There's a new front-runner for the Hart Trophy. For the first time this season, Connor McDavid has been overtaken as the favorite for MVP at Barstool Sportsbook.

Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews (+175) is the new leader, closely followed by Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (+200).

Note: Only listing players +5000 or shorter

McDavid is tied with Leon Draisaitl for the league lead in points. So how did Matthews catch him? A few reasons stand out.

McDavid has hit a bit of a rut, piling up just 26 points over his last 22 games. While those are still good numbers, they aren't great, as he's tied with the likes of Sam Reinhart and Dylan Larkin for 22nd during that span.

His team hasn't enjoyed much success, either. The Oilers are tied with the Blue Jackets and Predators in points over that period and are still trying to dig out from the hole they fell into under Dave Tippett.

Meanwhile, Matthews has taken his game up several notches. He has amassed 36 points over the last 23 games and now finds himself leading the NHL in goals.

He remains nine points behind McDavid but has played three fewer games. Matthews' nine more goals, much stronger defensive metrics, and 10 more points in the team standings make up for the gap.

While oddsmakers are correct in moving Matthews ahead of McDavid, the same can be said of Shesterkin.

Shesterkin has quietly put together one of the most remarkable goaltending seasons of all time. He owns an absurd .942 save percentage and leads the league in Goals Saved Above Expectation. Put simply, Shesterkin is reason No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 why the Rangers are within striking distance of winning a competitive Metropolitan Division.

Although Shesterkin plays in fewer games than top skaters like Matthews, he definitely belongs in the same conversation in terms of value provided.

McDavid is in tough to catch either of these players. To have any chance, he needs to separate himself from the pack in terms of point production, and the Oilers need to claim home ice for at least the first round of the playoffs. If he doesn't gain separation individually, and the team isn't garnering a ton of success, there is nothing to pull him away from the pack.

Beyond the big three, Draisaitl probably stands the best chance to make a late run at the award. He's right there with McDavid in terms of points, and he's on Matthews' tail in terms of goals. Draisaitl can make a solid case if he leads the league in both categories and the Oilers surge up the standings.

Outside of that, I'm not sure anybody else has a real shot. Jonathan Huberdeau's point total is great, but he plays on arguably the deepest offensive team in the league. He also benefits greatly from cushy usage on home ice, primarily playing opposing teams' middle-six forwards.

Alex Ovechkin is eighth in scoring, and the Capitals are sliding down the standings. Meanwhile, Kirill Kaprizov plays for a team that has dropped eight of the last 10.

In terms of the longer shots, Johnny Gaudreau (fourth in scoring, plays for a likely division winner) is where the value lies.

Realistically speaking, the race is probably between Matthews and Shesterkin.

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

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If you like sitting around and watching hockey all day, this weekend is what dreams are made of. We have a whopping 25 games to look forward to, with tonight's seven-game slate being the smallest.

There is plenty of value on the board, which we're going to zero in on with our weekend best bets. Let's dive right in.

Wild (-190) @ Sabres (+155)
March 4, 7 p.m. EST

The Wild won for us inside 60 minutes Thursday night in Philadelphia. We're going right back to the well and banking on them doing the same Friday in Buffalo.

While the Sabres are coming off an impressive dismantling of the Maple Leafs, they still aren't playing great hockey right now. They have won just three of their last 10 games and controlled only 46% of the expected goals at five-on-five in that time. They rank 26th in said category, just below the Blue Jackets.

For perspective, the Wild have controlled better than 52% of the expected goals over the same period. That's good for 13th, just ahead of the Golden Knights.

With Cam Talbot getting the surprise start on Thursday night, that means Kaapo Kahkonen will get the nod in Buffalo. He has saved 3.6 goals more than expected this season, while Talbot has conceded 3.8 more than expected. That's more than a seven-goal swing.

I think Kahkonen will be able to limit the damage Buffalo's offense can do. On the flip side, the Wild offense should have a strong night against a Sabres team that ranks 29th in expected goals against per 60 over the last 10.

Bet: Wild in regulation (-125)

Red Wings (+225) @ Lightning (-275)
March 4, 7 p.m. EST

The Red Wings aren't a great hockey team. They're quite top-heavy, they're routinely out-chanced at five-on-five, and their special teams are anything but special.

Even so, I see value in Detroit in this game. They're going up against a Lightning team in the latter half of a back-to-back. That's significant and not because of fatigue.

