Thursday night was a successful one on the ice. The Panthers let us down against the Penguins, but we hit all three player props and a sweat-free under in Washington to go 4-1 overall.

We'll look to pick up where we left off with a couple plays for the weekend slate.

Islanders (-185) @ Coyotes (+165)
Dec. 16, 9:30 p.m. EST

There's bad, and then there's the Coyotes. They have won just nine of 27 games and rank dead last in expected goal share (38.44%) at five-on-five.

What's crazy is things would be even worse if not for Karel Vejmelka. He owns a .913 save percentage this season - well above the league average of .900 - and ranks first among all goaltenders in goals saved above expected.

Vejmelka's absurd +16.3 mark through 20 games slots him ahead of even Ilya Sorokin, Connor Hellebuyck, and Carter Hart.

If he is playing so well, why am I targeting the Coyotes? Well, the team still leaves the ice with a loss more often than not, even in Vejmelka's starts. Not to mention how difficult it'll be for him to sustain such strong numbers over a full season behind such a putrid squad - the wear and tear will take its toll sooner than later.

The Islanders are also one of the few sides with a starting netminder who can go toe-to-toe with the version of Vejmelka we have seen this campaign. Sorokin currently ranks third in GSAE, and he was among the league leaders a season ago. He's a true star in the net.

If he can wipe out the general advantage Arizona's had in goal this year - and he is more than capable - that puts things in the hands of the skaters, and I much prefer New York's.

The Islanders have been slightly up and down of late, but even so, there's a lot more to like in their statistical profile. They rank 12th in high-danger chance share at five-on-five over the last 10 games, while the Coyotes sit 32nd.

New York should be able to dominate the run of play, and as mentioned, Arizona can't bank on the edge they've had to fall back on in goal most nights.

Look for Mathew Barzal, Brock Nelson, Noah Dobson, and the team's offensive drivers to have a good night and lead the Isles to a victory inside 60 minutes.

Bet: Islanders in regulation (-115)

Sabres (TBD) @ Coyotes (TBD)
Dec. 17, 9:00 p.m. EST

One of the only things worse than the Coyotes is the Coyotes without Vejmelka.

Arizona is a nine-win club, with Vejmelka starting the majority of games and leading the league in GSAE. It's not hard to imagine what the team is like without him.

Check that - we don't have to imagine. We know what the Coyotes are like, and the picture is not pretty.

Backup netminder Connor Ingram is sporting a 1-6-1 record and an .870 save percentage. He has conceded at least three goals in every single game this season and slots 63rd among 66 netminders in GSAE per start on a per-game basis. He is getting lit up nightly, no matter the opponent.

I expect that trend to continue Saturday night against the Sabres. While their record isn't all that impressive, there is a lot to like about their team.

Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin continue to hit new levels, while youngsters like Dylan Cozens, Jack Quinn, and Owen Power have really stepped up and given the team a jolt in the arm.

The Sabres' share of the Grade A chances is 12% above the Coyotes' over the last 10 contests, and the former has significantly more true talent.

Factor in facing the Coyotes in a back-to-back situation and arguably the league's worst backup in Ingram, and it's easy to envision Buffalo running Arizona over in its own building.

Back the Sabres inside 60 minutes.

Bet: Sabres in regulation (good to -135)

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

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We have an action-packed 12-game slate of games to look forward to Thursday night. Let's dive into a few of the many shot props that stand out.

Nikita Kucherov over 3.5 shots (+100)

Kucherov is generally somebody to target on home ice. There, he finds himself in some more advantageous matchups, whereas on the road, teams use their best two-way players to try to slow him down.

In terms of shots on goal, the Lightning star has cooled off a little of late. He has gone over the number in just three of his last 10 home dates. It's not for a lack of opportunity, though.

Kucherov has averaged 7.6 shot attempts per game over that stretch in Tampa Bay. That's well above his season average of 6.2. So long as the volume continues to be there, it's only a matter of time before he starts hitting again.

