Wednesday was not kind to us on the ice. Both Jaden Schwartz and Jordan Eberle were out for the Kraken, rendering that suggestion a no-play. Fair enough, we still had the Avalanche.

Well, Colorado announced just prior to puck drop that Darcy Kuemper - previously named starter - wasn't available to play. Instead, fringe NHLer Jonas Johansson got the nod in goal and the Maple Leafs absolutely feasted on him. Not ideal.

Luckily, we have a huge slate Thursday to get us back on track. Let's break things down.

Sharks (+110) @ Islanders (-130)

This season couldn't be going worse for the Islanders. They've won just five times through 17 games and have dealt with a never-ending run of injuries and COVID-19 cases.

Thankfully, things appear to be trending in the right direction. The postponement of a couple games has given players time to get healthy again. Key members like Anders Lee and Adam Pelech have exited protocols. The expectation is those two, as well as veteran defenseman Andy Greene, will return to the lineup Thursday.

While the Sharks are a competent team, they have defensive issues. At five-on-five, they rank 24th in scoring chances against per 60 over the last 10 games. James Reimer has routinely masked their problems, but I'm not sure they can rely on tonight's starter, Adin Hill, to do the same. Reimer has saved 7.3 goals above expectation thus far while Hill sits at -2.7.

The Isles figure to have the edge in goal. They're getting key players back in the lineup. They're at home. If they don't right the ship fast, the season is as good as over, so they have serious motivation to put their best foot forward.

Back the Islanders to snap their eight-game skid.

Bet: Islanders (-130)

Avalanche (-180) @ Canadiens (+160)

Colorado was flat-out embarrassed by Toronto on Wednesday night. But despite goaltending concerns, we're going right back to the well for this one.

The Avalanche are one of the better teams in the NHL at five-on-five. They should be able to walk all over the Canadiens, who are getting throttled in that game state. Over the last 10 contests, the Habs rank 31st in attempts against and expected goals against per 60 minutes. Their share of the expected goals sits at just 42%. Now, they'll be without one of their most effective full-strength players in Brendan Gallagher.

Making matters worse is the special teams matchup. Montreal has conceded 12.52 goals per 60 on the penalty kill this season. Only the Canucks have fared worse. That's a recipe for disaster against these Avs. Even missing key players, they lead the league in power-play goals over the last 10 games.

I think the Avalanche are going to outscore their problems, and then some, against the Canadiens in this one.

Bet: Avalanche inside regulation (-105)

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

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We have a surprisingly fun slate tonight. Headlined by a matchup between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Colorado Avalanche, we have six games to look forward to.

Let's dive in with our best bets.

Kraken (-120) at Red Wings (+100)

Don't look now, but our beloved Seattle Kraken appear to have turned a corner. They have quietly won four of their last five games, besting high-end teams like the Washington Capitals, Carolina Hurricanes, and Florida Panthers.

The Kraken haven't necessarily upped their play. In fact, their share of the chances and shots has actually dropped. But they're finally getting the competent goaltending they thought they'd have when they partnered 2021 Vezina finalist Philipp Grubauer with Chris Driedger, one of the NHL's save percentage leaders since entering the league. That's huge for them.

So, too, is better health. Calle Jarnkrok is their only forward confirmed to be sidelined, and, with just two points through 14 games, it's hard to argue that's a sizeable loss. Forwards Jaden Schwartz and Jordan Eberle missed the morning skate, so I recommend waiting for confirmation on their status.

Though the Detroit Red Wings are an improving side, they can still be exposed defensively. We saw that Tuesday when they were outshot 42-15 by a Brad Marchand-less Boston Bruins.

I think a fresh Seattle team should be able to control the run of play. As long as the goaltending holds up and at least one of Schwartz or Eberle play, it should be enough for the Kraken to pick up their fifth win in six games.

Bet: Kraken (-120)

Avalanche (+105) at Maple Leafs (-125)

The Maple Leafs are playing fantastic hockey right now. But luck has also played a role in their absurd run.

Take the last 10 games, for example: the Maple Leafs have controlled a whopping 58% of the expected goals across all game situations, but their share of the actual goals in that span is 73%. Put another way, they're getting better results than they deserve - I'm not trying to take anything away from this team, though, as I really do believe this is the best version of the Leafs we've seen.

Still, they're going to come down a notch sooner rather than later. They're not going to continue getting .961 goaltending, including .920 against high-danger shots.

