The Colorado Avalanche signed goaltender Pavel Francouz to a two-year extension, the team announced Saturday.The deal carries an average annual value of $2 million, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Francouz has done an admirable job this season after missing the first 24 games on injured reserve. He owns a .920 save percentage and 2.46 goals against average to go along with a sterling 10-3-1 record.The 31-year-old was set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason."Pavel is an important component to our goaltending tandem and someone we have full trust in to be a key piece of our team going forward," general manager Joe Sakic said in a statement. "He has showed tremendous perseverance and dedication in overcoming the challenges and injuries he has faced."Francouz missed the entirety of the 2020-21 campaign after undergoing double-hip surgery.He has spent his entire 50-game NHL career as a member of the Avalanche and has a career save percentage of .923.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog will undergo knee surgery Monday and will be out indefinitely, Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar announced Saturday, according to The Athletic's Peter Baugh.Bednar said the team is "hoping" to have the forward back for the beginning of the playoffs, but his availability won't be clear until after the surgery. The ailment is not ACL-related."Hopefully, he'll be available for us for the stretch line, but he's going to miss some time," he said. "It's something going on with his knee that's been bothering him for a while. It was getting worse."Bednar added that defenseman Samuel Girard will miss four weeks.Landeskog, 29, leads all Avalanche skaters with 30 goals in 51 games this season. Girard, 23, ranks third among Colorado blue-liners with 27 points in 56 contests.Here's how the Avalanche's lineup looked without the duo during Saturday's practice:

HAMILTON, Ont. - The sky is dark gray. The temperature is hovering above freezing. Snow is falling in flakes the size of a nickel. An ice surfacer is doing laps while crew members shovel mounds of snow off the NHL-sized sheet.It's shortly after 5 p.m. on Friday, and this is the scene at field level at Tim Hortons Field, the venue for Sunday's outdoor game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres. Snow removal is likely to continue past midnight."We've got snow until, I think, 1 a.m. The guys will just keep doing this," Derek King, one of the league's head ice makers, says as he surveys the commotion around him. "We started at 10 o'clock this morning and haven't stopped."Tim Hortons Field at night on March 9 Dave Sandford / Getty ImagesTechnically a Sabres home game, the 2022 Heritage Classic is being staged 63 miles north of Buffalo's KeyBank Center and 43 miles south of Toronto's Scotiabank Arena. The pro football stadium, situated in a residential area in the east end of Hamilton, will welcome roughly 25,000 people through its gates on Sunday. Smokestacks from nearby steel factories fill the skyline, and the original Tim Hortons restaurant - whose co-founder and namesake played for the Leafs and Sabres during a Hall of Fame career - is a short walk away.Two Mondays ago, a 53-foot, 300-ton capacity mobile refrigeration unit and rink system was parked outside the stadium to signal the start of the build-out process. By week's end, boards were standing and ice-making had officially begun. On Wednesday, lines and logos were painted, and on Thursday, the glass was installed while the ice got topped up with its last quarter of an inch.This is the NHL's third and final outdoor game of the season and 35th since 2003. Each passing event serves as an education for future events. And up until recently, only one man had been at the controls. Known for 24 years as the league's leading "ice man," Dan Craig retired - or "graduated," as he put it - this past November. His legacy on the sport will be on full display Sunday."These events, and the success of these events, and the quality of the ice in our 32 rinks, have Dan's prints all over them. And they will as long as we're doing them," says Kris King, senior VP of hockey operations for the NHL.Mike Craig of the NHL in Hamilton on March 10 Dave Sandford / Getty ImagesMike Craig (Dan's son) and Derek King (no relation to Kris) have taken over as head ice men. Engineers by trade, both are longtime league employees who go by the title of senior manager of facilities ops and hockey ops. Mike Craig, who's based out of Kelowna, B.C., has worked in chilly hockey arenas his entire adult life, while Derek King, of Winnipeg, entered the workforce as a paramedic before switching to ice making in the early 2000s."Dan was always a hands-on guy, and we tried hard to get him to spread the wealth," Kris King says. "'Dan, you don't have to be here for 24 hours a day. Trust the guys. You've taught them well.' Near the end, he finally figured it out."While their mentor is a phone call away, the Heritage Classic is Mike Craig and Derek King's show, and the objective is to produce the finest ice possible for the players. They lead a veteran crew of workers that's encountered basically everything imaginable over the years, from freezing rain, high winds, and dense fog to warm temperatures, high humidity, and bright sunshine.According to The Weather Network forecast, the temperature at 4 p.m. puck drop should be 30 F, with a cloudy sky, 16 miles-per-hour wind, and a 40% chance of snow. Relatively speaking, those are decent conditions for an outdoor game."There's no such thing as a perfect event," Mike Craig says, reciting a common joke among the group. Mother Nature always finds a way to alter best-laid plans, which isn't particularly enjoyable in the moment, but it results in a sense of great satisfaction when the event's nearing the finish line. "They all have their challenges," he adds, "and they all have their pretty cool moments."Workers lay down the rink's base on March 2 Dave Sandford / Getty ImagesAside from one rainy day, the weather gods have largely cooperated with the league's itinerary for Hamilton. Rain can be a killer, especially in warmer climates. Just a couple of weeks ago, ahead of the Stadium Series game in Tennessee, stress levels rose when a lengthy storm ran through Nashville."We had 73-degree weather with 16 hours of straight rain," Kris King says. "We couldn't freeze the water fast enough." The rink lost an inch and a quarter of ice, and it's supposed to be two inches thick on game day. However, since the crew had anticipated the ugly stretch of weather and started the build-out a few days earlier than normal, the ice was salvageable.The league had learned its lesson from the 2020 Winter Classic in Dallas, where crap really hit the fan thanks to a cocktail of relentless rainfall, warm temperatures, and high humidity. It got so bad they had to temporarily remove a section of the end boards so workers could squeegee water more efficiently."We lost everything in Dallas. We lost the lines and logos. We lost the white paint ... everything," Derek King says. Once the storm passed and the refrigeration unit started stabilizing the rink temperature again, the build was back on track. "We had three days to get the sheet back, thankfully," he adds.The head ice men have multiple weather apps on their smartphones, as well as a special ice monitoring app called Eye On The Ice. This 24/7 surveillance of the venue is crucial no matter the air temperature. For instance, during the build-out for the 2011 Heritage Classic, the temperature in Calgary hit minus-31 F, yet "our ice is melting because it was so sunny out," Kris King laments.A worker assembles a railing on March 8 Dave Sandford / Getty ImagesAt ice level Friday evening, Derek King, dressed for the elements with a thick winter jacket and a baseball cap emblazoned with the NHL crest, brings up the 2018 Stadium Series game between the Leafs and Washington Capitals at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. That windy experience in Annapolis, Maryland, will inform how he and Mike Craig handle this weekend in Hamilton."We had to remove all of the glass the day before game day," Derek King recalls of the 2018 adventure. "The whole site got shut down because of how strong the winds were. We're looking at something similar for tomorrow."If the wind is having a material impact on the game, Kris King says, the Leafs and Sabres will switch sides halfway through the third period. Both teams will spend 10 minutes each with the wind at their backs and in their faces.On top of the outdoor events, the head ice men are responsible for ice standards across the league, as well as rinks used for special programming like showcase games in Europe and the Hockeyville exhibition series. They're on the road for long stretches, with Derek King, for example, leaving Winnipeg on Feb. 12 to head the Nashville event and returning home on March 20."It's a work family, for sure," he says. On cue, Kris King enters his field of view and starts poking the bottom of the sideboards with an ice-chipping tool. "We even have the boss working," Derek King says, letting out a hearty laugh.Mike Craig, son of the original ice man, knows it's important to soak up the uniqueness of the gig. "At some point, even just during the game or on the practice day, whatever it is, just to take a few minutes to realize how special it is and how cool of an opportunity it is to do these kinds of events," he says.John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter (@MatiszJohn) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We saw four Canadian teams make the playoffs last year thanks to the North Division, but this season looks like it might be a different story. As it stands, Calgary and Toronto are the only two teams well on the way to the postseason. Winnipeg, Edmonton, and Vancouver are currently on the outside looking in, while Ottawa