Luckily, Kucherov finds himself in the ultimate get-right spot. At five-on-five, the Blue Jackets rank bottom five in shot suppression over the last 10 games. Better yet, they have also spent the third-most time killing penalties.

Kucherov should be able to do real damage at full strength and, if all else fails, figures to have a few power-play opportunities to help push him over the edge.

Cole Caufield over 3.5 shots (-110)

Caufield is another player known for his home cooking. He has gone over the number in six of his last nine games in Montreal and, like Kucherov, has generated shot attempts at a noticeably higher rate at the Bell Centre.

The Canadiens forward has averaged 6.6 shot attempts over his last 10 home dates. That's a big step up from his last-10 road average of 5.1.

I expect Caufield's home success to continue in a smash spot against the Ducks. At five-on-five, the Ducks sit last - by a significant margin - in shot attempts and shots on goal conceded over the last 10 games. They're also a subpar penalty-killing team. Caufield should be the primary beneficiary of that.

Caufield had a four-shot, eight-attempt game against the Senators on Wednesday night. I expect a similar effort in this one.

Taylor Hall over 2.5 shots (-105)

Hall has quietly been shooting the lights out. He has generated at least three shots on goal in seven of the last nine games, falling just one puck shy in both of the exceptions.

He is consistently going over his shot total and legitimately threatening to do so every night for the Bruins.

The Kings have not been great on defense recently, ranking bottom eight in shot suppression at five-on-five. Hall doesn't get a ton of power-play time, so he needs to do the heavy lifting at even strength. This is a sneaky good spot where he should be able to do that.

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

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We have a small three-game slate on the docket for Wednesday night. Let's look at three bets that stand out from the rest.

Red Wings (+210) @ Wild (-250)

The Red Wings are starting to come down to earth following a surprisingly strong start to the season, and rightfully so.

They've won just twice over the last eight games, which makes a lot of sense when you look at the numbers.

Detroit has posted a putrid 43.48% expected goal share at five-on-five, which ranks 29th in the NHL, only ahead of bottom-feeders like the Blackhawks, Coyotes, and Ducks. That's not the best company to be keeping for a team hoping to contend for a playoff spot.

Ville Husso has done a great job of masking the Red Wings' problems this season. But they're playing at such a poor level he has little margin for error.

Take Tuesday, for example. Husso conceded one goal against an excellent Hurricanes team, and that wasn't enough to help Detroit grab even one point in the standings.

Now the Red Wings have to travel to Minnesota to take on a red-hot Wild team. Minnesota has won six of its last eight and stomped opponents at five-on-five, posting a remarkably strong 56.55 expected goals for percentage.

The Wild should dominate the run of play against a fatigued and struggling Red Wings team. Although Husso has started both legs of a back-to-back this season, Detroit will likely turn to Alex Nedeljkovic in this spot.

If that's the case, Kirill Kaprizov and Co. should be champing at the bit to get a piece of him. Nedeljkovic owns a .880 save percentage and has won just two games through nine appearances.

He's also conceded 11.1 goals more than expected. Among 59 goaltenders to man the crease at least nine times this campaign, only Elvis Merzlikins has allowed more goals than expected on a per-start basis.

Look for the Wild to take care of business inside 60 minutes.

Bet: Wild in regulation (-155)

Canucks (+150) @ Flames (-175)

The Canucks and Flames are amid very strange seasons. It feels like you never know what you'll get from either on a nightly basis.

Vancouver will look like it's in the Conor Bedard sweepstakes one night but then take out a top-tier team the next. The Flames will look like last season's powerhouse club one night but then lose to the Blue Jackets by multiple goals the next.

However, scoring goals in the first period is the one consistent area for both teams.

Only two squads - Golden Knights and Sabres - have scored more times in the first period than the Flames this campaign. Win or lose, Calgary generally finds a way to put the puck in the net early.