The Red Wings will have the luxury of facing Brian Elliott instead of Andrei Vasilevskiy, which is one of the biggest gaps you'll see in quality between a starter and backup.

The 36-year-old netminder owns a .902 save percentage. That's below league average, and yet, if it holds, it'd be his best since 2018-19. He's well past his prime and tends to concede a soft goal or two that allows opposing teams to hang around in games.

I don't have confidence in the Red Wings to win this contest. However, I do believe they can score enough on Elliott to hang around and keep things close.

Bet: Red Wings +1.5 (+105)

Senators (-117) @ Coyotes (-105)
March 5, 4 p.m. EST

The Coyotes almost shockingly picked up a win over the Avalanche on Thursday night, but I don't expect them to get back in the win column on Saturday.

I believe the Senators are the better team in every sense of the word. Their share of shots, goals, chances, high-danger chances, and expected goals are all several percentage points higher than the Coyotes.

They're starting to get healthier, too, as top-line center Josh Norris recently returned to the lineup.

Could Arizona have another goaltending performance that helps them steal two points? Sure. But even though Karel Vejmelka has shown the ability to win games by himself this season, he's been wildly inconsistent, and his overall body of work isn't all that impressive.

I don't expect lightning to strike twice and am comfortable backing the Senators as slight favorites.

Bet: Senators (-117)

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

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Wednesday night wasn't kind to us. The Toronto Maple Leafs only managed to play in the opening frame against the Buffalo Sabres, while the Nashville Predators blew a 2-0 lead against the Seattle Kraken. Not fun!

We'll look to rebound as we comb through our best bets for Thursday evening's slate.

Wild (-200) @ Flyers (+165)

The Minnesota Wild are in quite a funk. They've dropped four consecutive games and have been outscored 19-8 on aggregate. Not good.

I expect the tide to turn for the Wild in this contest. Their inability to create high-danger chances at five-on-five has been one of their biggest issues lately. That shouldn't be a problem against the Philadelphia Flyers. Only three teams have given up high-danger chances at a higher rate than the Flyers this season. With the talent Minnesota possesses, it should create opportunities in bulk against Philadelphia.

The Wild also figure to have an edge in goal with Kaapo Kahkonen back between the pipes. He's appeared in 13 of Minnesota's last 20 games and owns a rock-solid .922 save percentage.

That's well above what Carter Hart has managed (.904 SV%) over the same stretch.

In short, I don't think the Flyers have the star power - or depth - to hang with the Wild at even strength. When you add a potential edge in goal on top of things, it's hard to see Minnesota's losing streak extending to five games.

Bet: Wild in regulation (-125)

Avalanche (-395) @ Coyotes (+310)

The Colorado Avalanche have run a train on the Arizona Coyotes this season. While that wasn't evident on the scoreboard in two of the three meetings, the reality is the Coyotes have shown little to no resistance against the Avalanche.

Colorado has generated 9.84 expected goals and 98 scoring chances against Arizona thus far, while it's given up only 5.67 expected goals and 47 scoring chances.

That means the Avalanche have controlled more than 63% of the expected goal share and upwards of 68% of the scoring chances. Those numbers are downright insane.

With Colorado as close to full strength as it has been in months, there's every reason to expect a huge chance discrepancy again in this game.

That should translate to success on the scoreboard. While Karel Vejmelka put forth some strong showings earlier in the year, his play has fallen off. He's conceded 11 more goals than expected, which ranks second last among all netminders who have appeared in at least 15 games this season. Colorado's lethal attack should be able to put pucks past him early and often.

I like the Avalanche to take care of business in this contest.

Bet: Avalanche -1.5 (-150)

Canucks (+100) @ Islanders (-120)

The New York Islanders haven't enjoyed anywhere close to the level of success we've grown accustomed to under Barry Trotz. Even so, they're still a competent defensive side, especially on home soil.

Over the last 10 home games, the Islanders conceded 47.57 attempts per 60 minutes, 1.94 goals per 60, and 8.23 high-danger chances per 60 at five-on-five. New York also ranks top six in each of those key categories.

Based on the goaltending Ilya Sorokin has given them over the last couple of months, the Islanders really shouldn't allow many goals since they give up so few opportunities.

The Vancouver Canucks should limit the damage the Islanders cause. Thatcher Demko has been one of the NHL's best netminders since Bruce Boudreau took over. Not to mention, the Islanders' offense tends to be very lifeless; they rank 28th in goals per 60 this season.