For some perspective, only four teams have gotten .920 goaltending (or better) over the last 10 games. It's flat-out absurd the Leafs are getting goaltending that good against Grade A opportunities.

I'm buying Jack Campbell as a quality starter - I think he's legit - but even so, he's not this good (nobody is). What he's doing right now simply isn't sustainable.

If ever there was a time for the pendulum to swing, a game against the Avalanche seems like it. The Avs rank third in expected goal share during the last 10 games and were without their best player, Nathan MacKinnon, for the vast majority of them. Bowen Byram just returned, as well.

This Avalanche team, for my money, is as good as any when healthy. It's finally getting its key pieces in the lineup at the same time, and I expect it's about ready to go on a run.

I'll take Colorado plus money against anybody.

Bet: Avalanche (+105)

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

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We didn't have a player props post yesterday. However, those of you who follow me on Twitter were able to enjoy a 3-1 night on shot totals. That pushes our record to 42-30 on the year for +11.49 units.

We'll look to keep the good times rolling tonight.

Jesper Bratt over 2.5 shots (+115)

Jesper Bratt is cooking on home soil. He has recorded at least three shots on goal in four straight games and has averaged 3.8 shots on target over his last five at the Prudential Center.

His line has more or less been the Devils' top unit of late and it's benefited from cushier usage in their own building. That should continue Tuesday.

Not only is Bratt trending upward on his own, he finds himself in a very favourable matchup against San Jose. The Sharks are bleeding shots, ranking 28th in shot attempts against per 60 minutes of five-on-five play over their last 10 games.

I like Bratt's chances of staying hot in this one.

Ryan Hartman over 2.5 shots (-130)

The Arizona Coyotes are a terrible hockey team. They don't generate much and are prone to giving up shots in bulk, as we saw last night against Winnipeg.

Now, the Coyotes are on the latter half of a road back-to-back against the Wild, one of the most dominant five-on-five sides in the NHL.

A lot of that dominance stems from Minnesota's top line, which is centered by Ryan Hartman. The Wild have controlled nearly 57% of the shots - and 60% of the expected goals - with Hartman on the ice.

Hartman's line should be able to generate a lot of shots against this Coyotes team, with plenty of them coming off his stick. He's amassed 53 shot attempts over the last 10 games and recorded at least three shots on goal in eight of them.

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

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It's the beginning of a new week and you know what that means: futures update!

We're looking at Stanley Cup odds today, identifying the teams we should be buying and selling based on what we've seen thus far. Let's dive right in.

Buy

Toronto Maple Leafs (+1100)

I know, I know, the Maple Leafs need to get out of the first round before we start talking about the Stanley Cup. Nobody is buying into them until they prove it ... but that might be part of the reason we have an edge here.

The Maple Leafs rank second in the NHL with a 55.20% share of the expected goals at five-on-five. They lead the league in high-danger chances (252) by a landslide, sitting 35 clear of the closest team. Their power play is really clicking, and Jack Campbell has played at an elite level.

Toronto looks strong across the board, and that's with Auston Matthews finishing at about half the rate he has for his career. There's reason to believe he can produce a lot more, which is a scary thought when talking about a club with 14 wins in 16 games.

Really, this team's only red flag is its history. If, say, Vegas dominated at five-on-five to this extent, led the league in Grade A chances by a country mile, and had a starter with a .946 save percentage, the Golden Knights would be talked about as a force.

Toronto's reputation seems to have led the market to undervalue this year's edition of the Maple Leafs - which really looks like the best yet.

Minnesota Wild (+1400)

Speaking of undervalued, meet the Minnesota Wild. Only three teams have more wins to date. Only three teams have controlled a larger share of the expected goals at five-on-five. The Wild rank second in goals scored during that game state, and only the Bruins, Lightning, and Kraken have done a better job of suppressing expected goals. Put another way, Minnesota is lethal with the puck and suffocating without it.

Although the Wild have piled up the the wins and own a strong underlying profile, they're deemed ninth-most likely to win the Stanley Cup. I think that's too low, especially considering they're likely to go all-in on this year's team given the cap penalties that kick in next year from buying out Ryan Suter and Zach Parise.

Sell

New York Islanders (+2200)

The Islanders currently sit 15th ... in the Eastern Conference. They've won five of their 17 games. The offense looks lifeless, they're dealing with injuries to key players such as Brock Nelson and Ryan Pulock, and COVID-19 is absolutely tearing through the roster.

Sure, they have a ton of home games coming up. But this team will be hard-pressed to crawl out of its early-season hole and make the playoffs, let alone make noise once it gets there.

