Although we are four months deep into the season, the Hart Trophy race still remains one of the league's most hotly debated topics.

With two months remaining in the regular season, opinions vary among NHL players and writers alike. Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon continue to separate themselves from the pack, but who's truly been the most valuable?

Meanwhile, some argue Leon Draisaitl and David Pastrnak have Hart cases of their own, but their production has been aided significantly.

Here are our top five Hart Trophy candidates as the unofficial second half of the season rolls on:

5. Auston Matthews

Even for his lofty standards, Matthews' contributions to the Toronto Maple Leafs have been impressive, particularly given the circumstances.

The 22-year-old star has buried 12 more goals and notched 10 more points than the next-closest teammate. He's been particularly hot lately, piling up nine goals in 10 games since the calendar flipped to 2020, and a whopping 20 markers in his last 21 contests. Matthews has also been a beast from a possession standpoint, posting stellar Corsi For and High-Danger Chances For rates in addition to the analytics listed in the chart above.

Those exploits are all the more commendable considering he's been dealing with a wrist condition for the last few weeks. He's not one of the front-runners for this award just yet, but with the Maple Leafs back in the playoff hunt, he now deserves to be included among the contenders.

4. John Carlson

Carlson has no shortage of talented teammates on the league-leading Washington Capitals, but his efforts still deserve recognition.

He's cooled off a bit since his early season offensive explosion, but the ultra-productive defenseman is still putting up big numbers, collecting a point per game in January. The Norris Trophy favorite is driving the Capitals' offense and posting favorable possession figures while logging a heavy workload.

Carlson is tied for 10th in the NHL points race, leads all blue-liners in that department, and is also pacing his team, registering eight more than second-place star Alex Ovechkin. Plus, his 96-point pace means he still has a shot at the first triple-digit campaign by a blue-liner since Brian Leetch in 1991-92.

3. Brad Marchand

It's tempting to give Hart consideration to Pastrnak based solely on his offensive output, but a closer look at the numbers shows his polarizing teammate remains a far more worthy contender.

Marchand has excelled whether he's been with Pastrnak (55.48 xGF% and 55.8 SCF%) or without him (much better figures of 62.88 and 63.41), whereas Pastrnak's numbers in these categories dip to 45.53 and 51.16 without Marchand.

That's largely due to the fact that Marchand is a more complete player than his Czech linemate. He does more on the defensive end, kills penalties, and leads the NHL in infractions drawn. The talented pest also ranks fifth in the league in assists (sitting in a tie for third in primary helpers) and is tied for sixth in points while playing in all situations.

2. Connor McDavid

No one doubts McDavid is the league's biggest game-changer. He's been No. 1 in this race at times during the 2019-20 campaign, and arguably still would be if not for MacKinnon's exploits. The Edmonton Oilers superstar is tied for the league lead in assists and points while averaging over a full minute of ice time more than the Colorado Avalanche dynamo.

However, McDavid has been aided by Draisaitl's significant production, even though he's also played a big role in facilitating it. It's none other than Draisaitl himself who's tied with McDavid for the NHL lead in assists and points, and he's matched McDavid's goal total as well. While Mikko Rantanen is averaging more than a point per game for the Avalanche, MacKinnon doesn't have a teammate scoring at a rate near that of McDavid's running partner.

Draisaitl's has also been worse without McDavid than McDavid has been without him, posting a 45.02 xGF% and a 44.13 SCF% mark away from the Oilers captain, compared to 46.10 and 46.47, respectively, with him. Conversely, McDavid has posted a gaudy 57.93 xGF% and 60.22 SCF% without Draisaitl.

So even if McDavid isn't the Hart front-runner right now, the value he brings to his team is obviously immense.

1. Nathan MacKinnon

Despite McDavid's impact, MacKinnon remains the Hart favorite. He proved his case when Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog were both forced out of the lineup for a prolonged period earlier this season, and he's continued to produce with six goals and 14 points in nine January games.