Even with a low total, I'm inclined to play the under in this game.

Bet: Under 5.5 (-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 busy nine-game slate on the docket Thursday night, which means the return of our props article.

Let's look at three player props that stand out the most.

Mikko Rantanen over 3.5 shots (+105)

The Arizona Coyotes have been a doormat franchise for quite some time. Everyone seems to excel against them. But Mikko Rantanen takes it to a whole different level.

Rantanen has played the Coyotes three times this season. His shot totals over those games: six, six, and eight. That's right, Mikko has amassed 20 shots through just three contests.

There's no reason to expect him to slow down in this game based on his current form. Rantanen leads the Colorado Avalanche with a whopping 69 shot attempts over the last 10 contests. He is shooting the puck a ton.

Expect that to continue against a Coyotes team that ranks dead last in shot attempts against per 60 minutes over the previous 10 games.

Jakob Chychrun over 2.5 shots (-118)

Backing Jakob Chychrun on home soil has proven to be a profitable endeavor. He's cooled off a little bit of late, but Chychrun has recorded at least three shots in 65% of his home games this season.

He's averaging 3.2 shots on goal in contests at Gila River Arena and has been more efficient in generating shot attempts.

While the Avalanche are a strong defensive team that limits shots quite well, they give up a lot to opposing defenders. They're one of just nine clubs to concede more than 500 shots to blue-liners this campaign.

Chychrun is a shoot-first defender who likes to get involved in the play, and he's more effective on home soil. I'm happy to back him at this price.

Elias Lindholm over 2.5 shots (-125)

Elias Lindholm is another guy who benefits mightily from more favorable matchups at home. He's averaged upwards of 15 shot attempts per 60 minutes of hockey in Calgary this season. That number drops to 11.80 per 60 on the road; quite the difference.

I also love the matchup for Lindholm tonight. The Montreal Canadiens have played better under Martin St. Louis, but they're still subpar at suppressing shots.

Best of all, Lindholm should see plenty of the opposing line that gives up the most shots. Rem Pitlick, Jake Evans, and Artturi Lehkonen allow more than 40 shots on goal per 60 at five-on-five. The sample size isn't large, but the early returns suggest this line can be exposed. Lindholm's line will be matched up against them for much of the night, offering plenty of opportunities to get pucks on goal.

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

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After a busy Tuesday, we have just four games on the docket for Wednesday's slate.

Luckily, I still see plenty of value on the board. Let's comb through it.

Predators (-175) @ Kraken (+145)

The Kraken enter Wednesday night's game against the Predators in the midst of a seven-game losing streak. I think that will extend to eight.

Seattle is an absolute disaster right now, routinely getting outplayed by significant margins. The Kraken have controlled just 44.77% of the expected goals at five-on-five over the last 10 games, ranking 30th in the NHL.

They're not generating any chances, and the ones they do create rarely end up in the back of the net - especially without leading scorer Jared McCann.

Meanwhile, Philipp Grubauer still can't make saves with any consistency. He ranks dead last in the league - by a lot - in Goals Saved Above Expectation (-30.2).

In short, the Kraken aren't creating much, are allowing plenty, and can't rely on a save to bail them out.

Although Nashville's five-on-five numbers aren't overly impressive of late, they should spend a lot of this game on the attack. The Preds also figure to have a big edge in goal with Juuse Saros, who slots behind only Igor Shesterkin, Frederik Andersen, and Andrei Vasilevskiy in GSAE this season.

Bet: Predators in regulation (-110)

Sabres (+325) @ Maple Leafs (-420)

The Maple Leafs are likely going to dismantle the Sabres in tonight's game. Unfortunately, that is reflected in the odds. There isn't much value in backing Toronto, even on the puck line. That's why I'm getting creative.

I think the Maple Leafs will come out hot and win the first period. They are one of the league's best sides in terms of starting on time. Only the Panthers (68) have scored more first-period goals than the Maple Leafs (65).

By comparison, the Sabres have only netted 40 first-period goals. That slots them 23rd, and they're actually a little lower in terms of first-period goals per game.

They struggle to generate offense until they're already playing from behind. It generally doesn't take long for them to fall behind, either, as only the Canadiens (63) have conceded more opening-period goals than the Sabres (61).