I doubt the Islanders will fold like a tent and go quietly. But more than 20% through the season, a team 30th in points is priced as the 10th-most likely side to win the Stanley Cup. This Islanders team might finally be getting too much respect.

New York Rangers (+2500)

The Sabres, Senators, Flyers, Coyotes, and Blackhawks are the only teams controlling a lesser share of the expected goals than the Rangers at five-on-five.

While they have looked a little more potent of late, I simply can't buy a team routinely getting outplayed at full strength when the vast majority of every contest is played in that game state. And the refs tend to put the whistles away in the postseason, placing an even larger premium on success at five-on-five.

Igor Shesterkin, Artemi Panarin, and Adam Fox are all among the truly elite at their positions. However, there just isn't enough competent depth around them to make me a believer come playoff time.

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

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We have just four games on the docket to start the week, and they're rather ugly. Five of the bottom eight teams in the NHL are in action, and only one game features two competitive teams (Calgary Flames versus Pittsburgh Penguins).

Still, there's value to be had. Let's comb through it.

Kraken (-140) at Sabres (+120)

Remember when the Buffalo Sabres were competent to start the year? Those days have long passed. Buffalo dropped five of its last six games and ranks 28th in expected goal share at five-on-five in the last 10 games. The Sabres are playing terrible hockey.

One of their biggest issues right now is generating offense. The Sabres are averaging 1.78 expected goals per 60 minutes in the last 10 games, good for 30th in the NHL.

It just so happens that the Seattle Kraken's bread and butter is suppressing opposing offenses. They've allowed 1.99 xG per 60 in the last 10, putting them just 0.01 behind the Tampa Bay Lightning and Calgary Flames for the best mark during that period.

They're making life easy on their goaltenders, which is probably why the Kraken have gotten quality starts from their netminder in three of the last four games.

Though the Kraken have performed better at home, they have a clear edge at five-on-five and should be able to suffocate Buffalo's rather lifeless attack.

I'd like the Kraken more if Aaron Dell started, but Dustin Tokarski playing for the third time in four nights is an advantageous spot, as well.

Bet: Kraken (-140)

Canucks (+105) at Canadiens (-125)

The Vancouver Canucks have won one of their last 10 games, and sweeping changes within the organization seem imminent. Backing them is a scary thought, I know, but I see value on this line.

For all of their faults, the Canucks haven't played that bad during this stretch. Their expected goal share is around 50% - sandwiching them between the Nashville Predators and New York Islanders - and they rank in the top 10 in Corsi For percentage at five-on-five.

Meanwhile, the Montreal Canadiens sit 25th in Corsi share and 29th in xG share during that same period. They've been particularly disastrous in their own zone, giving up 2.85 xG per 60 - more than all but the Philadelphia Flyers. They're horrendous at five-on-five, and their special teams are just as bad.

Factor in Vancouver's edge in goal - Thatcher Demko is one of the better young netminders in the league - and, even on the road, I think the wrong team is favored here.

Bet: Canucks (+105)

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

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Hockey is back following a one-day layoff, and you know what that means: shot props!

Despite an off night Wednesday, my record on shot totals this season sits at 35-22 for +13.33 units.

We'll look to keep the ball rolling during Thursday's 13-game slate.

Jordan Kyrou over 2.5 shots (+120)

Kyrou has been a highly efficient shot generator of late. At five-on-five, he ranks second among Blues forwards - behind only Vladimir Tarasenko - in shots on goal over the last 10 games, and he's recorded at least three shots on goal eight times in that span.

Now he draws one of the best matchups possible in the Blackhawks. They're allowing more than 60 attempts per 60 at five-on-five over their last 10 games and rank 28th in that category. Suppressing shots is not exactly Chicago's strong suit.

Kyrou is playing in the top six and on the second power play, which should give him plenty of ice to capitalize on this advantageous matchup.

Rickard Rakell over 2.5 shots (-120)

Rakell has missed half of the Ducks' games due to injury; however, he's piled up the shots when healthy.

He's averaging 6.2 shot attempts and 3.6 shots on goal through 10 games. That's very encouraging volume. He also finds himself in a dream matchup against the Senators, who can't defend a lick: No team has allowed shots at a higher rate over the last 10 games.

Rakell has generated at least two shots on goal every game this season and he's gone over the number more often than not. I like his chances of doing so once again versus this struggling Ottawa squad.

