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There are only three games on the docket for a quiet Friday night in the NHL. Let's take a closer look at a few of the best ways to attack them.

Kyle Connor: Over 3.5 shots

Connor has played in only 38 games this season due to injury. He still leads the Jets in goals and expected goals and is right on the tail of Nikolaj Ehlers - who's played 54 games - in terms of shots on goal.

Connor is clearly the focal point of the offense at even strength, as well as on the power play.

As a result, his shot-generation outputs have been very consistent. The longest Connor has gone without recording four shots is three straight games, which just so happens to be the streak he's riding right now.

Connor is in a very good spot to snap out of it on Friday night. The Blackhawks are a horrendous five-on-five team that spends a lot of time chasing in the defensive zone. That generally leads to high opposing shot totals - especially for wingers.

The Blackhawks rank dead last in shots allowed versus wingers over the past 10 games. No team is giving up more to the position.

Connor has gone quiet of late, scoring in just two of the past 11 games while going under his shot total in five of six. This is a great matchup for him to snap out of this funk and get back on track.

Odds: +107 (playable to -125)

Seth Jones: Under 2.5 shots

Jones hasn't enjoyed much success shooting the puck. He's averaged just 2.3 shots per game this season and failed to clear his line 62% of the time.

Although Jones plays a ton of minutes, that shouldn't be surprising. The Blackhawks just don't have many players who can help the team transition to the offensive zone, let alone make something happen when they get there. Jones has to spend the bulk of his time defending, which will no doubt be the case against the Jets.

The Jets have done a great job of suppressing shots all season long, and that continues to be the case. They've been especially hard on opposing defensemen.

Winnipeg has conceded just 6.4 shots on goal per game to defenders over the last 10, one of the best marks in the NHL.

That's bad news for Jones, who's struggled to generate much against the Jets since Rick Bowness took over as head coach. Jones has recorded only seven shots over four games while posting mediocre attempt numbers.

Odds: -150 (playable to -160)

Connor McDavid: Over 0.5 power-play points

The Wild have played very good hockey of late, but they're still vulnerable in one key area: the penalty kill.

It's not so much that they've struggled in undermanned situations; the team simply can't stay out of the box.

The Wild have paraded to the sin bin on a nightly basis, with only the Kings spending more time shorthanded over the last 10 games.

Taking penalties is a recipe for disaster against the Oilers. Led by McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Evan Bouchard, the Oilers possess the league's most dangerous power play. They lead the league in expected goals generation and sit third in terms of goals per minute. They're lethal.

McDavid is the team's leader in assists and points on the power play and is as puck-dominant as anybody in the offensive zone. Almost every possession runs through him, offering ample opportunity to get involved in the buildup of goals.

With team discipline an issue, the Wild will no doubt take their share of penalties trying to slow down the high-flying Oilers. Look for McDavid and Co. to take advantage at least once.

Odds: +110 (playable to -115)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X at @ToddCordell.

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We split our best bets on Wednesday night. The Blue Jackets and Ducks predictably found themselves in an offensive explosion, but unfortunately, the Oilers couldn't beat the Bruins in overtime.

Let's take a look at a couple of plays that pop off the page Thursday night as we look for a mini-sweep.

Canucks (-125) @ Kraken (+105)

The Canucks have dropped three in a row, but I don't think there's much cause for concern.

They mostly played well against a strong Jets team, generating nearly 40 shots, with Vezina favorite Connor Hellebuyck being the difference.

The Canucks followed that up by losing to a red-hot Wild team in a game Casey DeSmith conceded eight goals on just 25 shots.

Lastly, they lost 3-1 - with an empty-netter - in a hotly contested game against a contending Avalanche team.

I happen to think the Canucks are still a very good team and deserve to be favored more heavily in this spot.

The Kraken are a poor offensive team. They rank 28th in goals per game and struggle to convert on the chances they do get.

Despite getting some bodies back up front, the Kraken still sit 30th in total shooting percentage this month.

That doesn't bode well for their chances of success against the Canucks. They don't give up many shots, and Thatcher Demko is as good as it gets when it comes to stopping them.