Toronto is firmly in the mix for a division title. If they're going to beat out Florida and the Lightning, they can't afford to drop points in advantageous spots. They know that, and I expect that to show in their play early on.

Bet: Maple Leafs -0.5 1st period (-125)

Mark Giordano over 2.5 shots (+110)

I love Giordano in this spot because the Predators have given up a lot of shots of late. They've conceded 350 over the last 10 games, which is more than all but the Coyotes and Blue Jackets.

They're a team we can target with shooters right now, and Giordano is the best choice here. He has attempted 61 shots over the last 10, which is 15 clear of his next closest teammate.

Making Giordano even more appealing is his prowess on home soil. He's piled up at least three shots in 59% of Seattle's home games, including seven of the last 10.

The odds imply Giordano has a 47.5% chance of going over. Considering the sneaky good matchup and his encouraging home numbers, I see real value in backing him.

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

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Monday night featured just three games, which meant little value on the board in terms of sides and totals.

We have a much juicer nine-game slate to pick through on Tuesday night. Let's waste no time getting into the best bets.

Devils (+115) @ Blue Jackets (-140)

The Devils own a 4-6-0 record over the last 10 games - but don't let that fool you. By and large, they're playing good hockey.

They have controlled better than 52% of the expected goals at five-on-five, which slots them ahead of teams like the Golden Knights and Hurricanes. They're routinely out-chancing their opponents.

Unsurprisingly, those chances are leading to goals and a lot of them. The Devils have averaged four goals per 60 at five-on-five over the last 10 games. That actually leads the league.

So why has New Jersey lost most of its games over that stretch? Put simply, goaltending. The Devils haven't been able to get a save from anyone but Nico Daws all season. While Daws did start Monday night, I think there's a real chance he goes again in this game. Even if he doesn't, I still see enough for New Jersey to take out this Blue Jackets team.

They can't defend a lick right now. At five-on-five, they rank 29th in expected goals against per 60 over the last 10. That spells trouble against this red-hot New Jersey offense, especially considering the goaltending Columbus has had of late.

Projected starter Elvis Merzlikins owns an .893 save percentage since the calendar flipped to 2022. With the way he's playing right now, the Jackets might not even have a goaltending edge against a Devils team missing its No. 1 and No. 2 netminders.

Back-to-back situation or not, I think the wrong team is favored here.

Bet: Devils (+115)

Oilers (-160) @ Flyers (+135)

The Oilers are a little thinned out right now. With Jesse Puljujarvi, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Kailer Yamamoto all sidelined, they just don't have a lot of depth up front.

Even so, I like Edmonton to rebound with a win in this spot. Its share of the expected goals is 6% higher than the Flyers' over the last 10 games. They should be able to control the run of play.

They should also do real damage on the power play. Edmonton is lethal on the man advantage, and Philadelphia is putrid on the penalty kill. Only the Ducks have conceded shot attempts at a higher rate over the last 10, while no team has given up more power-play goals per 60 minutes than the Flyers.

I expect the Oilers to keep things relatively even at five-on-five - if not win outright - while causing all kinds of problems on the man advantage.

Bet: Oilers in regulation (-110)

Flames (-118) @ Wild (-104)

These teams combined for 10 goals the last time they met, but I think this contest is going to be played a little closer to the vest.

If we isolate the last 10 games, the Flames and Wild are two of the best defensive sides in the NHL. Calgary has conceded fewer expected goals (2.06 per 60) at five-on-five than every team during that period.

The Wild are not far behind. They've given up 2.25 expected goals per 60, which slots them fifth during the same span. Pretty good!

Both teams also rank top-seven in limiting high-danger chances. It's not as if they're limiting total chances, but a lot of what they give up isn't high quality. Teams just aren't creating many great looks against either side.

Now, these teams do possess the firepower necessary to blow any game open, but I don't think the Wild will do that against a potential Vezina finalist in Jacob Markstrom.

While Cam Talbot's recent form is concerning, he has been a quality starter for some time. There's reason to expect more from him moving forward. And, quite frankly, if he struggles, there's enough wiggle room with a 6.5 total that we could still get there.

Bet: Under 6.5 (-108)

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

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With 18 teams in action, we have a jam-packed NHL schedule to enjoy Tuesday night.

That means there's no shortage of player props to comb through. Let's take a look at a few lines that stand out.