Bonus round: Andrew Copp over 2.5 shots (+135). The Jets forward has averaged a whopping 3.77 shots per game on the road this season and the Wild's defense isn't as stingy with Jared Spurgeon out of the lineup. There is real value here.

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

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The NHL is back from its short Thanksgiving break, and boy, is the league returning in style.

Nearly every team will be in action between 1 p.m. and 1 a.m. EST.

Let's get into our best bets for today's jam-packed schedule.

Kraken (+150) @ Lightning (-170)

There's slow, and then there's the Seattle Kraken. Seattle is moving at a snail's pace these days, with an emphasis on limiting chances at the expense of the club's own shot creation.

The Kraken rank dead last in attempts per 60 over the last 10 games and first in suppressing them. The story is similar in terms of expected goals: They sit 27th in xG per 60 and, again, first in xG against per 60. Seattle is playing lower event hockey than every other NHL team, which isn't all that surprising given how poor the squad's goaltending has been this season.

Philipp Grubauer is starting to trend upwards, but he has struggled mightily. Limiting the danger in front of him to help get on track is probably optimal, especially considering the Kraken don't have a roster littered with high-end scorers. Getting into a track meet is a losing battle.

While the Tampa Bay Lightning do play faster - everyone does! - they're not exactly burning up the ice. Tampa Bay ranks 26th in combined Corsi events (attempts for + against) at five-on-five over the last 10 contests. That's not surprising either - the Lightning are stout defensively on any given night, and with Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point out, they have to lean in that direction even further.

This matchup is set up to be a snoozer. If the goaltending is remotely competent - looking at you, Grubauer - this game should stay under the number.

Bet: under 5.5 goals (+100)

Panthers (-105) @ Capitals (-115)

The Washington Capitals are severely undermanned these days. With injuries to Nicklas Backstrom, Anthony Mantha, T.J. Oshie, Lars Eller, and Conor Sheary, their top-nine is almost unrecognizable.

Somehow, the Capitals have still managed to pile up the wins, going 7-2-1 over the last 10 contests, but it's hard to argue the success is sustainable - at least while missing so many key players. During that span, Washington's share of high-danger chances at five-on-five (45.40%) placed the team 27th in the league.

The Panthers are not the best opponent for the Caps to run into right now. Florida leads the NHL in CF% and xGF% over the last 10 games. Oh, and no side has generated high-danger chances at a more efficient clip. The Panthers are firing on all cylinders - even without Aleksander Barkov.

I see the edge being in Florida's favor at full-strength, and projected starter Sergei Bobrovsky leads the league in Goals Saved Above Expected (+19.7). Simply put, I think the market is favoring the wrong team in this spot.

Bet: Panthers (-105)

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

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Tuesday was a huge bounce-back night on the ice. I posted six shot props on Twitter, five of which were winners. Naturally, the one I wrote up in the best bets article was the one that lost.

Nevertheless, the 5-1 night brought our record on shot totals to 33-16. Let's keep the ball rolling tonight.

Pierre-Luc Dubois over 2.5 shots (-110)

Dubois has attempted 48 shots - and hit the target 30 times - over the last 10 games at five-on-five alone. He's averaging 6.2 attempts and 3.9 shots on goal across all game situations. He recorded at least three shots on goal seven times in that span. Put simply, he's shooting a ton.

Now he draws a very juicy matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets. This is an extreme pace-up spot. The Jackets rank 29th in shots against per 60 over the last 10 games at five-on-five. They play fast, high-event games. Dubois will benefit from that.

So, we're looking at a trigger-happy player in a shot-friendly environment. If that's not enough to get you on board, there's also the good old-fashioned revenge narrative. Dubois is going up against his former team for the first time since being traded to the Winnipeg Jets. That could put a little extra pep in his step.

Ryan Hartman over 2.5 shots (-115)

You don't think of Hartman as an offensive dynamo, but he's quietly playing some very productive hockey.

Hartman has piled up 60 shot attempts over the last 10 games and is tied with Kevin Fiala for the team lead in shots on goal (35) over that time.

Like Dubois, he now finds himself in a pace-up spot against a team bleeding shots. The New Jersey Devils have not defended well of late. Over the last 10 games, they rank 30th in shot attempts and shots on goal against per 60 minutes of five-on-five play.

Having played at least 16 minutes in 10 straight, and centering the top line at even strength, Hartman finds himself in a prime spot to take advantage of the matchup.

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

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We have an unusually quiet three-game slate on the docket for tonight. Still, there is value to be had.