and Montreal have been out of it for awhile.Despite the varying differences in the standings between all seven Canadian clubs, each one should be active in one way or another at the trade deadline. Let's take a look at how each team should approach this year's deadline as March 21 approaches.Calgary Flames: Trust what you got Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyDeadline cap space: $870,000The Flames already made a big splash on the trade market by bringing in Tyler Toffoli well ahead of the deadline. As a result, the team now boasts one of the league's deepest group of forwards. Add to that an elite goaltender and a competent blue line, and you find yourselves with one of the toughest teams in the NHL to play against.Calgary has little cap space at their disposal and a depleted set of draft picks. They managed to nab Toffoli without giving up one of their top prospects, which was some tidy work by GM Brad Treliving. At this point, Calgary needs to stand pat and trust what they've put together. Since Feb. 1, the Flames have won 14 of 17 games; the team is clicking on all cylinders and will be a nightmare to face in the playoffs. Perhaps the club opts to add a depth defenseman or forward for cheap, but it wouldn't be at all surprising if they're quiet.Edmonton Oilers: Trade for a goalie Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyDeadline cap space: $591,000Enough is enough in Edmonton. The club went into the year entrusting Mike Smith and Mikko Koskinen in net - it hasn't worked out. The soon-to-be 40-year-old Smith has been on and off IR all year, and when he's played, he hasn't been great. Koskinen has gotten the bulk of the starts as a result but has only managed a .904 save percentage and -4.46 goals saved above average. He's played well as of late, but if the Oilers want to go deep in the playoffs, he can't be the one in the crease. The Oilers are the 12th-best team in the league with 3.21 goals scored per game but are the 11th-worst with 3.21 goals allowed per game. A fix in net could go a long way.There are a number of options on the goalie market, with Marc-Andre Fleury far and away the best option out there. He's proven on numerous occasions he has what it takes to guide a team to the Stanley Cup Final, and can provide Edmonton the stability they desperately need. It hasn't been confirmed whether or not he would accept a trade out of Chicago, but the asking price will probably be hefty. If he were to allow a trade, Edmonton should be all over him. Otherwise, the Oilers might look for an upgrade with Joonas Korpisalo, Braden Holtby, or Jaroslav Halak.Montreal Canadiens: Sell, sell, sell Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyDeadline cap space: $7.7 millionThe Canadiens have teetered between being a buyer and seller at the deadline over the last decade, but this is the first year in a long time where a true fire sale could go down. Ben Chiarot is almost certainly going to get dealt, but the team has a handful of other players who could presumably find new homes.Artturi Lehkonen, Brett Kulak, Cedric Paquette, Mathieu Perreault, and Chris Wideman are all on expiring deals and could be moved. Montreal's big-ticket names like Jeff Petry and Brendan Gallagher will likely only get moved in the summer - if they get dealt at all. Montreal has been playing great hockey under new head coach Martin St. Louis, so perhaps that will deter the team from selling cornerstone veterans and rebuilding. Kent Hughes' and Jeff Gorton's phone will surely be ringing off the hook for plenty of players on their roster. They're not in a position to sell low on anybody at this point, but if the right deal comes along, there should be no hesitation to accept as they usher in a new era in Montreal.Ottawa Senators: Use cap space NHL Images / National Hockey League / GettyDeadline cap space: $55 millionThe Senators don't have a ton of assets to sell at this year's deadline. Michael Del Zotto and Tyler Ennis could fetch mediocre returns; Nick Paul, Erik Brannstrom, and Chris Tierney, who could still be a part of the team's future, aren't locks to be moved. What the Senators do have, though, is a massive amount of cap space that can be used to their advantage.Contenders all around the league are pressed right up against the cap and will be desperate to shed some salary in order to bulk up for the playoffs. The Senators could be big winners if they help facilitate trades either by taking on contracts or by simply retaining salary as a third party. The club has a great foundation of young studs and is inching closer to contention, but they're just not there yet. Eugene Melnyk and Pierre Dorion need to capitalize on stockpiling assets if they don't want to be in this position next year.Toronto Maple Leafs: Bolster blue line Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyDeadline cap space: $3.7 millionThe Maple Leafs could go a number of ways at the deadline this year, but all signs point toward the club bringing in a defenseman to reinforce their middling defensive group. Sheldon Keefe and Kyle Dubas have both indicated their faith in Jack Campbell and Petr Mrazek, so it seems unlikely the team will add a goaltender. Perhaps Campbell's minor injury changes things, but he's still their guy come playoff time assuming he's healthy. The team's forward group is deep and dangerous and doesn't need much tinkering, scoring 3.71 goals per game - fourth-best in the NHL.Toronto needs to address its defensive issues and bring in a solid blue-liner. Things are trending toward Jake Muzzin returning to the lineup before the playoffs, which is a great sign. But still, handing big minutes to Travis Dermott and Justin Holl isn't going to fly in the postseason. Dubas has said he isn't big on the idea of bringing in a rental player this year, but there are a number of defensemen on expiring contracts that the club can easily acquire and perhaps for a cheap price. Veteran blue-liners Justin Braun, Luke Schenn, Damon Severson, or Ben Chiarot could fit the bill and provide the Leafs with some much-needed help.Vancouver Canucks: Don't make a panic move Jeff Vinnick / National Hockey League / GettyDeadline cap space: $2.4 millionThe Canucks might have a slim chance to make the playoffs at this point, but that doesn't mean they should be big sellers. Brock Boeser and J.T. Miller have been floated around in the rumor mill over the last few months, but parting ways with either player at this point might end up being a huge mistake.Miller has proven himself since landing in Vancouver, and with one more year on his contract, there's not much of a reason to sell yet. He could still be in line for an extension, so there's no real rush to trade him, and he's been one of the team's best, most consistent players. Splitting with the 25-year-old Boeser wouldn't be wise unless the return is massive. Despite having a bit of a down year, he's still on pace for an impressive 27 goals while ranking third on the team with a 58.39 expected goals for percentage.The beginning of the season was a nightmare in Vancouver, but things are looking brighter. With new management, a new coach, and the team heading in the right direction, there isn't an urgent need to offload one of the team's stars. If a team makes an offer they can't refuse, then it's a different story. But there's no need to make a trade at this point just for the sake of shaking things up.Winnipeg Jets: Trade Andrew Copp Jonathan Kozub / National Hockey League / GettyDeadline cap space: $669,000Similar to the Canucks, the Jets are a great team on paper that simply haven't been able to put it together this season. Many pegged the team as a potential dark horse Stanley Cup contender entering the year. However, even making the playoffs is starting to look out of reach. The Jets have too much talent throughout its lineup to be as bad as they've been, but clearly something isn't clicking. They don't have a ton of rental players to offer on the market, but Copp should garner a ton of interest around the league if he's available.The versatile forward is exactly the kind of depth player contending teams will be looking to add at the deadline. Similar to forwards Barclay Goodrow and Blake Coleman, who were big additions at the deadline in the past, he could be the exact bottom-six piece teams need for a much-needed boost. He can play up the middle or on the wing and is on pace for a career-high 50 points this year. Copp should be able to land the Jets a nice package and would allow the team some time to address its bigger underlying issues during the offseason.(Salary source: CapFriendly)