MacKinnon holds the edge over McDavid virtually across the board when it comes to driving possession, posting superior numbers in both of the analytics categories listed in the chart above. He also owns far better High-Danger Chances For (by a 57.45 to 52.69 margin) and Corsi For (53.06 to 48.82) rates.

The Colorado catalyst has racked up nearly double the points of the next-closest Avalanche skater (72 to Cale Makar's 37), a feat that remains remarkable regardless of the aforementioned injuries.

MacKinnon has demonstrated - both while his linemates were shelved and when they've been healthy - that no one's done more to improve his team.

Honorable mentions: Pastrnak, Draisaitl, Elias Pettersson, Jack Eichel.

(Analytics source: Natural Stat Trick)

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The NHL is investigating the Arizona Coyotes after allegations they conducted physical testing on draft-eligible Canadian Hockey League players, TSN's Darren Dreger reported on "Insider Trading."

Physically testing players prior to the NHL combine is prohibited under league rules.

The OHL, WHL, and QMJHL - the three leagues under the CHL's umbrella - tell their respective junior teams to report any contact from NHL clubs. Multiple teams have stated there's been contact from the Coyotes, according to Dreger's sources.

If the Coyotes are found guilty, the club could face hefty fines of $250,000 or more per incident at the discretion of NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, Dreger adds.

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The San Jose Sharks' miserable season was dealt another devastating blow Thursday, as the team announced forward Tomas Hertl will miss the remainder of the year with a torn ACL and MCL.

Hertl ranks second on the Sharks in goals (16) and points (36) this season. He's fresh off his first career All-Star Game, where he put up five goals in two games as the Pacific Division won the tournament last weekend in St. Louis.

The 26-year-old joins San Jose's other top center, captain Logan Couture, on the sidelines long term. Couture was diagnosed to miss several weeks with a fractured ankle earlier in January.

San Jose currently sits 26th in the NHL with 48 points through 52 games and appears set to miss the playoffs for just the second time since 1997-98. Making matters worse, the Ottawa Senators own the Sharks' first-round pick this summer as a part of the trade package that landed Erik Karlsson.

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We enjoyed a 3-1 night on Wednesday, taking us to 7-3 overall since the All-Star break. It's nice to have the NHL back.

There are just three games tonight, which is strangely quiet for a Thursday, but I think we've got three winners picked out. Let's get to it.

GOATs and scapegoats (Wednesday)

Adam Henrique scored a pair of first-period goals to help the Anaheim Ducks (+110) beat the Arizona Coyotes on Wednesday, ensuring we took home a nice profit on the night. That's what I call GOAT material.

We can't say the same for Dallas Stars forwards Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn, who each finished minus-1 and couldn't register a single point against a miserable Toronto Maple Leafs defense. That's why we didn't finish 4-0 on Wednesday.

Thursday's bets

Montreal Canadiens (-115)

I suffered through the Buffalo Sabres' loss to the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday, and there were some troubling signs from the Sabres. Forget about their ineffective penalty kill or complete lack of offense outside of Jack Eichel - the team just looked defeated long before the game was over. Losing to the Senators effectively ended any hope Buffalo had of pulling back into the playoff race, and given the seemingly fragile mindset of this team, it's hard to imagine a positive response here.

Despite what their record might indicate, the Canadiens are playing competitive hockey on a nightly basis. They're also getting healthy and have goaltender Carey Price in his best form of the season (.933 save percentage in January). Trust Montreal to leave Buffalo with two points.

New Jersey Devils (+120)

The Devils have been playing some really strong hockey on home ice over the past month. They've beaten the Ducks, Boston Bruins, and Tampa Bay Lightning while losing to the Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Islanders in overtime. That's an impressive point haul given the quality of opponents.

It's fair to say the underachieving Nashville Predators are a step down in class. The Preds are coming off a hard-fought win in Washington on Wednesday that was both physically and emotionally draining, leaving them in a letdown spot here. Nashville is just 1-3 this season when playing on no rest (allowing 17 goals in those games) and has lost seven of its last eight in that spot. Falling to the Devils a night after beating the Capitals would be right in line with the sort of season the Predators have produced.

