.8% expected goal share. That's over the span of 170-plus minutes, so it's not as if we're just looking at a sample size of a few games. They've been dominant over the long haul.

Stutzle's presence makes Ottawa's top line one of the best in the league and gives it a very potent top six with Alex DeBrincat, Shane Pinto, and Drake Batherson skating on the second unit.

They're now well-equipped to generate five-on-five offense against a stout defensive team like the Washington Capitals.

It's important to note that this is also a good spot for Ottawa's lethal power play. Over the last 10 games, the Capitals' penalty kill ranks 23rd in high-danger chances against and 25th in expected goals against, on a per-60-minute basis.

Ottawa's power play sits fourth in expected goals and actual goals during the same period.

I expect the offense to lead the charge and get the Senators back in the win column.

Bet: Senators (-105)

Flames (-120) @ Kings (+100)

The Calgary Flames own a 5-2-3 record over their last 10 games but haven't been all that impressive.

Though they routinely win the shot battle rather convincingly, they do so by way of a quantity-over-quality approach.

Despite controlling more than 56% of the five-on-five shot attempts over the last 10 - good for first in the NHL - they come in around 47% with high-danger chances. They're getting more shots, but the opposing team often comes out with the edge in quality looks.

That stems mostly from an inability to really break teams down and generate grade A opportunities. Only seven teams created fewer high-danger chances at five-on-five over the last 10 games, just one of which is currently holding onto a playoff spot.

I'm more impressed by the Los Angeles Kings' recent work. They generated 106 high-danger looks in that time (ninth most) and controlled over 54% of the high-danger opportunities. Impressive numbers.

The Kings should be able to get the better of the Flames at five-on-five - although Chris Tanev's recent return will complicate their task - and there's also real potential for the power play to make noise.

Beyond the Anaheim Ducks, no team spent more time shorthanded than Calgary over the last 10. Penalty troubles are nothing new for the Flames, who've been one of the NHL's least-disciplined teams all season.

If the goaltending can hold up, I think the Kings have a strong chance of coming through at home.

Bet: Kings (+100)

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

Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Wednesday was an off night for our shot props. Matt Boldy recorded twice as many shots as needed, but Nikita Kucherov and Gustav Forsling came up short.

We'll aim to get back in the win column with three more plays for Thursday's slate.

David Pastrnak over 4.5 shots (-110)

Pastrnak is starting to heat back up after a bit of a shooting dry spell - by his standards, anyway. He's registered at least five shots on goal in four of the last six games, and his attempt volume is unmatched in the previous 10.

Pastrnak has attempted a ridiculous 93 shots during that span, nine more than the next closest player (Alexander Ovechkin). Patrik Laine is the only other forward above 80 shot attempts, so Pastrnak has been in a tier of his own.

Although the Jets are a solid team, they don't dominate puck control, nor are they bulletproof defensively. At five-on-five, they rank 18th in shot attempts against per 60 minutes over the last 10 games. Injuries to Nate Schmidt and Blake Wheeler won't help matters.

Pastrnak should be able to generate some shot volume at full strength, and he's always the primary target on the man advantage.

It's also worth noting that Pastrnak has an extremely encouraging history against the Jets. He's registered at least five shots in five of his last six meetings versus Winnipeg and netted nine goals in the previous nine.

Auston Matthews over 4.5 shots (-110)

Matthews started the season posting low shot totals, especially by his standards. He recorded five shots or more only four times over his first 19 games. As high of a bar as Matthews has to surpass each night (4.5 shots), that's very abnormal for a player of his caliber.

However, he's quietly turned a corner lately. Matthews has five shots or more in eight of his last 11 games and four straight on home ice.

Now Matthews draws an advantageous matchup at home against a bad Philadelphia team. The Flyers are among the worst possession and shot-suppression clubs in the NHL. They spend a lot of time on their heels absorbing pressure in the defensive zone. That should lead to plenty of shooting opportunities for Matthews, who generated eight shots on target in his only other meeting against Philadelphia this season.

Look for No. 34 to stay hot at home.

Kevin Fiala over 2.5 shots (-130)

Fiala is firing on all cylinders. The dynamic winger has registered at least three shots on goal in 11 consecutive home games.

He's averaged 4.36 shots per contest in that span, so he isn't just squeaking by.

Fiala leads Los Angeles with 48 shots, 54 scoring chances, and 73 shot attempts over those 11 games. No other Kings player is within 15 in any of those categories.

The Flames aren't a great team to target for shots at five-on-five, but they take a lot of penalties. That offers extra opportunities for power play shooters to go to work. It just so happens Fiala is also the Kings' go-to guy on the man advantage.

This is a sneaky good spot for him to find success again.

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

Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Monday was another good night for our player props picks. The double dip with the Dallas Stars proved successful, as both Jason Robertson and Miro Heiskanen went over their shot totals.

The Alex Tuch play also looked like a winner after he hit three early in the final period, but he had a shot taken away well after the game, leaving us one shy of a 3-0 night.