The Canucks aren't far behind. They're tied for eighth in goals scored in the opening frame and rank fifth on a per-game basis.

With each side playing high-event hockey in the early goings of contests and both clubs ranking bottom 10 in team save percentage, there's plenty of reason to expect early fireworks here.

Bet: Over 1.5 first period goals (-140)

Elias Pettersson over 2.5 shots (-140)

Sticking with this all-Canadian matchup, Elias Pettersson pops off the page more than anybody else with regards to shot props.

Pettersson has been remarkably consistent shooting the puck, generating at least three shots on target in nine of the last 10 games.

He's hit against the Vegas Golden Knights twice, Colorado Avalanche, Washington Capitals, and Wild in that time, so it's not as if he's benefited from a soft schedule. He's getting the job done against strong teams.

Pettersson has one of the highest shooting ceilings and floors in the league right now. He's generated 72 shot attempts over the last 10 games, which ranks eighth in the NHL behind the likes of Tage Thompson and Auston Matthews.

The Flames aren't a priority target for shots. But 2.5 isn't a big ask given the volume we're seeing from Pettersson.

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

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We have a massive slate of NHL games on Tuesday night, which means there are a boatload of player props to comb through.

Let's take a look at three that stood out from the rest.

Auston Matthews over 4.5 shots (+100)

Matthews took a while to hit his shooting stride, but he sure seems to have turned a corner. The superstar Maple Leafs sniper has gone over his shot total in five of his last seven games, clearing six shots on four occasions in that stretch.

No. 34 is in a great spot for that success to continue at home to the Ducks. They have been horrendous defensively all season long and yet they continue to reach new lows.

The Ducks have conceded more than 68 attempts, and 37 shots on goal, per 60 minutes of five-on-five play over the last 10 games. Both totals comfortably rank them last in the NHL.

They aren't very good on the penalty kill, either, so Matthews figures to get plenty of looks on the man advantage as well.

Given his shooting trajectory and the fact this putrid Anaheim team is on the latter half of a road back-to-back, there's every reason to expect another active night from Matthews.

Gustav Forsling over 2.5 shots (-135)

The following Florida Panthers have generated more shot attempts than Gustav Forsling over the last eight games:

...

That's right: nobody. Not Matthew Tkachuk. Not Aleksander Barkov. Not Carter Verhaeghe. Not Aaron Ekblad. Nobody.

Forsling has logged nearly 25 minutes per game in that time and made the most of it, generating 55 attempts for an average of just under seven per game. That's more than enough to hit three shots on a consistent basis, which is why Forsling has gone over the number in six of his last seven.

I like Forsling's chances of making it seven hits in eight tries tonight against the Blue Jackets.

Columbus allows a whopping 11.51 shots per game to opposing defensemen. The Coyotes (10.58), Ducks (10.41), and Oilers (10.07) are the only other teams allowing double digits, and the Blue Jackets have distanced themselves from that group quite a bit.

With Forsling logging so much ice time, he should make the most of this advantageous matchup.

Timo Meier over 4.5 shots (+105)

At home, Meier has gone over his shot total in six of the last 10 and two of the last six. Those are not great numbers, especially compared to what we've grown accustomed to seeing from the Sharks forward.

Don't let the results take you off of him, though; the process remains as solid as ever.

Meier has averaged 9.2 shot attempts per game over his last 10 at home. For the season, he has averaged 8.2 attempts at home. So he's actually shooting the puck more than he was earlier in the year, when it felt like he was automatic every night regardless of the game location.

As long as he maintains his attempt volume, it's a matter of time before he gets consistent results again.

As is the case with Matthews and Forsling, Meier finds himself in one of the best matchups you could ask for. The Coyotes struggle to defend at five-on-five and take a ton of penalties, allowing extra shooting opportunities for Sharks players like Meier.

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

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The matchups are set, and the NHL playoffs will begin in just a couple of days. Which favorite is most deserving of the hype? Which longshots carry real value? We’ll dive into just that with three best bets for the postseason.