Best bet

Los Angeles Kings/Arizona Coyotes over 5.5 (+110)

There's still a perception that the Coyotes are an "under" cash cow, but that hasn't been the case on home ice ever since the team traded for Taylor Hall. Following the trade, Arizona has gone 6-1 to the over at Gila River Arena, with those games averaging a staggering 7.6 goals. Additionally, Thursday's contest is the second leg of a back-to-back for the Coyotes, and they've hit four straight overs at home when playing on no rest.

The Kings were also in action last night. They're 2-4 on the road this season when playing in the second game of a back-to-back, with five of those contests seeing at least six goals. Expect more fireworks on Thursday in the desert, despite what the total might indicate.

Trend of the night

The Coyotes are 1-9 in their last 10 home games played on no rest.

As mentioned above, Arizona faced Anaheim last night. The Coyotes have posted a brutal record on home ice recently when playing in the second leg of a back-to-back, so this would appear to be a good spot to fade them. That being said, the Kings also played last night and are cemented in the basement of the Western Conference, which makes them a tough team to back here, even at the generous price of +170.

Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.

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Boston Bruins forward David Backes won't report to AHL Providence despite being placed on waivers for purpose of assignment earlier this month, the team announced Thursday.

"After speaking with David, we have agreed that is in the best interest of David and the Bruins for him not to play in Providence at this time. David is fit and able to play, but in order to preserve all potential options for both David and the Bruins moving forward, we have decided this is the best course of action," Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said in a statement.

The veteran forward has played only 16 games for Boston this season, most recently suiting up Jan. 9. He was sent down to the AHL on Jan. 17.

After 10 seasons with the St. Louis Blues, Backes signed a five-year, $30-million contract with the Bruins in 2016. His deal expires after the 2020-21 campaign and includes a modified no-trade clause that features an eight-team exemption list this year and 15-team list next year, according to Cap Friendly.

Backes, 35, has posted 39 goals and 55 assists in 217 games since joining Boston.

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The All-Star break has come and gone, and from now until early April, it's going to be a dogfight for several clubs to get inside the playoff cutline.

With that in mind, let's break down the remaining schedules of the teams battling for position in the Western Conference. Note that the NHL altered its tiebreaking procedure this season, making regulation wins the No. 1 deciding factor for teams deadlocked in the standings.

Playoff odds are courtesy of Money Puck and change every night, while average points percentage indicates the quality of opponents each team is slated to face for the rest of the season. The higher the rank, the more difficult the schedule.

Here's a look at the standings entering play Thursday.

(C = Central Division; P = Pacific Division; WC = wild card)

To see the Eastern Conference breakdown as of Wednesday, click here.

Colorado Avalanche

Current playoff odds: 97.4%
Remaining home-road split: 16-17
Avg. opponent point % (league rank): .526 (31st)

The Avalanche should have no issue making the playoffs, but their stretch run will still be greatly important. Colorado and Dallas are set to duke it out for the No. 2 seed in the Central, with home-ice advantage in the first round being the grand prize. That battle is neck and neck right now, but the Avs have been more consistent over the course of the season, are facing a soft slate of opponents, and own a significant advantage in regulation wins, making them the favorites to come out on top.

Crucial stretch: Colorado will play the easiest schedule in the league from here on out, but three of four games from Feb. 13-19 will come against some of the best teams in the NHL: the Capitals, Lightning, and Islanders.

Dallas Stars

Current playoff odds: 82.6%
Remaining home-road split: 15-17
Avg. opponent point % (league rank): .552 (22nd)

Dallas is sitting pretty in the playoff picture after a nightmarish start to the season. The Stars lead the NHL in goals against per game (2.45), and that's helped distance them from the pack of trailing teams in the Central.

Crucial stretch: The Stars will play 10 of their 15 February games on the road, where they're just 12-10-2 this season compared to 16-7-2 at home.

Vancouver Canucks

Current playoff odds: 83.5%
Remaining home-road split: 16-15
Avg. opponent point % (league rank): .558 (14th)

The Canucks are one of five teams in the Pacific that will be grinding for position until April. Only five points separate first and fifth place in the division, but Vancouver's in a position of strength, owning the most regulation wins and games in hand on every team but the Oilers. The Canucks have been on a roller-coaster ride all season, so maintaining their recent consistency will be key if they hope to snap a four-year playoff drought.