The Kraken will need to be efficient with their chances, something they struggle with at the best of times. I don't see that changing against a netminder who's saved more than 25 goals above expectation this season.

Bet: Canucks (-125)

Predators (+130) @ Kings (-150)

Are the Kings back? It sure seems that way. They've won five of six games this month and posted sparkling numbers across the board.

They've controlled 56% of the expected goals share at five-on-five, which is one of the best marks in the league.

Excluding an absolute clunker against the Sabres, they've conceded only seven goals over five wins. They blanked the Oilers 4-0, held a healthier Devils squad to just one goal, beat the Bruins, and conceded just two total goals over the past two games.

The Kings are starting to get contributions throughout the lineup. Rookie blue-liner Brandt Clarke is starting to make game-breaking plays that show why he was drafted so highly. Quinton Byfield is emerging as a star in the league, while Pierre-Luc Dubois is finally starting to produce at the level expected.

So long as the Kings get good goaltending - and David Rittich is giving them that right now - they're a handful to deal with.

I think they're going to cause a world of problems for the Predators in this spot. The Preds rank 28th in expected goals share at five-on-five in February. They'll likely get heavily outshot by the Kings in this matchup.

That's problematic, given the level of goaltending we're seeing in Nashville. The Predators have conceded at least four goals in six of the past eight games. They simply can't keep the puck out.

Look for Los Angeles to extend its winning streak to five games - and do so inside 60 minutes.

Bet: Kings in regulation (+100)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X at @ToddCordell.

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We had a bounce-back night with our player props, falling one Auston Matthews shot shy of a sweep.

We'll look to keep the ball rolling with three more shot totals for a monster Thursday slate.

Dylan Larkin: Over 2.5 shots

Larkin has been a steady shot-generator all season long. He's averaged 3.1 shots on goal per game and gone over his total a whopping 65% of the time.

While we've seen a bit of a dip in his outputs of late, that appears to be matchup-related. Larkin failed to go over the number in four of the past five, but the opponents he faced in that span (Canucks, Flames, Kraken, and Oilers) are all low-event teams, excellent at suppressing shots, or a combination of the two.

Larkin finds himself in a much better shooting environment tonight against the Avalanche. They've given up 33.3 shots per game over their last 10 road dates, which is tied for seventh-most in the NHL. They're a much different team on the road.

The Avs also give up a lot of volume to opposing centers. They've allowed more than 17 shot attempts per game to the position over the last 10 games overall. Only the Canadiens, Coyotes, and Sharks - three rebuilding teams - have allowed more in that time.

With the Red Wings heavily reliant on their captain in the thick of a heated playoff race, Larkin should be able to get a few shots on net in this one.

Odds: -140 (playable to -150)

Brayden Point: Over 2.5 shots

Death, taxes, and Point at home. The Lightning star continues to chug along when playing in Tampa Bay. He's gone over his total in 21 of 28 games at home (75% success rate), including eight in a row and nine of the last 10.

The matchup doesn't seem to matter for Point, who's hit against top-of-the-league teams like the Panthers and Avalanche during this hot streak. He's consistently hitting while posting strong underlying volume.

Point has averaged a hair under six attempts per game over his last 10 at home. For perspective of how efficient Point is with his shots, he's registered at least three in 20 of the 25 games he recorded five attempts or more. That's an 80% success rate across all venues.

As a bonus, the Lightning recently moved Anthony Cirelli to the top line instead of Point. This adds more balance to their lineup and makes Point the primary target on his unit, with him no longer needing to defer to Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos to shoot the puck - at least not at five-on-five.

The Capitals are bottom-10 in shots against per game over the last 10 and are laboring at five-on-five. Expect Point to take advantage.

Odds: -134 (playable to -160)

William Nylander: Over 3.5 shots

We targeted the Golden Knights with a star winger last time out. Although Filip Forsberg didn't go over his number, it certainly wasn't for a lack of opportunity. He generated 10 shot attempts but managed to hit the net on just two of them. The process was there, but the result wasn't.

I'm going to target the Golden Knights once again with Nylander. The Golden Knights have allowed more shot attempts per game versus wingers than any other team over the last 10 games. They're giving up absurd volume, and there's no reason to expect any different moving forward.