We'll comb through it with our best bets.

Flyers (+145) @ Lightning (-165)

The Flyers spoiled our under in the dying seconds the last time these teams met, but we're going right back to the well today.

Philadelphia's offense is trending downward in a hurry. They rank dead last in five-on-five scoring efficiency over the last 10 games and it's not hard to see why. They're not generating many quality looks, ranking 29th in high-danger chances per 60 during that time.

This isn't exactly the best spot to get on track. The Lightning are extremely stout defensively. Tampa Bay ranks third in shot attempts against and fourth in high-danger chances against per 60 on the year.

I don't see the Lightning giving up much, and without Nikita Kucherov and now Brayden Point, their offense isn't exactly scary. Tampa Bay ranks 22nd in expected goals per 60 at five-on-five and 26th on the man advantage. They're much more competent defensively.

Carter Hart (12.1 goals saved above expected) and Andrei Vasilevskiy (5.1) should be able to limit the damage and keep this a low-scoring affair.

Bet: Under 5.5 (-110)

Shot props

The under in Tampa Bay is the only total or side I like. Thankfully, shot props exist. There's almost always value to be had with those and tonight is no exception.

We're going to stick with Flyers-Lightning and back defenseman Victor Hedman to record over 2.5 shots.

Hedman leads the Lightning in shot attempts and shots on goal this season. With Kucherov and Point out of the lineup, he'll be relied upon even more to create offense.

He plays a lot of minutes in all situations and recorded eight shot attempts against the Flyers in their previous meeting. I expect him to be heavily involved again in this one.

Bet: Hedman over 2.5 shots (-115)

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

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It feels like hockey just returned, and yet we're already around 20% through the 2021-22 NHL season.

As such, we're starting to see players separate themselves from the pack - in good ways and bad.

We're going to highlight a few today as we dive deeper into the Vezina Trophy market.

*Only listing players with odds 50-1 or shorter

Trending up

Igor Shesterkin (+750)

The New York Rangers haven't played great hockey, especially in their own zone. They rank 29th in expected goals against and 30th in scoring chances against per 60 minutes at five-on-five. Despite their terrible defensive play, they own an 11-4-3 record and sit sixth in points percentage, and Shesterkin is the biggest reason why. He owns a sparkling .931 save percentage and sits sixth in the NHL having stopped 11.4 goals above expectation.

Frederik Andersen (+750)

Andersen's been the MVP for a team that owns the league's best record at 14-2-0. He's posted a ridiculous .937 save percentage while appearing in 13 of 16 games for the Carolina Hurricanes. Only two goaltenders rank above Andersen in goals saved above expectation and GSAE per start. Though the Hurricanes are obviously a strong team, it's not as if life has been easy for Andersen. Carolina ranks 30th in expected goals against per 60 minutes. He's faced one of the more difficult workloads among goaltenders and still managed to dominate.

Jacob Markstrom (+1000)

The Calgary Flames surprisingly sit third in the NHL in points and fourth in points percentage. A lot of players have picked it up in Darryl Sutter's first full season as Calgary's head coach - perhaps none more so than Markstrom. He posted a highly mediocre .904 save percentage a season ago but has rebounded in a huge way. He ranks second in the league with a .942 save percentage and has helped the Flames pick up at least a point in 11 of his 14 starts.

Jack Campbell (+1200)

Campbell was nothing short of spectacular for the Toronto Maple Leafs a season ago, and yet he's found a way to take things up a couple of notches. In his first year as the team's undisputed starter, Campbell's posted a league-leading .944 save percentage and saved more goals above expectation than everyone but Sergei Bobrovsky.

Trending down

Philipp Grubauer (+3000)

There likely isn't a bigger disappointment in the league than Grubauer. He was a finalist for the Vezina just a year ago and converted that into a lucrative contract to be a stabilizer for the Seattle Kraken in their inaugural season. He's been anything but stable, though. Grubauer has won only a third of his starts and allowed 14.5 more goals than expected, and he owns a woeful .882 save percentage. No other netminder with at least 10 starts has conceded more than four goals above expectation; Grubauer is in a league of his own in the basement of the NHL.

Spencer Knight (+4000)

Knight entered the year with a realistic shot at claiming the starting job for the Florida Panthers. He hasn't come close to stealing it from Bobrovsky, and it's not just because the latter has played lights-out. Knight has really struggled to date, posting a pedestrian .904 save percentage for a Panthers team that finds itself atop the league in points.

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

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