NHL Tuesday best bets: Jets to take flight in Winnipeg

We split our best bets to begin the week. The Boston Bruins took care of business in regulation but the Edmonton Oilers were unable to get past the Nashville Predators in overtime.

Let's dive into a couple of games that stand out on Tuesday's eight-game slate.

Just when things started to turn for the better in Ottawa, Tim Stutzle suffered a shoulder injury. He is not going to be out long term, thankfully, but the ailment will keep him out of the lineup for this game. That is big.

Normally a strong five-on-five team, the Ottawa Senators have struggled in their short period of time without Stutzle. Through four games, they have posted a 47% share of the expected goals and generated only 2.21 xG per 60 minutes.

Those numbers don't hold a candle to their season numbers of 52% and 2.89 xG per 60.

One of the biggest issues with Stutzle's injury is that it forces Derick Brassard to play way over his head as the top-line center. Brady Tkachuk and Claude Giroux own a putrid 42.9% xG share with Brassard as their pivot. That's a far cry from the 66.8% they own alongside Stutzle.

This is all a long way of saying Ottawa's offense is not nearly as potent right now, which is problematic when going up against the Winnipeg Jets.

The Jets sit seventh in high-danger chances against per 60 over the last 10 games. They really aren't giving up much. When they do, Connor Hellebuyck - who ranks second in goals saved above expected - is more than up to the task.

Without their top two centers in Stutzle and Josh Norris, I don't see the Senators' offense doing much damage in this game. Back the Jets to rebound on home ice.

Bet: Jets (-147)

Things are going from bad to worse for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Already without Zach Werenski, Jakub Voracek, and half their defensive core, the Blue Jackets placed captain Boone Jenner on injured reserve Monday. They also announced skilled youngster Cole Sillinger is banged up with an undisclosed injury.

All of those absences leave the Blue Jackets paper thin on the back end and with little scoring depth to compensate. Thus, the Blue Jackets need quality goaltending to win games. That's not something they're likely to get tonight.

Elvis Merzlikins appears destined to start for the Blue Jackets in the latter half of their back-to-back. He is in the midst of an absolutely miserable season, sporting a woeful .864 save percentage.

He has conceded 18 more goals than expected through just 14 appearances, which slots him last in the NHL by quite a margin. Kaapo Kahkonen (minus-14.2 GSAE) is the only other goaltender below minus-11.3.

Meanwhile, Merzlikins' counterpart, Carter Hart, is enjoying a strong bounce-back campaign. He owns a .913 save percentage and ranks fourth in the league in GSAE (plus-13.6).

Win or lose, Hart is allowing the Flyers to hang around in plenty of games. The same can't be said about Merzlikins.

With the Blue Jackets getting caved in at five-on-five on a nightly basis, dealing with a cluster of injuries across the board, and facing a back-to-back situation, it is hard to envision their fortunes turning on Tuesday night, even against a bad Flyers team.

Back the healthier side that should also hold a big advantage in goal.

Bet: Flyers (-110)

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

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