Jack Eichel remains out, and now Mark Stone, one of the best two-way wingers in the sport, is injured and will be sidelined for the foreseeable future.

The Golden Knights will use the William Karlsson line - their best defensive unit - against Matthews, which frees up the Nylander line to go up against weaker lines that give up a lot on the defensive side of the ice.

Nylander registered seven shots on 10 attempts Wednesday night against a Coyotes team bleeding shots. I don't know that he'll reach those heights again in this game, but he should have little problem getting to four.

Odds: -118 (playable to -130)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X at @ToddCordell.

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Headlined by a clash between two of the league's top teams, we have a small but juicy five-game slate Wednesday night.

Let's look at the best ways to attack it.

Bruins (+120) @ Oilers (-140)

The Oilers have been the NHL's best team over the last few months and continue to be worth backing on a nightly basis.

Edmonton has as much high-end talent as anybody, and the process to match it. The club has consistently out-chanced opponents, controlling nearly 60% of the expected goals share at five-on-five in February.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know the Oilers - equipped with Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman, etc. - will win a ton of games if those guys are getting more opportunities to score than their opponents.

That should again be the case versus the Bruins, who have stumbled a bit lately. They've won just four of the past 10 games, and their underlying metrics are heading in the wrong direction.

Boston has posted a 48% expected goals share at five-on-five in February, sandwiching it between the Canadiens and Blue Jackets. That's not where you want to be as a contender.

The Bruins have it in them to be much better than that. They also generally have enough firepower - not to mention goaltending - to compensate when they're not grinding out those edges in chances.

But it's a tall order to ask them to do that against the Oilers. Boston doesn't have the edges in top-tier talent or depth compared to Edmonton, and it doesn't have the centers to match up. The Bruins' five-on-five process is also weaker. And the Stuart Skinner we've seen over the past few months can match the level of goaltending we generally see from Boston's great tandem.

With the Oilers playing such a well-rounded game and having home ice, there's value in backing them to take care of business Wednesday.

Bet: Oilers (-140)

Blue Jackets (-105) @ Ducks (-115)

Elvis Merzlikins started in goal Tuesday night for the Blue Jackets. That means they'll turn to Daniil Tarasov in the latter half of their road back-to-back.

Goals tend to come in bunches when Tarasov is between the pipes. He's conceded at least three goals in nine of 11 appearances this season, averaging a hair under four per game.

Tarasov owns a .877 save percentage and has allowed nearly 11 goals above expectation. That's no small feat considering Columbus gives up a lot of chances and expected goals.

The Ducks won't be mistaken for an offensive juggernaut any time soon, but they can score. They've netted three-plus goals in seven of the past nine games and are poised to do it again versus a struggling goalie like Tarasov.

Anaheim also ranks 28th in shot suppression and 27th in goals allowed per contest. It's a bad defensive team with up-and-down goaltending, and no club has spent more time shorthanded per game this campaign.

This is a good matchup for the Blue Jackets - who surprisingly rank ninth in five-on-five goals over the last 10 contests - to net a few of their own.

I see this as a high-event, back-and-forth affair, and I like it to go over the number.

Bet: Over 6.5 (-110)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X at @ToddCordell.

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We had a disappointing 1-2 night with shot props. Aleksander Barkov started things off with an over against the Senators, but Filip Forsberg hit the net only twice on 10 shot attempts in Vegas, while Viktor Arvidsson didn't even complete his first shift of the game before leaving with an injury.

We'll take those losses on the chin and look to bounce back with three more props for a fruitful Wednesday card.

Tage Thompson: Over 3.5 shots

Thompson registered at least four shots on goal in five of the past six games, with the lone exception coming against a stingy Kings side.

There is every reason to expect continued shooting success Wednesday night in Montreal.

Thompson has Alex Tuch back on his right wing. That provides a boost to his shooting floor and ceiling, as Thompson generates five-on-five shots at a higher rate alongside Tuch than any other regular linemate.