Let's keep the ball rolling with three more plays for Tuesday's slate.

Mitch Marner over 2.5 shots (-130)

Marner has been shooting the puck a lot of late. The ultra-talented winger picked up at least three shots on goal in eight of his last 10 games, averaging a healthy 3.6.

Marner generated five shots on goal and attempted a whopping 10 shots when he faced the Tampa Bay Lightning during this hot spell.

Shooting success against the Lightning is nothing new for Marner. He recorded at least three shots in eight of his last 12 against Tampa Bay.

This game should come down to the wire, meaning Marner is likely to see a full workload of more than 20 minutes. Look for him to make the most of it.

Kevin Fiala over 2.5 shots (-145)

I love, love, love Fiala in this spot. The Los Angeles Kings' prized acquisition is lethal shooting the puck - especially at home. He generated at least three shots on goal in 10 consecutive games played in Los Angeles.

Now he draws a date with a putrid Anaheim Ducks team that can't defend a lick. The Ducks rank 31st in five-on-five attempts against per 60 for the season and 32nd over the last 10 games. They're truly miserable.

Fiala has taken advantage of them time after time in recent years, hitting the over in 10 of his last 12 meetings and six straight overall.

Look for him to have a big night.

Kevin Hayes over 2.5 shots (-120)

Say what you will about Hayes' effort levels or defensive play - John Tortorella clearly has concerns - but the guy can create offense.

He generated 32 shots on goal and 60 attempts over the last nine games. Those are impressive outputs, especially since he was benched for a large chunk of one of them.

Hayes has been Philadelphia's most consistent shot generator. Fresh off a healthy scratch, you can bet he'll be looking to make an impact in his return to the lineup.

A matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets is certainly a prime opportunity to do just that. They rank dead last in five-on-five shot suppression this season and are playing in the latter part of a road back-to-back with what feels like half of their roster missing.

Hayes should be able to put his stamp on this game and have a strong offensive showing.

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

Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We split our best bets to begin the week. The Boston Bruins took care of business in regulation but the Edmonton Oilers were unable to get past the Nashville Predators in overtime.

Let's dive into a couple of games that stand out on Tuesday's eight-game slate.

Senators (+130) @ Jets (-147)

Just when things started to turn for the better in Ottawa, Tim Stutzle suffered a shoulder injury. He is not going to be out long term, thankfully, but the ailment will keep him out of the lineup for this game. That is big.

Normally a strong five-on-five team, the Ottawa Senators have struggled in their short period of time without Stutzle. Through four games, they have posted a 47% share of the expected goals and generated only 2.21 xG per 60 minutes.

Those numbers don't hold a candle to their season numbers of 52% and 2.89 xG per 60.

One of the biggest issues with Stutzle's injury is that it forces Derick Brassard to play way over his head as the top-line center. Brady Tkachuk and Claude Giroux own a putrid 42.9% xG share with Brassard as their pivot. That's a far cry from the 66.8% they own alongside Stutzle.

This is all a long way of saying Ottawa's offense is not nearly as potent right now, which is problematic when going up against the Winnipeg Jets.

The Jets sit seventh in high-danger chances against per 60 over the last 10 games. They really aren't giving up much. When they do, Connor Hellebuyck - who ranks second in goals saved above expected - is more than up to the task.

Without their top two centers in Stutzle and Josh Norris, I don't see the Senators' offense doing much damage in this game. Back the Jets to rebound on home ice.

Bet: Jets (-147)

Blue Jackets (+145) @ Flyers (-170)

Things are going from bad to worse for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Already without Zach Werenski, Jakub Voracek, and half their defensive core, the Blue Jackets placed captain Boone Jenner on injured reserve Monday. They also announced skilled youngster Cole Sillinger is banged up with an undisclosed injury.

All of those absences leave the Blue Jackets paper thin on the back end and with little scoring depth to compensate. Thus, the Blue Jackets need quality goaltending to win games. That's not something they're likely to get tonight.

Elvis Merzlikins appears destined to start for the Blue Jackets in the latter half of their back-to-back. He is in the midst of an absolutely miserable season, sporting a woeful .864 save percentage.

He has conceded 18 more goals than expected through just 14 appearances, which slots him last in the NHL by quite a margin. Kaapo Kahkonen (minus-14.2 GSAE) is the only other goaltender below minus-11.3.

Meanwhile, Merzlikins' counterpart, Carter Hart, is enjoying a strong bounce-back campaign. He owns a .913 save percentage and ranks fourth in the league in GSAE (plus-13.6).

Win or lose, Hart is allowing the Flyers to hang around in plenty of games. The same can't be said about Merzlikins.

With the Blue Jackets getting caved in at five-on-five on a nightly basis, dealing with a cluster of injuries across the board, and facing a back-to-back situation, it is hard to envision their fortunes turning on Tuesday night, even against a bad Flyers team.

Back the healthier side that should also hold a big advantage in goal.

Bet: Flyers (-110)

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

Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.