Colorado Avalanche (+325)

The Colorado Avalanche are healthy favorites to win the Stanley Cup, and yet I still think this line is short. Colorado dealt with an insane amount of injuries this season, seemingly never having a healthy lineup, and even so, the team remained in contention to win the Presidents' Trophy until the end of Game 81. Think about that. The Avalanche scored in bunches and dominated all year long, even though Nathan MacKinnon, Nazem Kadri, Gabriel Landeskog, Devon Toews, Sam Girard, and Bowen Byram, among others, missed double-digit games. I think the Avs lap the field when they're at full health, and their divisional playoff bracket isn't exactly scary. This team is going deep.

Edmonton Oilers (+1700)

The Edmonton Oilers have been a completely different team under Jay Woodcroft. Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Co. have been their usual dominant selves, while, importantly, Woodcroft has found a way to get much more from the roster when those guys aren't on the ice. The Oilers no longer get crushed in depth minutes, which makes them a scary side to deal with. There is a reason only the Florida Panthers won more over the final 25 games of the season.

Edmonton's underlying metrics are very good, the squad's power play is terrifying, and Mike Smith has been excellent over the last month or two. It'll be tough to get past the Calgary Flames in the second round, but if they do, maybe the Oilers will have a banged-up Avalanche team waiting for them.

Boston Bruins (+2000)

The Boston Bruins are my favorite dark horse team. Boston finished the season in sparkling form, winning 17 of the final 25 games while controlling a league-best 60.5% of the expected goals at five-on-five - nearly 2% more than the next closest club.

The Bruins are stout defensively, and with David Pastrnak and Taylor Hall crushing on the second line, their top six is a problem for anybody. If Boston can find a way to get the power play going, the team will essentially be flawless.

Although the Carolina Hurricanes are a tough draw, I think going through the Metropolitan bracket will help Boston's cause in the long run. If the Bruins can get by Carolina, they'll meet the New York Rangers or Pittsburgh Penguins on the other side. And with all due respect, I'd much rather see either of those teams than the No. 1 seeded Panthers.

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

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Our best bets were a mixed bag to start the week. The Carolina Hurricanes took care of business and came through for us on the puck line. Unfortunately, the Dallas Stars laid an egg in Vancouver.

We'll aim for better results on a very busy Tuesday.

Jets (+175) @ Rangers (-210)

I love the under in this spot. Love it.

After a bit of a rough patch, Igor Shesterkin seems to have found his superhuman form again. He's conceded just four goals over his last four starts, picking up a pair of shutouts in that span and posting a .955 save percentage or better in three of those games.

It was pretty much automatic that you'd play an under of 6 in any contest he played for most of the season. I think we're reaching that point again, especially against someone like Connor Hellebuyck.

While Hellebuyck's surface stats aren't overly impressive this season, his overall save percentage (.909) is several points above league average (.902). Plus, he grades out much better in terms of Goals Saved Above Expected, sitting ninth in the league at +13.7. That sandwiches him between Thatcher Demko and Tristan Jarry. Pretty good company.

I expect the goaltending to be very good in this game. I also think Winnipeg is going to have a very tough time generating chances.

The Jets don't have Mark Scheifele or Cole Perfetti in the lineup, which hurts. New York is also in suffocating defensive form, ranking first in expected goals against per 60 since the trade deadline.

Bet: Under 6 (-105)

Blue Jackets (+110) @ Sharks (-130)

Even though the San Jose Sharks have lost 10 consecutive games, I think there's real value in backing them Tuesday.

They've played better than their record suggests. The Sharks have controlled nearly 49% of the high-danger chances at five-on-five during their skid, which ranks them 19th in the league in that time.

Believe it or not, they're several tiers above the Columbus Blue Jackets during that span. The Blue Jackets' recent share of high-danger chances sits at 43%, putting them in company with teams like the Seattle Kraken, Anaheim Ducks, Buffalo Sabres, and Arizona Coyotes.