He should be able to pile them up in bulk against the Canadiens. Thompson's line will see a lot of Cole Caufield and Montreal's top unit, and, although that line is piping hot offensively, it gives up plenty of shot volume at the other end.

It's also worth noting a good chunk of Thompson's shots come from power-play opportunities, and there will likely be plenty against a Canadiens side that leads the slate in shorthanded time per game over the last 10.

Thompson's recent success has come against teams unable to stay out of the box (the Panthers, Ducks, Wild, etc.). Those extra power plays help push his shot outputs over the edge, which I expect to be the case again in this one.

Odds: -106 (playable to -125)

Frank Vatrano: Over 2.5 shots

Vatrano is an absolute force on home ice. He has recorded three shots or more 20 times in 27 tries, good for a remarkable 74% success rate.

A lot of those shots came without Troy Terry, who was recently moved onto his line and whose impact is certainly being felt as Vatrano's shot rates are skyrocketing even further.

Vatrano is averaging nearly 14 shots on goal per 60 minutes of five-on-five play with Terry on his line.

For perspective, Vatrano generated 11.31 with Adam Henrique, 9.21 with Ryan Strome, and 6.81 with Alex Killorn. Big differences.

With such a low shot total, Vatrano is a prime target at home against any opponent - let alone the Blue Jackets, who have given up shots in bulk all season long. Their top line is the only one limiting shots at a decent rate, and Vatrano should see very little of them.

Odds: -140 (playable to -150)

Auston Matthews: Over 4.5 shots

This matchup is as good as it gets, as the Coyotes have been an unmitigated disaster defensively of late, posting horrendous metrics across the board.

They rank 30th in shot suppression at five-on-five over the last 10 games and 29th while killing penalties. The Coyotes compound their PK woes by parading to the box more than almost every team in the league.

Arizona is conceding a ton of shot volume across all situations, and it just so happens a huge chunk of it comes from opposing centers.

The Coyotes allowed just under 14 shots per game against centers over the past 10 contests. For added color, only one other team (the Canadiens) has conceded more than 12.10 shots per game to centers in that span.

Matthews is one of the best volume shooters in the league and is pushing for 50 goals against his hometown team, a team that is bleeding shots to his position and taking penalties in bulk.

The stars are aligning for another big shooting - and perhaps scoring - night for Matthews.

Odds: -110 (playable to -125)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X at @ToddCordell.

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We have a busy eight-game slate ahead of us Tuesday night and no shortage of props to choose from.

Let's take a closer look at a few that pop off the page.

Aleksander Barkov: Over 2.5 shots

Barkov's shot volume has decreased of late, but he finds himself in a good spot to get back on track.

Despite facing the stiffest matchups at home, Barkov has been a more efficient shot-generator in Florida than on the road. He's averaged nearly one more attempt per game at home, which is not an inconsequential difference for someone who generates many of his shots close to the net and hits the target at an above-average rate.

Barkov will take on the Senators, who've made their top line weaker defensively through some recent alterations. Ottawa's No. 1 unit has allowed shots at a noticeably higher rate with Shane Pinto centering Brady Tkachuk rather than Josh Norris or Tim Stutzle.

Jacques Martin has also put Vladimir Tarasenko on the opposite wing of Tkachuk. He's a talented player, but his defensive impact is weak.

With those two players on Tkachuk's line and the Senators in a back-to-back situation, they'll likely spend plenty of time in the defensive zone. Look for Barkov to take advantage.

Odds: -106 (playable to -125)

Filip Forsberg: Over 3.5 shots

The Golden Knights have a reputation as a stingy defensive team, but that hasn't been the case of late. They've limited goals because of fantastic goaltending rather than excellent shot suppression.

Las Vegas is struggling defensively in all situations, ranking in the bottom 10 in shots against at five-on-five and in the bottom five while killing penalties over the past 10 games.

It's also worth noting no NHL team has allowed more shots per game to opposing wingers during that span.

Even Vegas' best defensive personnel is laboring. Mark Stone is one of the league's best two-way players, yet he, William Karlsson, and Chandler Stephenson are allowing shots at a very high rate. They'll see a steady dose of Filip Forsberg.