The Dallas Stars signed veteran forward Joe Pavelski to a one-year deal, the team announced Friday.Pavelski's contract is worth a base of $5.5 million, plus an additional $500,000 in performance-based incentives. He'll get an additional $100,000 each for 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 games played, according to the Dallas Morning News' Matthew DeFranks.The deal also includes a full no-movement clause.Pavelski paces his team with 59 points in 56 games this season while leading all Stars forwards in ice time. He was set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason after playing out the final season of a three-year, $21-million contract.The 37-year-old joined Dallas in 2019-20 as a free agent. He made a mark during the Stars' 2020 Stanley Cup Final run, logging 19 points in 27 contests. Pavelski also scored the team's first postseason hat trick since it relocated from Minnesota."In his three seasons here, Joe has proven to be one of the strongest, most respected voices in the dressing room, as well as being one of the most consistent performers on the ice," general manager Jim Nill said in a statement."He has played at an All-Star level this season, and by signing this deal now, it is a testament to what he sees in this organization and how this organization values what he brings day in and day out."Pavelski represented Dallas at the 2022 NHL All-Star Game. He's currently scoring at a 1.05 points-per-game clip, which is the highest of his career.A seventh-round draft pick of the Sharks in 2003, Pavelski spent 13 seasons in San Jose. He has 416 goals and 486 assists in 1,142 career games.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Detroit Red Wings forward Robby Fabbri is expected to miss the remainder of the season with a suspected torn ACL, head coach Jeff Blashill announced Friday.Fabbri is set to undergo further evaluation. He exited during the second period of the Red Wings' 6-5 shootout loss to the Minnesota Wild on Thursday with a lower-body injury.The Red Wings placed him on injured reserve and recalled winger Taro Hirose from the AHL in a corresponding move.Fabbri registered 17 goals and 13 assists in 56 games this campaign while averaging over 17 minutes a contest.The 26-year-old has dealt with a slew of severe left knee ailments and has undergone multiple surgeries throughout his career. The latest injury is on his right knee, according to The Athletic's Max Bultman.Fabbri suffered a torn ACL in his left knee in February 2017 as a member of the St. Louis Blues and missed the remainder of that campaign. He reinjured his knee the following training camp and was forced to sit out the entire 2017-18 season.A first-round pick of the Blues in 2014, Fabbri has 73 goals and 79 assists in 302 career contests.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Beyond the frustrations of a speeding, oddly shaped rubber bullet bouncing off of a series of surfaces at a variety of angles and haphazardly finding its way into a 4-by-6 cage, hockey betting is a night-to-night roller coaster.According to our value-based betting guide, four teams showed value as underdogs Monday. They all lost; 0-4, -4 units.Tuesday's massive slate showed six teams worth betting on. Five of them won; 5-1, +6.45 units.It would be easier on our blood pressure if +2.45 units over two days was a little more evenly distributed, but such is life when betting a moneyline-centric sport.The Blackhawks (-130) were one of those winners Tuesday. The Oilers (-125) followed suit Wednesday as a rare favorite worth betting from a value standpoint.Why is it so rare to see sportsbooks provide value on a favorite? Well, because they usually don't have to. Bettors are fine with lining up on Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals even in the second night of a back-to-back in Edmonton. They're content with getting plus-money on the plucky Ducks against the woeful Blackhawks.As we turn our attention to the weekend, our search for value isn't defined by whether there's a plus or minus sign in front of a teams' odds. It's about how that implied probability compares to our valuations of each team.The recipeBefore the 2021-22 campaign, we devised a three-part series on how to use the regular-season point-total market to create team ratings, how to interpret home-ice advantage, and then how to use those to create your own moneylines.We made a small adjustment to our formula this week, moving this season's on-ice predictive metrics to 75% of our total rating. While our ratings are weighted to this season, basing 25% of the ratings on preseason "priors" allows us to place more emphasis on team metrics without going all-in on what's happened this year. That's important because this season is still a relatively small sample size that includes some tainted results from when COVID-19 ravaged lineups.The cheat sheetWhat follows is my fair price on the matchups (true moneyline) and the moneyline price I would need to bet either side. I just need a 1% edge for a favorite if we're getting better than a fair price on the team more likely to win. For the underdog, I'll need 4% or better to make it a bet. On games I've projected to be a near coin flip, a 2.5% edge is enough to make it a worthwhile wager. I also have a 5% win probability consideration for a side playing in the second game of a back-to-back with travel and 3% for without travel.DATEGAMETRUE MLPRICE TO BETMarch 11MIN@CBJ-133/+133MIN -128/CBJ +157VGK@PIT+136/-136VGK +160/PIT -130WPG@NYI+122/-122WPG +143/NYI -117WSH@VAN+115/-115WSH +136/VAN -111March 12STL@NSH+103/-103STL +114/NSH +107PHI@CAR+149/-143PHI +177/CAR -143ARI@BOS+209/-209ARI +253/ BOS -200CHI@OTT-110/+110CHI +101/OTT +121SEA@MTL-117/+117SEA -112/MTL +138ANA@NJD+157/-157ANA +187/NJD -151DET@CGY+168/-168DET +201/CGY -161NYR@DAL+111/-111NYR +131/DAL -107LAK@SJS-110/+110LAK +100/SJS +122TBL@EDM+115/-115TBL +135/EDM -111March 13CAR@PIT+146/-146CAR +173/PIT -141TOR@BUF-147/+147TOR -141/BUF +174VGK@CBJ-128/+128VGK -123/CBJ +151NSH@MIN+148/-148NSH +175/MIN -142WPG@STL+106/-106WPG +117/STL +105MTL@PHI+140/-140MTL +166/PHI -135ANA@NYI+194/-194ANA +233/NYI -186CGY@COL+148/-148CGY +176/COL -142TBL@VAN+121/-121TBL +143/VAN -116FLA@LAK-140/+140FLA -134/LAK +165Matt Russell is a betting writer for theScore. If there’s a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Thursday was a successful night for shot props. Jack Eichel threw up a dud against his former team but, luckily, Anze Kopitar and Mark Giordano capitalized on their advantageous matchups and led us to a profitable evening.We'll look for more of the same as we find the best way to approach Friday's four-game slate.Brock Nelson over 2.5 shots (-112)Nelson is sizzling-hot right now. The Islanders center has taken at least three shots on goal in eight of the last 10 games, generating four or more at a 50% clip.He's in a very good spot to continue his success Friday night. The Jets have been below average at suppressing shots and shot attempts over the last 10 contests, and they've struggled against the center position all season long.They're conceding 10.81 shots per game to centers, which is a higher rate than all but four teams.I doubt they're going to tighten the screws in the second half of a road back-to-back, particularly against someone generating as much volume as Nelson is.Alex Pietrangelo over 2.5 shots (-155)Pietrangelo is another guy who has been gripping it and ripping it lately. He has averaged 3.2 shots per game over the last 10, with only Jack Eichel outpacing him during that span.The Penguins are an above-average shot-suppression team but have struggled to limit defensemen recently.Jaccob Slavin (twice), Dougie Hamilton, Jacob Trouba, and Aaron Ekblad, among others, have registered at least three shots in recent meetings against Pittsburgh. Clearly, trigger-happy minute-munchers have enjoyed plenty of success against the Penguins. Expect no different with the Golden Knights rearguard.Patrik Laine over 2.5 shots (-167)Even while losing games, the Wild have remained very stingy in terms of suppressing shots at five-on-five. So why back Laine here? Special teams.The Wild have conceded shots at an alarming rate while killing penalties. They've given up 119 attempts, and 73 shots on goal, per 60 minutes of PK time over the last 10.Laine is option No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 on the Blue Jackets' power play, so he's as likely as anybody to take advantage of this juicy matchup.He should be able to generate a couple shots on the man advantage, which puts him in prime position to go over the number (2.5) for the ninth time in the last 11 games.Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It wasn't our night on the ice. Igor Shesterkin and Ville Husso both rank inside the top three in Goals Saved Above Expectation per start. Naturally, their meeting Thursday turned into an offensive explosion.Additionally, the Boston Bruins couldn't win by a pair at home, and the Colorado Avalanche were blanked by Antti Raanta. Despite beating the closing line with all three bets, we were left empty-handed. It happens.We'll look to bounce back with our best bets for the weekend ahead.Jets (+105) @ Islanders (-125)

From a playoff race perspective, the Eastern Conference is boring.The top eight teams are practically locked into playoff spots and should be buyers in the lead-up to the March 21 trade deadline, while the bottom eight clubs should be selling off expiring assets.The Western Conference is much more fascinating. There's a cluster of teams at the top (Colorado, Calgary, St. Louis, Minnesota) that are obvious buyers destined for the postseason, while other clubs near the bottom (Arizona, Seattle, Chicago, San Jose) are clearly in a rebuild or retool phase.The remaining eight teams, however, are all jockeying for five playoff spots. Below, we dive into whether these fringe playoff teams should buy, sell, or sit ahead of the deadline.Anaheim Ducks Bruce Kluckhohn / National Hockey League / GettyStandings: 6th in Pacific (Out of playoffs by 4 points)

The Philadelphia Flyers signed defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen to a five-year contract extension carrying a $5.1-million average annual value, the team announced Thursday."Rasmus is an important part of our team, and we are very happy to have him on our blue line for the next five years," said general manager Chuck Fletcher. "He is committed to being a Flyer and brings a consistent physical presence to our team."Ristolainen was scheduled to hit unrestricted free agency this offseason. His new deal is a slight decrease from the $5.4 million a year he's earned since 2016-17.The Flyers acquired Ristolainen from the Buffalo Sabres last offseason for Robert Hagg, a 2021 first-round pick, and a 2023 second-rounder. Philadelphia also brought in Ryan Ellis and Cam Atkinson in separate big-ticket trades, but the moves haven't panned out, as the club sits last in the Metropolitan Division with 46 points.Ristolainen has recorded 13 points, 177 hits, and 90 blocks while averaging over 21 minutes across 49 games this season. His underlying metrics are among the worst in the league for blue-liners, a trend that's existed for most of his career.