Their issues mostly stem from defensive play. At five-on-five Columbus has allowed 2.99 expected goals per 60 over the last 10, putting the team 26th in the league during that span. There's not much reason to expect things to get any better, as there's a very real chance Zach Werenski will be out of the lineup.

San Jose isn't a deep team, but it has more than enough firepower - headlined by Timo Meier, Tomas Hertl, and Brent Burns - to expose Columbus' defensive issues.

Bet: Sharks (-130)

Senators (+195) @ Canucks (-240)

This is a pretty big total considering both teams are in the latter half of a back-to-back, but I think it's warranted. I expect fireworks.

For one, the Vancouver Canucks' offense is firing on all cylinders. They've scored five-on-five goals at a high rate of late and absolutely blown teams away on the man advantage. They rank first in expected goals per 60 and actual goals per 60 over the last 10 games. No team can stop their power play right now.

It just so happens the Ottawa Senators have the league's second-best power play over the last 10. They're only 0.07 xGF behind Vancouver, and they've scored more than 10 power-play goals per 60. Expect both teams to be clinical on the man advantage.

The goaltending situation should lend itself to high goal outputs as well. Filip Gustavsson, who's expected to start for Ottawa, has been brutal this season, conceding 9.4 goals more than expected through just 16 appearances.

While Vancouver could potentially throw out Thatcher Demko, goaltenders who play consecutive nights own a save percentage in the range of .885 this season. If he starts, don't expect him at his best. It's more likely that Jaroslav Halak, who's been mediocre at best this season, will get the nod.

So, we're looking at two lethal power plays and a bad goaltending matchup. That should lead to goals.

Bet: Over 6.5 (-125)

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

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We have a juicy 10-game slate to look forward to Tuesday night, meaning there's plenty of value on the board.

Let's take a look at three of my favorite props.

Joel Eriksson Ek over 2.5 shots (-114)

The Montreal Canadiens have been a frequent target for shot totals, and there's not much reason to reconsider that strategy. The Habs continue to give up insane volume at five-on-five and on the penalty kill, ranking bottom-five in shot attempts against per 60 in each of the last 10 games.

A lot of the shots Montreal has allowed over the past month have come from opposing centers. In fact, only four teams have conceded more shots per game to the position during that time.

That makes Minnesota Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek a prime target. Not only is he scorching hot away from home - he has at least three shots in nine straight road dates - but he also excelled the last time he faced the Canadiens, piling up four shots on six attempts.

Expect similar success this time around.

Kirill Kaprizov over 3.5 shots (-106)

Double-dipping? Double-dipping! The matchup is too mouthwatering to target just one Wild player - especially when they have somebody as hot as Kirill Kaprizov.

The team's franchise player is scorching hot when it comes to generating shots, recording at least four in seven of his last 10 games. While he is generally more productive at home, it's not as if you can only target Kaprizov in Minnesota. He has hit in three of the last four home dates, with those hits coming against playoff teams like the St. Louis Blues and Nashville Predators.

What makes Kaprizov so appealing in this spot is the power-play matchup. Montreal is giving up shots on the penalty kill at a higher rate than every team in the league. Kaprizov just so happens to lead the Wild in attempts, shots on goal, and scoring chances on the man advantage this season. He is the focal point and stands to benefit most on the PP.

The Wild are fighting for home ice, so they won't hesitate to ride their best players. Back Kaprizov in Montreal.

Victor Hedman over 2.5 shots (-114)

The Detroit Red Wings are not the Arizona Coyotes, but they might be the next best thing when it comes to stopping shots from defensemen. The Red Wings have given up more points to defenders than every club in the NHL this campaign, and they're also one of the worst at limiting shots against the position.

The team's struggles have been very evident each time it's gone up against Victor Hedman, with the star Swede combining for 12 shots on goal and 24 shot attempts through three meetings versus Detroit.