Crucial stretch: Vancouver will play six games from March 20-28, all against Pacific Division opponents.

Calgary Flames

Current playoff odds: 82.1%
Remaining home-road split: 18-12
Avg. opponent point % (league rank): .541 (28th)

The Flames have played more games than most teams in the Pacific and also lack regulation wins, but a slew of extra home contests and a highly favorable schedule give Calgary solid odds to make the playoffs. It's a different feeling than when the Flames cruised to the division title last year, but they're still very much in control of their own destiny.

Crucial stretch: Although Calgary will play the majority of its remaining schedule at home, a five-game road trip beginning Feb. 23 is the most important chunk of contests the team has left.

Edmonton Oilers

Current playoff odds: 67.1%
Remaining home-road split: 17-15
Avg. opponent point % (league rank): .559 (T-12th)

Can Edmonton ride Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl all the way to the playoffs? At this point, Money Puck projects that to be the likely outcome, but the league's two leading scorers will need to maintain their pace the rest of the way. The Oilers will also need Mike Smith to stay hot down the stretch, as the veteran netminder is 5-0-2 with a .920 save percentage so far in 2020.

Crucial stretch: Edmonton will play seven games in 12 nights from Feb. 25 through March 7. Such a compact schedule has the potential to make or break their season.

Vegas Golden Knights

Current playoff odds: 71.5%
Remaining home-road split: 14-16
Avg. opponent point % (league rank): .568 (7th)

It's fair to say the Golden Knights have underachieved to this point, but their playoff odds are still pretty good. Based on talent alone, it's easy to see Vegas ultimately pulling away from its competitors and qualifying, but with 53 games played, the club doesn't have much time left.

Crucial stretch: All of March. Out of 14 games in the month, 10 will come against divisional opponents or teams in the wild-card race.

Arizona Coyotes

Current playoff odds: 38.6%
Remaining home-road split: 17-13
Avg. opponent point % (league rank): .559 (t-12th)

Since Vezina candidate Darcy Kuemper went down with an injury, the Coyotes have gone just 6-8-1. Kuemper is easily the club's most important player, but Arizona must find a way to make a run without him after going all-in to end the league's second-longest postseason absence this year.

Crucial stretch: The Coyotes' opponents from Feb. 15-25 are a murderers' row of contenders. Arizona will start with the Capitals before taking on the Islanders, Stars, Blues, Lightning, and Panthers.

Winnipeg Jets

Current playoff odds: 18.6%
Remaining home-road split: 17-14
Avg. opponent point % (league rank): .569 (5th)

The Jets are still in the West race, but their hopes are waning. A depleted blue line and a number of key injuries up front have caught up to Winnipeg and created an uphill climb. A current four-game losing streak has also cratered the Jets' playoff odds in Money Puck's eyes, but stringing a couple of wins together could get the percentages trending in the other direction. Either way, the clock is ticking.

Crucial stretch: Right now. The Jets need to stop the bleeding immediately, and they'll be tested right after their bye with games against the Bruins, Predators, and Blues (twice) from Jan. 31 until Feb. 6.

Chicago Blackhawks

Current playoff odds: 40.3%
Remaining home-road split: 14-17
Avg. opponent point % (league rank): .556 (19th)

While the Jets are sliding, a recent hot streak suddenly has the Blackhawks within three points of a surprise playoff spot. Chicago had won five in a row before a loss heading into its break, but that recent success may not be sustainable. The Blackhawks own fewer regulation wins than both teams right below them in the standings and rank 28th in expected goals rate at five-on-five (46.66%). Chicago has certainly made things interesting, but this team is likely not built to last.

Crucial stretch: The Blackhawks will embark on a five-game road trip from February 9-16, during which they'll only face teams directly above them in the standings. In order, Chicago will play the Jets, Oilers, Canucks, Flames, and then the Jets again during that stretch.

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