Igor Shesterkin has had his teammates' backs all year, but during a rare off night for the Vezina Trophy frontrunner, his teammates weren't there to return to favor.The New York Rangers star netminder allowed four goals on 17 shots during a 6-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Thursday before the club pulled him in favor of Alexandar Georgiev."They should be embarrassed a little bit, the way (Shesterkin) plays for them all year," Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant told reporters postgame. "Then they come out tonight and play like that, after a game in Minnesota that we weren't too good in."Gallant added that his team looked "soft." He also said that Shesterkin had "no chance" on most of the goals.Shesterkin has found himself in Hart Trophy conversations this season. He entered Thursday leading the league in goals against average (1.93), save percentage (.942), goals saved above average (40.6), and goals saved above expected (34.97).The 26-year-old's the major reason New York is tied for second in the Metropolitan Division this campaign. The Rangers rank 26th in expected goals percentage at five-on-five - the lowest among any team currently in a postseason spot, according to Natural Stat Trick.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog criticized the officiating both during and after the 2-0 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night.Referee TJ Luxmore handed Landeskog a 10-minute misconduct in the final minute of the defeat after the forward told him he had a tough night."I guess I hurt his feelings," Landeskog said, according to The Athletic's Peter Baugh.Landeskog also wondered if the officials treat teammate Nazem Kadri differently because of his suspension history."In 11 years I've never sat and talked about referees in a press conference ever. I think Wes (McCauley) and TJ Luxmore (did) a great job tonight for 50-some minutes of the game," he said. "They called a high stick on (Kadri) on (Hurricanes forward Nino) Niederreiter, which might have been a high stick but Niederreiter falls (easily). We're arguing it's a flop. They say it's still a high stick. Fair enough."With 5:50 left on the clock, Niederreiter is hooking Naz up the boards. The puck turns over, we go the other way, they score. We're arguing that it's a hook. They're saying Naz is flopping, we're arguing it's still a hook, just like they're arguing before. It's unfortunate because that's a playoff game tonight. It's very unfortunate that it comes down to that ... Whether a guy has been suspended numerous times or not, is he going to be carrying around that heavy baggage forever?"I'm not saying TJ and Wes didn't call it for that reason, but Naz is a guy that's competitive. Whether he sold that call or not, you can look at the video and the stick is in his waist and that's why he loses the puck. I think it's unfortunate. Sometimes it's time for players to step up and speak their truth. I'm the one looking like an idiot for getting thrown out of the game even though I'm just being honest. I guess TJ didn't like that I said he had a tough night."Kadri appeared to scream "He f-----g dove," after he was whistled for high-sticking.The Hurricanes are ahead of the second-ranked Avalanche for top spot in the NHL in terms of point percentage. Colorado has two more points in total, but Carolina has two games in hand. The Avalanche have lost four of their last five games, though one was in overtime.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Florida Panthers, Colorado Avalanche, and St. Louis Blues are among the teams showing interest in Philadelphia Flyers captain Claude Giroux, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported on Thursday's "Insider Trading."Giroux is in the final season of an eight-year contract with an $8.275-million cap hit before becoming an unrestricted free agent. His pact also contains a full no-movement clause, so he controls his own destiny.The 34-year-old is having another stellar campaign. He's tallied 17 goals and 23 assists in 53 games - both of which rank second on the Flyers. He's adept at playing both center and wing, too, and has won 61.5% of his faceoffs this season.The Flyers sit last in the Metropolitan Division and are widely expected to be sellers at the trade deadline.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen has been diagnosed with mononucleosis and is out indefinitely, the team announced Thursday.Dallas placed him on injured reserve retroactive to March 2, the date of his most recent game.Heiskanen is in the midst of an elite season with 29 points in 52 games while averaging nearly 25 minutes per night. His underlying metrics are sensational as well.

After a day off on Wednesday, shot props return in full force as we comb through the best values ahead of Thursday's jam-packed 13-game slate.Let's get down to business.Jack Eichel over 3.5 shots (-125)It took Eichel a little while to get going, but he appears to have his game back on track. The points are starting to come and so, too, are the shots. Eichel amassed at least four shots in seven of his last eight games, falling just one puck shy in the lone exception.Now he draws a juicy matchup against a Buffalo Sabres team that's allowed five-on-five shots at a higher rate than the Columbus Blue Jackets this season. Not only is this an advantageous spot for volume shooters such as Eichel, but he should also have some extra motivation going up against his former team for the first time.Look for Eichel to have a big night.Anze Kopitar over 2.5 shots (-106)Kopitar lives for games in Los Angeles. The Kings center averages 3.2 shots per game on home soil this season, hitting the over on his shot total nearly 70% of the time.His numbers dip significantly on the road. Kopitar averages a full shot fewer per game and recorded three shots only 11 times in 30 games. That's a 37% hit rate - barely over half of what he manages at home.Not only is Kopitar at home tonight, but he also has a mouth-watering matchup against the San Jose Sharks. No NHL team has conceded more shot attempts (65.4) per 60 minutes over the last 10 games than the Sharks. Kopitar should be able to take advantage.Mark Giordano over 2.5 shots (+115)Giordano has been very trigger-happy of late, attempting 55 shots over the last 10 games. That's good for top spot on the Seattle Kraken.The shots should continue Thursday night against the Ottawa Senators. The Senators aren't exactly a stout defensive team and are prone to giving up a lot of production to defenders. They rank 30th in shots against per game versus defensemen and are only one goal against shy of tying for last in the NHL.Giordano is heavily involved in Seattle's attack on any given night - don't expect that to change against Ottawa.Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Jack Campbell will miss a minimum of two weeks due to a rib injury, the team announced Thursday.Petr Mrazek will assume the starting role in Campbell's absence. Additionally, the Leafs recalled Erik Kallgren from the AHL's Toronto Marlies.Campbell was in goal for Tuesday's win over the Seattle Kraken. It's unclear when he suffered the injury, but Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly said the goaltender told him he's been dealing with the ailment for a while, according to Josh Clipperton of The Canadian Press.Campbell earned an All-Star nomination for his first-half performance but has struggled of late. Since the calendar flipped to 2022, he's posted a meager .882 save percentage in 17 appearances.Mrazek owns a .890 clip and a 3.28 goals-against average for the season.Toronto has six games on its schedule over the next two weeks, beginning Thursday against the Arizona Coyotes.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are encouraged by Jake Muzzin's recovery from a concussion and hope the defenseman can return to the lineup within the next month, according to TSN's Chris Johnston.Muzzin was placed on long-term injured reserve Feb. 23 after sustaining his second head injury this season. He recently returned to skating but hasn't joined the Leafs for any practices.All LTIR designations mean a player must miss at least 10 games and 24 days. The earliest Muzzin could return is March 19 against the Nashville Predators.The Leafs can acquire players up to a maximum of Muzzin's $5.625-million cap hit while he's on LTIR, so the 33-year-old's health could have a significant impact on Toronto's trade deadline plans.Muzzin is in his third full season with Toronto and has been a mainstay on its shutdown pairing since he joined. He has 12 points in 41 games this season while averaging 21 minutes per night.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Wednesday was a quiet night on the ice with only two games played. It's a much different story Thursday, as 26 of the NHL's 32 teams will be in action.There's a lot of value on the board. Let's take a closer look.Rangers (+100) @ Blues (-120)Unders are always appealing when Igor Shesterkin is between the pipes. The 26-year-old netminder is gaining a lot of traction in the Hart Trophy race - and rightfully so. The level of hockey we've seen from him this season is astoundingly high.Shesterkin owns a 28-6-3 record to go with a sparkling .942 save percentage. He also leads the league in goals saved above expected, sitting at plus-33.6 through just 37 appearances.On average, Shesterkin concedes slightly below two goals per game. Put another way, the New York Rangers generally have to score quite a bit to push games over the number.I don't expect them to do that against the St. Louis Blues. Not with the way projected starter Ville Husso has performed this season.Jordan Binnington has faltered for much of the campaign, but Husso has proved more than capable of picking up the slack. He has posted a .930 save percentage through 22 games and, on a per start basis, only Shesterkin and Frederik Andersen grade out better in GSAE.With two of the league's top netminders this season slated to square off, I have a hard time believing this will be a high-scoring affair. Back the under.Bet: Under 5.5 (+100)Blackhawks (+220) @ Bruins (-270)The Boston Bruins are playing some of their best hockey this season. They own a 7-2-1 record over the last 10 games and have posted strong underlying numbers in the process.Their share of the five-on-five shot attempts (53.33%), expected goals (54.32%), and high-danger chances (54.49%) all rank near the top of the NHL over those 10 contests.Boston's offensive outputs are formidable, while its defensive metrics are astonishingly good. The Bruins have conceded 8.49 high-danger chances and 2.08 expected goals per 60, ranking first and second, respectively, in those categories.That spells trouble for the Chicago Blackhawks. Even including last game's offensive outburst, the Blackhawks rank bottom-two in generating high-danger chances and expected goals over the last 10. They're struggling to create scoring opportunities with any sort of regularity.I expect that will be the case again here. Chances should come few and far between for Chicago, which doesn't bode well given how well Boston goalie Jeremy Swayman is playing. He owns a .941 save percentage over his last 10 starts while rotating with Linus Ullmark. That should keep him fresh and ready to go when he does get the call.Look for Swayman to limit Chicago's offense in what should be a relatively easy win for Boston.Bet: Bruins -1.5 (-115)Rapid fire: As noted above, Andersen has been one of the league's best netminders this season. It sounds as if he won't be ready to go for Thursday's heavyweight clash between the Carolina Hurricanes and Colorado Avalanche, which gives me an edge in this game. I like Colorado on the moneyline (-115).Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Phones across the league are about to be ringing off the hook.With over half the season in the books and the March 21 trade deadline looming large, the contenders have begun separating themselves from the pretenders.There's no such thing as a perfect team, so here's what five talented squads should do to fortify their rosters and boost their chances of playoff success.Note: Deadline cap space indicates the amount that a team's total cap hit can increase while remaining below the ceiling at the end of the regular season. All figures courtesy of CapFriendly.Pittsburgh Penguins Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyProjected deadline cap space: $4.424M