The blue-liner hit in two of those games while falling one shot shy in the lone exception. The volume was there for success, though, as he attempted six shots but just failed to hit the net.

Hedman has been very consistent at home this season, going over the number 62% of the time. I like his chances of improving upon that tonight in a top-tier matchup.

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

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Wednesday was solid for our shot props. Patrik Laine and Cale Makar both came through and made up for Zach Werenski's loss to ensure a profitable night.

We'll look to keep the momentum going for Thursday's massive slate.

Teuvo Teravainen over 2.5 shots (-112)

We've consistently targeted Teuvo Teravainen on home soil. He's registered at least three shots in 23 of 36 games, good for a rock-solid 64% success rate.

He continues to hover around even money on a nightly basis, which makes him an attractive pick against anyone. He's an even better choice when he has a plus matchup, which is the case Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings.

The Red Wings are one of the worst defensive teams in the league. Their numbers this season aren't good, and they don't look any better when you isolate the last 10 contests. They rank 24th in attempts against per 60 minutes at five-on-five and across all game states during that time.

Detroit also gives up a lot of shots. That's a bad recipe when going against Teravainen and the Carolina Hurricanes. Only the Florida Panthers generate shots at a higher rate on home soil, and Teravainen, obviously, is a big part of that for the Hurricanes.

Leon Draisaitl over 3.5 shots (-105)

Leon Draisaitl is scorching hot right now. He's registered at least four shots in seven of the last 10 games, averaging a whopping 4.7 shots per contest.

Now he draws a sneaky good matchup against the Nashville Predators. They've allowed shots at a higher clip of late, particularly to centers. Only four teams have given up more shots per game to the position over the last month.

Draisaitl also has a history of success against the Predators. He's piled up 10 shots and 15 attempts through two meetings versus Nashville while going over the 3.5 number in each contest.

Josh Norris over 2.5 shots (-106)

The Boston Bruins are a strong defensive team that doesn't allow a lot of shots to centers. So why am I interested in Josh Norris?

For one, his recent form is very good. Norris has hit in seven of his last nine games and fell just one shot short in the two exceptions. His attempt numbers are also way up since Drake Batherson returned to the lineup, and he's hit against some good teams like the Panthers.

Perhaps the most important factor is that Norris is the trigger man on Ottawa's power play. Boston spends a lot of time killing penalties. In fact, no team has been down a man more often over the last 10 contests.

That should be music to Norris' ears. He's established himself as a lethal power-play finisher and Ottawa's unquestioned top option on the man advantage. He has nine power-play points (five goals) over the last 15 games and leads Ottawa in PP shot attempts by 10 during that span.

The Senators should have plenty of time to work on the power play, which bodes well for a red-hot Norris.

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

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Our best bets Tuesday resulted in a disappointing split. The Los Angeles Kings took care of business for us in Chicago, but the Vegas Golden Knights couldn't get it done in Vancouver despite a 17-shot advantage.

We'll aim for better as we look at the best bets for Wednesday's three-game slate.

Kings (+215) @ Avalanche (-265)

The league-leading Colorado Avalanche are at home to a Kings team that has dropped three of four and finds itself in the latter half of a road back-to-back. However, the value lies with Los Angeles in this game.

The Kings lost both prior meetings but don't let that fool you. They've played the Avalanche tough this season. L.A. had more chances in the first contest and then lost the expected goal battle 2.12-1.97 at five-on-five in the last game. Put another way, not much separated the two sides.

It's also encouraging to know the lineups will look much different this time around. Nazem Kadri isn't healthy for Colorado, and Viktor Arvidsson, Dustin Brown, and Matt Roy were just a few of the important pieces that didn't play in the previous game for the Kings. Those guys make Los Angeles a much better and deeper team.

I think the Kings can play the Avalanche tough at five-on-five, and their power play is where the potential separation can be found.