Simply put, the Golden Knights are giving up a lot of volume right now. Forsberg - the Predators' leader in shots by 45 - is the most likely candidate to capitalize.

Odds: -134 (playable to -145)

Viktor Arvidsson: Over 3.5 shots

Arvidsson has hit the ground running since making his season debut. The veteran sniper has generated 12 shots on 21 attempts in three games since returning to the lineup, going over in two of the three.

The Kings initially put Arvidsson on the other side of Trevor Moore on the second line. They've quickly pulled the plug on that, moving Moore to the top unit and putting Kevin Fiala on the other wing with Arvidsson. History tells us that's a big plus.

Arvidsson has averaged more than 23 attempts and 14 shots on goal at five-on-five with Fiala on the other wing. That compares very favorably to the 18 attempts and nine shots on goal he generates with Moore.

Arvidsson also has a fantastic matchup to look forward to against the Blue Jackets. They bleed shots at five-on-five and on the penalty kill. Arvidsson is primed to make some noise with top-six minutes at even strength and the role of a go-to shooter on the top power play.

Odds: -102 (playable to -125)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X at @ToddCordell.

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The NHL regular season is flying by. Some teams are 67% of the way through their schedules, meaning the playoff picture is starting to take shape.

Which teams are worth backing to make the playoffs? Which teams should be faded? Let's take a closer look.

Make: New Jersey Devils (+100)

The Devils were one of the favorites to win the Stanley Cup heading into the season, but they find themselves on the playoff bubble. That largely stems from an extreme amount of injuries to key players.

Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Timo Meier, Dougie Hamilton, and Jonas Siegenthaler, among others, have all missed significant time. The former three are back in the lineup and playing consistently, while the latter is expected to return soon. The team is finally getting close to full health, and that should lead to a drastic increase in wins.

But injuries and underwhelming goaltending shouldn't receive too much focus. The Devils are still a very good team so long as Hughes and Hischier are in the mix, boasting an approximately 110-point pace with both in the lineup.

Furthermore, with a healthy forward core, the Devils are starting to dominate the run of play at five-on-five, while youngster Nico Daws has helped stabilize things in goal.

This team boasts more true talent than those they're competing with - the Red Wings, Islanders, Penguins, etc. - and there are rumors general manager Tom Fitzgerald wants to add a meaningful piece or two (most likely a starting goalie) at the deadline.

Priced as a coin flip to make the playoffs, I think there is real value in backing the Devils.

Miss: Pittsburgh Penguins (-160)

The Penguins are in a very tough situation. They are five points back of a wild-card spot, 10 points back of a divisional spot, and one of their best players (Jake Guentzel) is expected to miss a month. They have an uphill battle ahead.

Although the Penguins have some things going for them (an excellent top line, strong goaltending etc.), a lot of problems are hindering them and the reason why they're in this position in the first place.

They lack scoring depth, and that's not going to change. Their power play also continues to disappoint, as the Penguins are scoring more times on the man advantage than only five teams.

The Penguins have the fourth-best team save percentage, but that may not be sustainable. If Tristan Jarry or Alex Nedeljkovic stumble down the stretch and play more like a mid-tier tandem, the margin for error evaporates.

I just don't see many reasons to believe this team can dig its feet in the sand and start stringing together wins.

There are no reinforcements coming back from injury, nor is GM Kyle Dubas likely to make any notable additions. If anything, he may elect to sell Guentzel if the team doesn't make up ground in his absence.

Expect the Penguins to miss the playoffs once again.

Lean: Seattle Kraken to make (+360)

The Kraken are quietly playing some good hockey. They rank sixth in goal share and ninth in expected goal share at five-on-five since January 1.

With the returns of Jaden Schwartz and Andre Burakovsky, the Kraken are very deep up front and can rely on their depth to make up ground against opponents. Joey Daccord has also given them reliable goaltending, something they haven't had much of since joining the league.

As much as anything, this is a bet on what teams around the Kraken will do.

The Blues are likely to trade Pavel Buchnevich, who is playing at a top-line level.

The Flames are clearly selling and could move on from the combination of Jacob Markstrom, Noah Hanifin, and Chris Tanev.