The St. Louis Blues expect to be without defenseman Scott Perunovich for about two months, they announced Wednesday.Perunovich will undergo left wrist surgery and is scheduled to be re-evaluated in eight weeks.The 23-year-old has collected six points (all assists) while averaging 15:27 of ice time in 19 games with the Blues this season, his first NHL campaign. He's also posted three goals and 19 assists in 17 contests with St. Louis' AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds, in 2021-22.Perunovich won the Hobey Baker Award - which the NCAA hands out annually to its top Division I men's hockey player - in 2020. The Minnesota-born rearguard racked up 40 points in 34 games during his junior and final season with the University of Minnesota Duluth in 2019-20. He helped the Bulldogs win back-to-back national titles before signing with the Blues in July 2020.St. Louis drafted him 45th overall in 2018.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vegas Golden Knights superstar Jack Eichel is back in Buffalo, and he spoke about his falling out with the franchise ahead of his highly anticipated clash with the Sabres on Thursday.Eichel mentioned being stuck in limbo while waiting for neck surgery and being stripped of his captaincy as points of contention as the relationship deteriorated over the offseason."I was frustrated," Eichel told ESPN's Emily Kaplan. "If you think about the reason why you took the captaincy away from me, it was because I didn't agree with you medically. Then you basically told me not to come around for training camp. At that point, it just felt like they were toying with me. So I was just, I was pretty over it."Eichel was ultimately traded to Vegas in November and promptly underwent artificial disc replacement surgery, which the Sabres wouldn't sign off on. The 25-year-old debuted for the Golden Knights on Feb. 16 and has seven points in 10 games since returning to the ice.While the split between Eichel and the Sabres was dramatic, he isn't harboring any hard feelings."I think about my time in Buffalo, it obviously ended a little bit messy," Eichel said. "But I hope (fans) can look past some of the things that happened maybe in the last year and think about the previous five-and-a-half, six years that I was there, and everything that I tried to do for the community, everything that I feel like I put forth on the ice as a hockey player, and know I just tried to do as much as I could for the city."He added: "No bitterness. None whatsoever. I had a phenomenal time here," according to Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News.Eichel also said he's curious about what kind of reaction he'll receive in his first game as a visitor at KeyBank Center."You wonder what the reception will be like, but I can't control that," Eichel said, per The Athletic's Jesse Granger. "I gave everything I had while I was here. Whatever the reception is, I'll be able to handle it."Puck drop between the Golden Knights and Sabres is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on Thursday.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs signed forward Kyle Clifford to a two-year contract extension with an average annual value of $762,500, the team announced Wednesday.Toronto acquired Clifford from the St. Louis Blues earlier this season in exchange for future considerations. He's notched two assists in 10 games with the Maple Leafs and three goals in eight games with the AHL's Toronto Marlies.Clifford also suited up for Toronto for 16 games during the 2019-20 season before he signed in St. Louis.Toronto also announced a one-year, two-way extension for defenseman Carl Dahlstrom. He's played one game with the Leafs this season and has collected 13 assists in 36 appearances with the Marlies.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The buildup to the trade deadline is undeniably one of the most exciting periods on the NHL calendar. Weeks of speculation and fantastic trade ideas consume the minds of fans and media leading up to the big day.While it's fun to look ahead, here we reflect on some of the biggest deals from 2021 and analyze how they look a year later.Successful dealsBruins acquire Taylor Hall, Curtis Lazar from Sabres for Anders Bjork, 2nd-round pickHall was the biggest name on the forward market last season. Supporters of contending teams drew up endless hypothetical blockbuster trades only for Boston to swoop in and snatch the former MVP at pennies on the dollar.For whatever reason, Hall couldn't get going with the Sabres last year, registering two goals in 37 games. But the speedy winger returned to familiar form immediately after joining the Bruins, posting 14 points in 16 regular-season contests. He parlayed that production into a team-friendly four-year, $24-million contract to stick with a Boston club that desperately needed to strengthen its top six.Bjork has put up a mere 12 points in 66 appearances with the Sabres. It's safe to say this exchange was a steal for Boston.Panthers acquire Sam Bennett, 2022 6th-round pick from Flames for Emil Heineman, 2022 2nd-round pick Joel Auerbach / Getty Images Sport / GettyBennett is another player who benefited greatly from a change of scenery at last year's deadline. The 25-year-old seemed to be on the outs in Calgary, then was suddenly reborn after arriving in the Florida sun. Bennett went on an instant heater after joining the Panthers, collecting 15 points in 10 contests before producing a point-per-game showing in the playoffs. Like Hall, Bennett signed a new deal following his resurgence, and he now plays a versatile role on one of the league's best teams.It's hard to blame the Flames for dealing Bennett when they did, even if they lost the trade in hindsight. He didn't live up to the expectations of a fourth overall pick in Calgary, and the club has done an excellent job retooling its forward corps to return to the playoff picture this season.Penguins acquire Jeff Carter from Kings for 2022 conditional 3rd-round pick, 2023 conditional 4th-round pickThis trade came out of nowhere. The Penguins added a veteran sniper many viewed as over the hill, but Carter came into Pittsburgh and produced 13 goals between the regular season and playoffs. The Pens made out well in getting Los Angeles to retain 50% of Carter's $5.72-million cap hit and proceeded to ink the two-time Cup winner to a palatable extension featuring a $3.125-million average annual value for the next two campaigns.In the long run, Pittsburgh may wish it held on to its picks to help replenish a barren prospect pool. However, while Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are on the roster, all that matters is the present. Acquiring Carter was a creative piece of business for the Penguins' front office and helped prop their championship window open.UndecidedCapitals acquire Anthony Mantha from Red Wings for Jakub Vrana, Richard Panik, 1st-round pick, 2022 2nd-round pickHockey fans were treated to a true shocker when the Red Wings and Capitals swapped promising young wingers in a doozy of a deal moments before the 3 p.m. deadline.On paper, the trade seemed like a coup for Detroit. Unfortunately, Mantha and Vrana have both missed most of the 2021-22 campaign due to injuries, so we don't really have a verdict yet. How Steve Yzerman's picks from the deal turn out will also severely impact the outcome.Mantha is a lethal shooter and was productive in his brief stint after the trade. On the other hand, Vrana has blazing speed and was one of the league's most efficient even-strength scorers in a sheltered role for the Capitals. While we don't know which side will benefit greater from the deal at this point, watching it unfold will be a highly entertaining storyline for years to come.Mulligan worthyMaple Leafs acquire Nick Foligno, Stefan Noesen from Blue Jackets for 1st-round pick, 2022 4th-round pickThe San Jose Sharks received a 4th-round pick from Toronto for retaining salary in the trade. Kevin Sousa / National Hockey League / GettyHere's where we get into the ugly side of last year's flurry of trades. The Maple Leafs made a big splash (for a hefty price) by bringing in the veteran Foligno. He's the type of hard-nosed player many fans and pundits believed the team needed to finally get over the hump in the playoffs.It didn't work.Foligno recorded four assists in seven regular-season contests, then only appeared in four of seven playoff games as he fought through a debilitating back injury. It wasn't Foligno's fault Toronto blew a 3-1 series lead to its biggest rival, but Leafs fans have nothing but bitter memories of the deal after another first-round exit.General manager Kyle Dubas has stated numerous times that he prefers to steer clear of rentals at the deadline. It'll be interesting to see if the failed Foligno experiment carries any weight in Toronto's deadline strategy in a make-or-break 2022.Islanders acquire Kyle Palmieri, Travis Zajac from Devils for A.J. Greer, Mason Jobst, 1st-round pick, 2022 conditional 4th-round pickPalmieri wasn't the most high-profile player available last year. However, he was commonly viewed as a low-risk, high-reward add for contenders needing an offensive jolt.Lou Lamoriello sent a considerable package to his former club for the winger and the veteran pivot Zajac, hoping to shore up the Islanders' attack for the postseason. Zajac managed four points in 27 combined regular-season and playoff games, while Palmieri proved his worth with seven postseason tallies as New York just missed out on a Stanley Cup Final berth.In September, the Islanders rewarded Palmieri with a four-year extension carrying a $5-million average annual value. He's managed only 15 points in 40 games this season. What appeared to be a savvy move quickly devolved into a potential long-term financial burden for an Islanders club that's fallen from contender to a lottery team.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Lindy Ruff is moving on up.The New Jersey Devils bench boss passed Paul Maurice for sixth place on the NHL's all-time coaching wins list Tuesday.