Nikita Kucherov over 3.5 shots (-125)

Until Kucherov's shot line jumps to 4.5 or the odds change drastically, I'll continue backing him to go over the number. His shooting floor has been remarkably consistent since he returned from injury.

The Lightning star has registered at least four shots in 10 of 12 games following his return to the lineup, including four straight on home ice.

Tuesday night brings a home date against the lowly Senators. Ottawa ranks dead last in shot attempts against per 60 minutes this season, and its current form isn't much better. Injuries and illnesses have also thinned an already bad lineup.

Kucherov has a roughly 83% hit rate since being reinserted into the lineup, while this line implies only an approximate 55% chance of Kucherov capitalizing on a fantastic matchup. I'm happy to take my chances.

Pierre-Luc Dubois over 2.5 shots (-143)

The Canadiens have played much better with Martin St. Louis behind the bench. Even so, they're a team we can target, especially through a center of Dubois' caliber.

Dubois is in the midst of one of his best shooting stretches of the season. The Jets forward has registered at least three shots in seven of his last 10 games while averaging 3.4 shots in that stretch.

Montreal, meanwhile, has given up an abundance of shots to centers all season long. In fact, only the Blue Jackets concede more shots per game to the position. All of that makes Dubois very appealing here.

Brendan Gallagher over 2.5 shots (-118)

Gallagher has averaged half a shot per game more on home ice than on the road this season. Despite that, he's a player worth backing as the Canadiens visit Winnipeg.

The Jets are playing horrendous defense right now. They've allowed more than 63 shot attempts against per 60 minutes at five-on-five over the last 10 games - better only than the Sharks and Coyotes.

Winnipeg has also been extremely bad at defending the low slot, ranking bottom five in high-danger chances against per 60 minutes. Gallagher is a gritty, hard-nosed player who generates many of his chances around the net. If the Jets are struggling to defend that area, Gallagher is likely to take advantage.

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

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We again closed the week in style, hitting both bets in the weekend preview.

We'll look to pick up where we left off and continue stacking wins as we start anew with a three-game slate Monday night.

Canucks (+100) @ Devils (-120)

The New Jersey Devils are slowly starting to turn a corner. Emphasis on slowly.

They own a respectable 3-3-0 record over the last six games, and their numbers beneath the surface suggest those results don't do the team justice.

New Jersey has controlled 54% of the expected goals at five-on-five during this spell, which slots it just ahead of the New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Carolina Hurricanes. Sure, it's a small sample size, but the Devils' advanced metrics have trended upward for a while now.

Two issues caused the losses to pile up anyway. For one, they weren't healthy. Without Dougie Hamilton and Jesper Bratt, both of whom recently returned to the lineup, the team didn't have the star power to convert on the chances they generated. That's no longer an issue. Believe it or not, the Devils lead the league in goals - at five-on-five and overall - over the last six contests.

At the other end, New Jersey can't buy a save, with Mackenzie Blackwood and Jonathan Bernier sidelined. That's long been a problem and remains one. However, the Devils have the talent to outscore their mistakes so long as they continue to control the run of play.

I expect they'll be able to do that against the Vancouver Canucks. The Canucks' share of the expected goals is below 47% over the last couple of weeks, and they're playing in the latter half of a back-to-back. New Jersey figures to have the leg up there.

The gap in goaltending talent should also be significantly smaller for the Devils, with Thatcher Demko likely getting the night off. Jaroslav Halak owns a .899 save percentage this season, which is well below average. He should have trouble slowing down New Jersey's red-hot attack.

Bet: Devils (-120)

Anze Kopitar over 2.5 shots (-112)

Anze Kopitar is a beast on home soil. He's averaged 3.2 shots on goal per game in Los Angeles while recording at least three shots in 18 of 27 contests, good for a 66.66% hit rate.

That's a stark contrast from what we've seen from Kopitar on the road. He's averaging nearly a full shot less (2.3 per game) and has gone over 2.5 shots only 42% of the time.

What's especially appealing about Kopitar, beyond home success and an upward trend (he's averaged 3.4 shots over the last 10 contests), is his ability to hit against the best teams.

During this hot spell, Kopitar registered four shots while hosting the Nashville Predators, four shots while hosting the Colorado Avalanche, and six shots at home to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Boston Bruins are a difficult matchup, but Kopitar's consistency against quality clubs leaves me confident he can come through for us again.