Nashville has won only three of the past 10 games and may look to move Juuse Saros for young players and picks. That would mean more games for Kevin Lankinen and his .889 save percentage.

The Kraken may sell Jordan Eberle, but I don't think that would impact the team. It has a lot of quality wingers and relies more on depth than any one player to get results.

Even if expirings like Eberle and/or Justin Schultz are moved, the team will still be competitive.

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X at @ToddCordell.

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We have an exciting day of NHL action ahead of us, with 24 of the league's 32 teams set to be in action. Let's take a look at a couple of plays worth backing.

Kings (+100) @ Devils (-120)

The Devils changed their defensive coverage to more of a zone scheme coming out of the All-Star break. They also got Jack Hughes back from injury.

Those two things have paid immediate dividends and made the Devils look like a completely different team.

They own a 3-1-1 record since All-Star Weekend and have performed better at both ends of the ice. Their defensive play has been more stable, and their offense looks like the juggernaut it was expected to be - it's generating more high-danger chances at five-on-five than all but three teams.

I think they'll build on their recent success on Thursday night. The Kings have been stuck in the mud for what feels like forever, unable to gain footing and put together quality showings.

That's becoming more difficult by the game as their goaltending has predictably fallen off a cliff.

David Rittich has started four straight games, the last of which he allowed five goals on just 17 shots. They'll probably go back to Cam Talbot, which will probably be even more favorable for the Devils.

Talbot has conceded at least three goals in seven consecutive starts and given up 8.33 goals above expectation since the calendar flipped.

Hughes, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt and company are no doubt chomping at the bit to pounce on a reeling team with poor netminding.

Look for them to do just that en route to the team's third straight win.

Bet: Devils (-120)

Oilers (-200) @ Blues (+170)

The Blues routinely give up more shots and chances than they generate and compensate with clinical finishing. That's not a recipe for success against the Oilers.

Stuart Skinner has been one of the league's best goaltenders for quite some time - a crazy thought given how the year started.

He's posted a .940 save percentage and saved 19.57 goals more than expected since the holiday break. Those are downright absurd numbers.

Although Skinner obviously won't maintain those long term, he's very much in form and won't give opponents more goals than they deserve on any given night. The Blues likely need that to have a chance in this game.

The Oilers are among the best even-strength teams in the NHL and often earn a big edge in terms of chances. They should have their way against a Blues team with a 42% expected goals share over the last 10 games.

Given the firepower on this Oilers roster, more chances will generally lead to success on the scoreboard.

I expect Edmonton to take care of business in regulation and bring St. Louis back down to earth.

Bet: Oilers in regulation (-130)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X at @ToddCordell.

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It was a strong Tuesday for our player props. We were one David Pastrnak shot shy of a sweep, and he had every opportunity to get there, piling up nine attempts along the way.

At any rate, we'll take the profit and look to build on it with three more plays for Wednesday's card.

Kyle Connor: Over 3.5 shots

Connor is one of the NHL's best volume shooters. He averages a hair under four shots per game and has one of the highest shooting ceilings in the league.

The 27-year-old is skating on the top line with Mark Scheifele and Nikolaj Ehlers, the latter of whom has helped Connor produce a shot rate that's only bested when Gabriel Vilardi is on the ice with him.

The matchup is also as good as it gets. The Sharks have bled shots all season and are showing no signs of improvement. They rank dead last in shots allowed to opposing wingers over the last 10 games.

The Jets have stumbled a little lately. But they haven't played since last Saturday and won't play again until this Saturday. They've had a lot of time to rest up, which means Connor should get as much ice as he needs in this one.

Connor has recorded at least four shots in five straight against San Jose. Look for him to feast on the Sharks again.

Brock Faber: Over 0.5 points

Faber is red-hot offensively. He's registered at least a point in nine of the past 10 games, amassing 13 points over that span. That's solid production for any defenseman, let alone a rookie whose calling card is supposed to be on the defensive side of the ice.

Nearly half of Faber's points during this hot streak have come on the power play. He quarterbacks a dangerous top unit featuring high-end weapons, offering plenty of assist potential.