Detroit Red Wings forward Jakub Vrana made his season debut Tuesday night against the Arizona Coyotes.Vrana had missed the entire campaign after undergoing shoulder surgery in late September. He was given a four-month recovery timeline.The Red Wings acquired Vrana from the Washington Capitals at last season's trade deadline. He made an immediate impact with 11 points in 11 games to close out the 2020-21 campaign.Vrana inked a three-year, $15.75-million extension with Detroit in the offseason.The 26-year-old was drafted 13th overall in 2014. He notched 168 points in 295 career contests entering Tuesday's game and won the Stanley Cup with the Capitals in 2018.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The St. Louis Blues and Carolina Hurricanes are apparently among the latest teams considered serious contenders to acquire Arizona Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun ahead of the March 21 trade deadline."At this point, eight teams are seriously in the chase for Jakob Chychrun," TSN's Darren Dreger reported on Tuesday's "Insider Trading.""It's Florida, it's L.A., it's Boston, it's St. Louis, it's Carolina, it's Anaheim among the primary suitors."The Panthers, Kings, Bruins, and Ducks were among six teams considered interested in Chychrun in a January report.Chychrun finished 10th in Norris Trophy voting last campaign after leading all NHL defensemen with 18 goals. He's in the midst of a down season with 16 points in 44 games. However, his underlying numbers over a three-year sample size remain stellar: Evolving-Hockey.comThe Coyotes are reportedly asking for a return similar to what the Buffalo Sabres received for Jack Eichel earlier this season. The Sabres traded Eichel and a 2023 third-round pick to the Vegas Golden Knights for Alex Tuch, Peyton Krebs, a 2022 first-round selection, and a conditional 2023 second-round pick.Chychrun, 23, is signed for three more seasons at a $4.6-million cap hit, per CapFriendly. Arizona selected him 16th overall at the 2016 NHL Draft.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We have 11 games scheduled for Tuesday night's slate, which means there is no shortage of player props to comb through.Let's take a closer look at three of my favorites.Joel Eriksson Ek over 2.5 shots (-139)Joel Eriksson Ek has been one of the league's more efficient shot generators on home soil. He's averaged 3.4 shots per game in Minnesota this season while going over the number (2.5) in 65% of his games, including nine of the last 12.He should be able to stay hot Tuesday night against the New York Rangers. They give up a lot of shots, especially to the center position. Only the Columbus Blue Jackets have allowed more shots - or shots per game - to centers than the Rangers.Look for Eriksson Ek to hit three shots for the 10th time in 13 games.Mikko Rantanen over 3.5 shots (+105)Mikko Rantanen is shooting the lights out. He has amassed 63 shot attempts over the last 10 games, which ties him with Kirill Kaprizov for 17th in the NHL over that span.The uptick in shot attempts has started to lead to success with his totals: Rantanen picked up 15 shots over the last three games while registering at least four in each contest.He now finds himself in an advantageous matchup against the New Jersey Devils. Only three teams have conceded more shots per game to right wingers this season while no team has allowed more points to the position.With Rantanen sizzling hot, he should be able to continue his success.Thomas Chabot over 2.5 shots (-125)Thomas Chabot is one of my favorite defenders to back for shots. He is such a willing shooter, and he has such a heavy workload that he's in play on a nightly basis regardless of opponent.Chabot generated 35 shots on goal while attempting 58 over his last 10 games. He went over his shot total (2.5) eight times over the last nine contests.I expect Chabot to make it nine in 10 in this sneaky-good spot against the St. Louis Blues. While they are a good defensive team, they give up a lot of volume to opposing defenders. Only four sides have allowed more shots to defensemen on a per-game basis.Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Seattle Kraken signed leading scorer Jared McCann to a five-year contract extension worth $5 million per season, the team announced Tuesday."I'm very excited to be here," McCann said. "I believe in this city and I believe in this organization."McCann was scheduled to hit restricted free agency at season's end. Seattle chose him in the expansion draft from the Toronto Maple Leafs, who had acquired him from the Pittsburgh Penguins days prior.The Vancouver Canucks drafted McCann 24th overall in 2014. He played one season there before he was traded to the Florida Panthers.He appears to have found his best fit yet in Seattle, leading the league's 32nd franchise with 21 goals and remaining on pace for a career-high 49 points.

We have a whopping 11-game slate to look forward to Tuesday night. Let's waste no time and dive into our best bets.Avalanche (-205) @ Devils (+170)The New Jersey Devils and goals go together like chicken wings and a football Sunday. At least six goals have been scored in eight of their last 10 games and 12 of their last 15.Their offense has taken off lately, especially since Dougie Hamilton and Jesper Bratt returned to health. Only six teams have scored more goals over the last 15 games.Despite pretty good suppression numbers at the other end of the ice, the Devils can't keep the puck out of their net.Goaltending is the reason for that. New Jersey has used six different netminders this season, and every single one has conceded more goals than expected. Put another way, nobody's performing at even an average level based on the difficulty of workload.I have a hard time believing that will change against a lethal Colorado Avalanche team that ranks *checks notes* second in goals per game this season. Colorado is prone to getting into track meets - even against low-event opponents like the New York Islanders - so there's definitely potential for fireworks in this game.With Bratt, Hamilton, Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, Nazem Kadri, Gabriel Landeskog, and Cale Makar sharing the ice, goals should come early and often.Bet: Over 6 (-125)Stars (+100) @ Predators (-120)Less than two weeks ago, the Nashville Predators hosted the Dallas Stars. The Predators closed as -160 favorites and rewarded their backers with a win.Fast-forward and the Predators - once again rested and at home - are only -120 favorites.I realize the Stars have won four consecutive games. They've beaten some strong teams in that span, too.But it's not like they dominated or added a high-end player to the mix to explain such a large swing in the odds.Over the last four games, the Stars controlled just 44% of the shot attempts and 49% of the expected goals at five-on-five. They weren't exactly skating teams into the ground.Not to mention, dark-horse Norris Trophy candidate Miro Heiskanen is banged up, and his status is up in the air for this game.I see value on the Predators even if Heiskanen is healthy enough to play. If he isn't? This line would be out of whack.Bet: Predators (-120)Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL trade deadline is less than two weeks away, and there's nothing more fun this time of year than arguing over hypothetical swaps.Here's how this exercise went down: Each of theScore's five NHL news editors (Kayla Douglas, Josh Gold-Smith, Brandon Maron, Sean O'Leary, and myself) submitted one trade to have the other four editors vote on which team they think would say no. "Both" and "good deal" were options, too.Remember, these deals are hypothetical. Editors were encouraged to think outside the box.Below, I dive into the trades and analyze which aspects make sense and which don't.Leafs win Chychrun sweepstakes, reunite with Kessel Harry How / Getty Images Sport / GettyLeafs receive: Jakob Chychrun, Phil Kessel (50% retained)