John Carlson over 2.5 shots (-125)

John Carlson is another guy with extreme home/road splits, especially lately. He's averaging just 2.2 shots on goal over his last 10 road games. It's been a much different story in Washington, where he's averaged 3.3 shots over the previous 10 contests at Capital One Arena.

I expect Carlson's home success to continue. He's playing in what should be a high-event game against a Toronto Maple Leafs team that likes to push the pace and force opponents to keep up.

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

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We have a busy eight-game slate to look forward to on Thursday night. Let's waste no time diving into the best way to attack it.

Devils (+260) @ Penguins (-325)

The Devils are on the best 2-8-0 run you'll ever see. At five-on-five, they've controlled 52% of the expected goals and 53% of the high-danger chances. They've routinely gotten better chances but haven't had the firepower to finish them. Meanwhile, seemingly every chance New Jersey has conceded has ended up in the back of the net.

While there isn't much reason to expect the latter to change - not with Mackenzie Blackwood and Jonathan Bernier both sidelined - the Devils are getting some significant reinforcements to help their offense.

The team's extended pause has given plenty of time for their players to recover from injuries and get healthy again. Dougie Hamilton, Jesper Bratt, and Andreas Johnsson are all expected to return to the lineup Thursday night. That's a No. 1 defenseman, a near point-per-game winger, and a middle-sixer producing at a 46-point clip over 82 games.

If the Devils can keep things relatively even in the chance department, which they've done of late, they now have the firepower to keep this game within striking distance.

At plus money, I'm happy to roll the dice with this Devils team getting a goal cushion.

Bet: Devils +1.5 (+105)

Stars (+130) @ Predators (-155)

The Stars and Predators are known more for their defense than offense, but I think this game has sneaky scoring potential.

With Jake Oettinger getting the nod in goal Wednesday night, it's reasonable to assume the Stars will turn to Braden Holtby. That hasn't been a recipe for success, as his play has fallen off following a strong start to the campaign.

Holtby owns a woeful .898 save percentage over his last 12 appearances and has conceded just under three goals per game in that time. The Predators, fresh off an impressive six-goal showing against the Panthers, should be able to net a few in this game.

I think the Stars will be able to hold up their end of the bargain as well. They have been awfully good at generating high-danger chances of late, sitting seventh - just below the Avalanche - in five-on-five chances per 60 over the last 10 games.

Projected starter Juuse Saros will see his fair share of difficult shots. Based on the level of play we've seen from him of late, that could be more problematic than we've come to expect. He has conceded 15 goals over his last four starts and posted an .880 save percentage in that time.

Expect both sides to do their share of damage while pushing this game over the number.

Bet: Over 5.5 (-110)

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

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Wednesday was a solid 2-1 night for our player props. Nikita Kucherov and Alex Tuch came through for us, while Drew Doughty was a couple of shots shy in a smash spot against the Coyotes.

We'll look to put together another profitable night as we comb through the best values for Thursday's slate.

Dougie Hamilton over 2.5 shots (-134)

Hamilton has played but one game in 2022 due to injury. It would seem his extended absence caused everyone to forget just how effective he is as a shot generator because this line is far too low.

If you exclude the game Hamilton left after playing just two minutes, he registered at least three shots on goal in seven straight games prior to his absence. Hamilton put up four shots or more five times in that span. He wasn't just scraping by; he was hitting overs with room to spare.

While the Penguins are an above-average shot suppression team, that hasn't stopped Hamilton from enjoying success against them. He has eight shots in two games versus Pittsburgh this season, hitting the over (2.5 shots) in each meeting.

Expect him to pick up where he left off in this game.

Mathew Barzal over 2.5 shots (+100)

You don't generally want to target Islanders with shot props. However, Barzal has been a pretty consistent shot generator - especially on the road.

Barzal has averaged a full three shots per game on the road this season. He has a hit rate of 62% away from home soil and has registered three shots or more in six of the last eight games (75%).

He seems likely to continue his hot streak against the Sharks. Why? They're playing truly putrid defense right now.

Over the last 10 games, they rank dead last in shot attempts against per 60 minutes of five-on-five play. No other team has come close to allowing the volume San Jose has. For perspective, the gap between the 32nd-placed Sharks and 31st-placed Coyotes (7.33 attempts per 60) is larger than the one between the Coyotes and Lightning (6.0).

Suffice to say, the Sharks are a team we want to target on a nightly basis right now - and Barzal stands out as the best way to do that.

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

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