It just so happens the Coyotes are a dream matchup for opposing power plays. Arizona's one of the most undisciplined teams in the league and struggles mightily to limit shots and chances while undermanned.

Minnesota should be able to bank on three or four power-play opportunities (if not more), which should be more than enough to find the back of the net.

If the Wild convert on the man advantage, Faber - who sits second on the team in power-play points over the last 10 - has a strong chance of being involved.

Even if power-play success doesn't come to fruition, this is still a great spot for Faber. At five-on-five, the Coyotes rank bottom five in shots and goals against over the last 10 games.

Odds: -120 (playable to -140)

Joel Eriksson Ek: Over 3.5 shots

This is also a great matchup for Eriksson Ek. He's currently centering Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy on the top line. While you may think being flanked by high-end shooters would eat into Eriksson Ek's opportunities, the opposite holds true.

Eriksson Ek's five-on-five shot rates are higher while playing alongside Kaprizov and Boldy than with other Wild players. Even though they both shoot a lot, this trio spends so much time in the offensive zone that it leads to more shots for Eriksson Ek.

As I mentioned with Faber, the Coyotes take a ton of penalties and are giving up insane shot volume across all game states. The Wild should put up 30-35 shots with ease.

It's also worth noting that Arizona ranks last in shots against centers over the past 10 games. Eriksson Ek, who averages 3.7 shots per contest this season, should be the prime beneficiary.

Odds: -114 (playable to -130)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X at @ToddCordell.

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Another day, another split for our sides and totals. The Devils cruised to victory against the Kraken, but, unfortunately, the Golden Knights laid a rare egg at home.

We'll take the split and aim for a sweep with a couple of sides for Tuesday's card.

Blue Jackets (+160) @ Senators (-190)

The Senators are really starting to turn a corner. They own a 6-2-2 record over the last 10 games and have posted sparkling underlying numbers, controlling a larger share of the expected goals at five-on-five than all but the Panthers during that span.

Shane Pinto's return has given the Senators three lines capable of driving play and producing offense, while the team's defense is making some traction under head coach Jacques Martin.

Although the goaltending remains hit-and-miss, that shouldn't be too problematic against the Blue Jackets.

They spend a lot of every game on their heels and aren't the most threatening team to opposing goaltenders. The Jackets rank 22nd in expected goal generation and 24th in goals over the last 10 games.

They also have goaltending issues of their own. Elvis Merzlikins has allowed three-plus goals in nine of his last 11 starts, while Daniil Tarasov has conceded at least three in all but two games all season.

I don't think the Blue Jackets' defense and goaltending will hold up against a vastly improving Senators team. Injuries to Adam Fantilli and Yegor Chinakhov also make it a lot harder for Columbus to keep up offensively.

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

Bet: Senators in regulation (-130)

Hurricanes (+100) @ Stars (-120)

The Hurricanes finally look like the team everyone expected them to be before the season.

They're dominating in the shot and chance departments every night. With Andrei Svechnikov healthy again, Carolina is much more likely to convert those edges into results.

The Hurricanes are also getting improved play between the pipes. They don't need great goaltending to win games because of how strong they are defensively. Carolina just needs competency, which the team is now getting.

On paper, the Stars have a much better goaltending tandem. Jake Oettinger hasn't been great this season, though, and the play we're seeing from him and Scott Wedgewood is especially underwhelming.

Dallas owns a .895 team save percentage since the calendar flipped. That's nowhere close to good enough for a team with Stanley Cup aspirations.

If the Stars aren't going to reliably get saves, I don't like their chances against an elite shot-generation team that gives up very little at the other end.

I also think Dallas removing Wyatt Johnston from the top line is a mistake the team may pay for in this game. The top line with Pavelski is only plus-three on the season over 400 minutes (it's plus-eight with Johnston over a much smaller sample), and their underlying numbers are nowhere close to as strong.

Without Johnston, Dallas' top line is much less likely to win a best-on-best battle against Carolina's top line.

This should be a hotly contested game, but I like the Hurricanes to leave with two points when all is said and done.

Bet: Hurricanes (+100)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X at @ToddCordell.

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