If any suitors are interested in acquiring P.K. Subban before this month's trade deadline, it appears the New Jersey Devils are willing to listen."I sat down with P.K. yesterday, and we talked about uncertainty, and the deadline, and that we're not at a spot where we're looking to extend him at this point," general manager Tom Fitzgerald told The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.Fitzgerald added: "He's done a lot for community here and the organization. But I told him, 'On the last day, somebody may lose a right-shot D and may call me, and if the move makes sense for the New Jersey Devils and makes sense for you to potentially have a chance to win, I have to do what's best for the organization.'"Subban is currently playing out the final months of the monster eight-year, $72-million contract he signed with the Montreal Canadiens in 2014. In any potential deal, the Devils will likely need to retain a portion of Subban's $9-million cap hit.New Jersey acquired the 32-year-old from the Nashville Predators before the 2019-20 campaign. He's notched 55 points in 165 games with the Devils and is averaging the lowest average ice time of his career this season at 19:11 per contest.Subban can still drive play at even strength, but he no longer moves the needle defensively or on the power play. Here's his on-ice impact this season according to Evolving-Hockey's Goals Above Replacement metric: Subban was among the league's top defensemen during his prime. From 2013-18, he won the Norris Trophy once and was a finalist two other times while earning three All-Star nominations. Subban also recorded 301 points in 422 games over that span.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

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).PLAYERODDS (March 7)ODDS (Jan. 24)Auston Matthews+175+1200Igor Shesterkin+200+2000Connor McDavid+300+200Leon Draisaitl+1000+700Jonathan Huberdeau+1000+800Alex Ovechkin+1000+350Johnny Gaudreau+1300N/AKirill Kaprizov+3000+3000Aleksander Barkov+5000+3500Patrice Bergeron+5000N/ASidney Crosby+5000+5000Nathan MacKinnon+5000+1500Cale Makar+5000+5000Mikko Rantanen+5000+4000Andrei Vasilevskiy+5000+3000Steven Stamkos+5000+5000Note: Only listing players +5000 or shorterMcDavid 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.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

On Saturday night, one of the best bets in sports continued as the Canucks beat the Maple Leafs as significant underdogs. Vancouver hasn't owned Toronto since the start of the pandemic, but its two wins this season give it a 6-4 edge since the 2020 shutdown.Anyone blindly betting the Leafs has won four units in their wins and lost close to 15 units in their losses; that's -11 units total. In plain terms, assuming Toronto is the favorite each game, and the teams continue to play twice per season, the Leafs would have to win the next 12 games over six seasons to make them profitable and worth bragging about.Whether it's sitting at the bar or typing in the text chain, in the world of sports betting, that's how bragging rights are defined. Not by record, but by what your team can do for your account - even if they're only your team for one game. In moneyline-centric sports like hockey, it doesn't take much record-wise to have underdogs prove valuable.The recipeBefore the 2021-22 campaign, we provided a three-chapter series on how to use the regular-season point-total market to create team ratings, how to interpret home-ice advantage, and then how to use those to create your own moneylines.We'll make a small adjustment to our formula this week, moving this season's on-ice predictive metrics to 75% of our total rating. While our ratings are weighted to this season, the 25% of the ratings based on preseason "priors" means that we can put more emphasis on team metrics without going all-in on what's happened this year. That's important because this season is still a relatively small sample size that contains some tainted results from when COVID-19 ravaged lineups.The cheat sheetThe following includes my fair price on the matchups (true moneyline) and the moneyline price I would need to bet either side. I just need a 1% edge for a favorite if we're getting better than a fair price on the team that's more likely to win. For the underdog, I'll need 4% or better to make it a bet. On games that I have projected will be a near coin flip, a 2.5% edge is enough to make it a worthwhile wager. I also have a 5% win probability consideration for a side playing in the second game of a back-to-back with travel and 3% for without travel.DATEGAMETRUE MLPRICE TO BETMarch 7LAK@BOS+182/-182LAK +217/BOS -174FLA@BUF-197/+197FLA -188/BUF +237TOR@CBJ-136/+136TOR -131/CBJ +161COL@NYI-113/+113COL -109/NYI +133EDM@CGY-106/+106EDM +104/CGY +117March 8COL@NJD-102/+102COL +108/NJD +113FLA@PIT+106/-106FLA +117/PIT +104VGK@PHI-118/+118VGK -114/PHI +139ARI@DET+137/-137ARI +162/DET -131SEA@TOR+151/-151SEA +178/TOR -144TBL@WPG-120/+120TBL -116/WPG +142OTT@STL+207/-207OTT +249/STL -197DAL@NSH+103/-103DAL +114/NSH +107NYR@MIN+106/-106NYR +118/MIN +104ANA@CHI+134/-134ANA +158/CHI -128WSH@CGY+102/-102WSH +113/CGY +109March 9WSH@EDM+160/-160WSH +190/EDM -153MTL@VAN+182/-182MTL +218/VAN -174March 10COL@CAR-113/+113COL -109/CAR +133VGK@BUF-135/+135VGK -129/BUF +159WPG@NJD+123/-123WPG +145/NJD -119SEA@OTT-107/+107SEA +103/OTT +118MIN@DET-124/+124MIN -119/DET +146PHI@FLA+209/-209PHI +253/FLA -200CHI@BOS+162/-162CHI +193/BOS -155ARI@TOR+198/-198ARI +239/TOR -190CBJ@NYI+146/-146CBJ +173/NYI -140ANA@NSH+142/-142ANA +168/NSH -136NYR@STL+113/-113NYR +133/STL -109TBL@CGY-101/+101TBL +110/CGY +111SJS@LAK+168/-168SJS +200/LAK -161Matt Russell is a betting writer for theScore. If there’s a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Details on every deal made since the start of the season up to the March 21, 3 p.m. ET trade deadline.March 2Sharks bring back StalockSharks receiveOilers receiveG Alex StalockFuture considerationsFlames, Canadiens make minor swapFlames receiveCanadiens receiveG Michael McNivenFuture considerationsFeb. 22Bruins acquire Callahan for late draft pickBruins receiveCoyotes receiveD Michael Callahan7th-round pick (2024)Feb. 21Leafs add goaltending depthMaple Leafs receiveCoyotes receiveG Carter HuttonFuture considerationsFeb. 19Leafs send Ritchie to Coyotes for Dzingel, Lyubushkin Norm Hall / National Hockey League / GettyCoyotes receiveMaple Leafs receiveF Nick RitchieF Ryan DzingelConditional draft pick (2023 or 2025)D Ilya LyubushkinNotes: Arizona can choose to receive Toronto's 2023 third-round pick or 2025 second-round pick.Feb. 14Flames make a splash with Toffoli acquisitionFlames receiveCanadiens receiveF Tyler ToffoliF Tyler PitlickF Emil Heineman1st-round pick (2022 or 2023)5th-round pick (2023)Conditional 4th-round pick (2024)Notes: If Calgary's 2022 first-round pick is in the top 10, the Flames have the option to instead send their 2023 first-round pick and a fourth-round pick in 2024.Feb. 12Canadiens acquire Hammond from WildCanadiens receiveWild receiveG Andrew HammondF Brandon BaddockFeb. 1Lightning, Stars agree to swapLightning receiveStars receiveF Tye FellhaberF Alexei LipanovLightning make another minor moveLightning receivePredators receiveF Anthony RichardF Jimmy HuntingtonJan. 5Blackhawks ship Nylander to Pittsburgh Jeff Bottari / National Hockey League / GettyBlackhawks receivePenguins receiveF Sam LaffertyF Alex NylanderDec. 29Wild, Blues flip forwardsWild receiveBlues receiveF Nolan StevensF Will BittenDec. 15Devils bring in some goaltending depthDevils receiveBlues receiveG Jon GilliesFuture considerationsDec. 9Blackhawks, Leafs make minor swapBlackhawks receiveMaple Leafs receiveF Kurtis GabrielD Chad KrysDec. 2Sabres acquire Subban to bolster crease Gregg Forwerck / National Hockey League / GettySabres receiveBlackhawks receiveG Malcolm SubbanFuture considerationsNov. 30Predators bring in forward depthPredators receiveSenators receiveF Kole SherwoodFuture considerationsNov. 16Leafs add CliffordMaple Leafs receiveBlues receiveF Kyle CliffordFuture considerationsNov. 4Golden Knights land Eichel in blockbuster deal Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGolden Knights receiveSabres receiveF Jack EichelF Alex TuchConditional 3rd-round pick (2023 or 2024)F Peyton KrebsConditional 1st-round pick (2022 or 2023)Conditional 2nd-round pick (2023 or 2024)Notes: If Vegas' 2022 first-round pick is in the top 10, the Golden Knights would instead send their 2023 first-round pick unprotected. Buffalo's second-round pick and Vegas' third-round pick would then both move to 2024.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL will reintroduce its "Reverse Retro" jersey series next season, according to The Athletic's Sean Shapiro.The uniforms will feature new designs rather than recirculate last season's threads, Shapiro adds.The NHL introduced the line of jerseys for the shortened 2020-21 campaign. It marked the first time the league had included every team for an alternate jersey rollout.Each team's "Reverse Retro" sweater was a play on a throwback jersey while including a modern twist. They were worn multiple times throughout the campaign.There is no confirmed date for when the jerseys will be revealed.