L.A. has been extremely dangerous on the man advantage, generating high-danger chances at a more efficient clip than every team in the league over the last 10 games. That could spell trouble for Colorado as it sits 29th in high-danger chances against over that same period. Those struggles are nothing new. The Avalanche rank dead last this season when it comes to preventing high-danger chances.

Yes, Colorado has fresh legs. Yes, it has more talent. But L.A. has some edges in this game that should allow it to keep things close.

Back the Kings on the puckline.

Bet: Kings +1.5 (-120)

Canadiens (+140) @ Blue Jackets (-165)

Goals, goals, goals. That's what we should expect when the Montreal Canadiens and Columbus Blue Jackets square off. In particular, we should see fireworks in the opening frame.

The Canadiens have given up shot attempts and shots on goal at a higher rate than every team in the league over the last 10 games. Their inability to suppress shots and chances naturally leads to a lot of goals against. Not to mention, they've been slow starters all season long.

Montreal has conceded 89 first-period goals through 73 contests. That's 1.22 goals against per first frame, which ranks dead last in the NHL.

The Blue Jackets haven't fared much better. They've given up 82 goals in the opening period this season. That's 1.12 goals against per first frame, and only the Canadiens and New Jersey Devils have allowed more.

With both teams consistently giving up goals early and snipers like Patrik Laine and Cole Caufield piling up shots, we have the necessary means for plenty of action.

Bet: 1st period over 1.5 (-155)

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

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Monday night was very quiet in the NHL world, with just one game - played between a pair of non-playoff sides - on the schedule.

It's a much different story Tuesday, as we have a whopping 14-game slate to look forward to.

We'll use our best bets to focus on a pair of road teams that desperately need points. Let's dive in.

Kings (-145) @ Blackhawks (+120)

The Los Angeles Kings are in the midst of a three-game losing streak, which is far from ideal considering they're fighting for their playoff lives.

Luckily for them, they're in the ultimate get-right spot against the Chicago Blackhawks. The Blackhawks dropped eight of their last 10 games, posting some truly putrid underlying numbers.

At five-on-five, they've conceded 14.93 high-danger chances per 60 minutes, placing them ahead of only the lowly Montreal Canadiens in that time. Their share of the high-danger chances sits below 40%.

That spells trouble against this Kings team. Los Angeles generated high-danger chances at a more efficient rate over the last 10 than everyone but the Florida Panthers, Boston Bruins, and Edmonton Oilers. Its share of the high-danger chances sits at over 51% - nearly 11% clear of Chicago.

While the Kings' goaltending has been a problem of late, the same can be said for the Blackhawks. Chicago will turn to journeyman netminder Collin Delia, who's posted a mediocre .905 save percentage in the AHL this season. He'll likely have a tough time given how effective Los Angeles has been at generating top-tier scoring opportunities.

Look for the Kings to get back on track.

Bet: Kings (-145)

Golden Knights (-140) @ Canucks (+115)

Not long ago, the Vegas Golden Knights were in a cold spell that seemed destined to cost them any chance of a playoff spot. They've righted the ship to get back within striking distance, winning six of the last seven games.

They're full value for their recent success, controlling upward of 54% of the expected goals and more than 57% of the high-danger chances at five-on-five. Those are powerhouse numbers.

The Vancouver Canucks have loosely hung around in the playoff race as well, but they don't have much more to offer than capable goaltending right now. Their share of the expected goals sits below 50% over the last 10 games, and they've controlled only 44.8% of the high-danger chances.

Vegas should be able to get the better of Vancouver at five-on-five, just as it did in each of their two previous meetings this month.

Captain Mark Stone has a realistic chance of rejoining the lineup for this game, which would make the red-hot Golden Knights even better at both ends of the ice and further increase the gulf between these two teams.

Thatcher Demko is more than capable of keeping the Canucks in games they don't belong in, however, which is why I'm electing not to go with a regulation play.

Bet: Golden Knights (-140)

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

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