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We are looking at a pretty quiet five-game slate to begin the week. Luckily, there is still value to be had.Let's comb through it.Oilers (+160) @ Flames (-195)The Flames are sixth in goals scored per game, while the Oilers feature dynamic superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. It's easy to see the appeal in backing an over in this game.I think it's the under that offers value, though.Calgary has been a strong defensive side all season, and there's nothing beneath the hood suggesting that will change.At five-on-five, the Flames have conceded just 48 attempts per 60 over the last 10 games. That's second in the NHL. They also rank top-five in suppressing expected goals and high-danger chances.Here's the kicker: The Oilers are solid on defense, too. Not to the same extent as the Flames, of course, but their numbers are strong of late. They're allowing only 50 attempts per 60 minutes (fifth-best) and are above average at limiting high-danger looks.I do think this contest will be tighter than the previous two meetings. Edmonton is a different team under Jay Woodcroft, and a lot is riding on this game. It shouldn't be a track meet.I also like the fact Mike Smith is unavailable. Mikko Koskinen (.922 SV%) has drastically outperformed Smith (.885 SV%) over Edmonton's last 20 games and offers a better chance of limiting the damage.Bet: Under 6.5 (-120)Maple Leafs (-225) @ Blue Jackets (+185)It feels like the Maple Leafs have failed us numerous times in recent weeks, while the Blue Jackets continue to pull rabbits out of their hat. Despite that, we're going to run it back again and fade Columbus against the up-and-down Maple Leafs.While the Jackets actually have more points than Toronto over the last 10, they are not playing well - particularly on the defensive side of things. Columbus is allowing nearly 63 attempts and 2.77 expected goals against per 60 of five-on-five play. They rank near the bottom of the league in both categories.Giving up that kind of volume is far from ideal at any time, let alone when your starter is struggling. Elvis Merzlikins has managed only an .899 save percentage over his last 15 appearances and has been very mediocre against high-danger chances.The Maple Leafs generally create quality chances at an efficient rate - and they're loaded with the firepower to convert - so that could be problematic for the Blue Jackets.Bet: Maple Leafs -1.5 (+110)Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Islanders have claimed forward Austin Czarnik off waivers from the Seattle Kraken, according to TSN's Chris Johnston. The Detroit Red Wings also claimed defenseman Olli Juolevi from the Florida Panthers.The Kraken originally claimed Czarnik off waivers from the Islanders in February. He skated in six games with the team, registering two assists. Czarnik put up five points in 11 games with New York before joining Seattle.The Panthers acquired Juolevi in October in a trade that sent defenseman Noah Juulsen and forward Juho Lammikko to the Vancouver Canucks. Vancouver drafted the 23-year-old fifth overall in the 2016 draft. Juolevi went pointless in 10 contests with Florida this season.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nikolaj Ehlers returned Friday after a prolonged absence.The Winnipeg Jets activated the speedy forward off long-term injured reserve and later inserted him into the lineup before their game against the Dallas Stars. The Jets placed forwards Cole Perfetti and Kristian Reichel on LTIR while reassigning winger Austin Poganski to the AHL in corresponding moves.Ehlers sprained his MCL when Washington Capitals defenseman Dmitry Orlov caught him with a knee-on-knee hit on Jan. 18. The Jets placed Ehlers on LTIR four days later. He was required to miss at least 10 games and 24 days as a result. The Danish winger ultimately sat out 19 contests.The 26-year-old produced 13 goals and 12 assists over 34 games before the injury.Ehlers is a key offensive contributor for the Jets. He posted nearly a point per game last season (46 in 47) and scored at least 20 goals in five of his six previous campaigns. Winnipeg drafted him ninth overall in 2014.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nikita Kucherov is once again doing Kucherovian things - a development that should petrify opponents of the healthy and engaged Tampa Bay Lightning.While the Lightning were embarrassed Thursday night in a 5-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, Kucherov put on an absolute clinic two days earlier during a 5-2 comeback win over the Ottawa Senators. Both scoring plays he initiated - the Lightning's opening goal and the eventual game-winner - were highlight-reel worthy and a reminder of how extraordinarily dangerous Kucherov can be with the puck.On the first, the highly entertaining two-time Stanley Cup champion forced a turnover on the half-wall, corralled a pass, and then, identifying free ice, made a beeline to the crease area where he backhanded the puck top corner.A period later, the right-winger flashed his signature sly playmaking ability by executing a no-look pass to Steven Stamkos. Again using his backhand, Kucherov shoveled the puck from the right corner to the heart of the left circle where Stamkos was waiting to hammer in a one-timer and break a 2-2 tie.

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)

Value is created in sports betting when other bettors want nothing to do with betting on, or betting against, a team. Prior to the NHL All-Star break, that situation occurred regularly as clubs played with compromised lineups, and oddsmakers couldn't price the favorite low enough.My, how the tables have turned. In the last four days alone, the positive expected value from the games listed in this space Monday has rolled to an 8-3 record. The real story is in the net gains from swallowing hard and betting on the teams no one else wants.GAME PRICE TO BET MONEYLINE RESULTVAN@NJDNJD -130NJD -1157-2 Devils (+1)CAR@DETDET +128DET +1905-4 Red Wings (+1.9)MTL@WPGMTL +180MTL +1808-4 Jets (-1)NYI@COLNYI +162NYI +2355-3 Avalanche (-1)STL@NYRNYR -110NYR -1105-3 Rangers (+1)BUF@TORBUF +280BUF +3505-1 Sabres (+3.5)NSH@SEASEA +111SEA +1504-3 Kraken (+1.5)MIN@PHIPHI +144PHI +1655-4 Wild (-1)CAR@WSHWSH -104WSH +1154-0 Capitals (+1.15)MTL@CGYMTL +215MTL +3305-4 Canadiens (+3.3)COL@ARIARI +214ARI +3202-1 Coyotes (+3.2)Those eight wins provided 16.55 units to the positive. After the three losses get deducted from the ledger, a four-day boon of +13.55 may have hit your account.Is there luck involved with an 8-3 record? Like most NHL game results, yes. The plays above went 2-0 in overtime, which resulted in a swing of 7.2 units to the positive. However, two of the three losses saw our underdog hold the lead going into the second intermission, so they were certainly live to win the game at a valuable price.The recipeBefore the 2021-22 campaign, we provided a three-chapter series on how to use the regular-season point-total market to create team ratings, how to interpret home-ice advantage, and then how to use those to create your own moneylines.With good results after the All-Star break for our underdogs - gaining nearly 20 units despite a 42-54 record - we'll maintain our weight distribution for our ratings using 70% of this season's metrics with 30% weighted for preseason priors.With our ratings weighted to this season's on-ice product, we can put more emphasis on team metrics without going all-in on what's happened in a still relatively small sample size that contains some tainted results.The cheat sheetThe following includes my fair price on the matchups (true moneyline) and the moneyline price I would need to bet either side. I just need a 1% edge for a favorite if we're getting better than a fair price on the team that's more likely to win. For the underdog, I'll need 4% or better to make it a bet. On games that I have projected will be a near coin flip, a 2.5% edge is enough to make it a worthwhile wager. I also have a 5% win probability consideration for a side playing in the second game of a back-to-back with travel and 3% for without travel.DATEGAMETRUE MLPRICE TO BETMarch 4PIT@CAR+107/-107PIT +118/CAR +103NJD@NYR+123/-123NJD +144/NYR -118DET@TBL+154/-154DET +183/TBL -148LAK@CBJ-110/+110LAK +101/CBJ +121MIN@BUF+130/-130MIN +154/BUF -125DAL@WPG+104/-104DAL +115/WPG +106VGK@ANA-108/+108VGK +102/ANA +119March 5STL@NYI+115/-115STL +135/NYI -110CHI@PHI+106/-106CHI +118/PHI +104OTT@ARI+121/-121OTT +143/ARI -116DET@FLA+264/-264DET +326/FLA -251SEA@WSH+126/-126SEA +148/WSH -121BOS@CBJ-152/+152BOS -146/CBJ +180VAN@TOR+141/-141VAN +167/TOR -135MTL@EDM+204/-204MTL +246/EDM -195NSH@SJS+102/-102NSH +112/SJS +109CGY@COL+123/-123CGY +145/COL -118March 6STL@NJD+125/-125STL +147/NJD -120LAK@BUF-116/+116LAK -112/BUF +137DAL@MIN+115/-115DAL +135/MIN -110SEA@CAR+159/-159SEA +189/CAR -153TBL@CHI-157/+157TBL -150/CHI +186NYR@WPG+100/+100NYR +110/WPG +110SJS@ANA+131/-131SJS +154/ANA -125OTT@VGK+287/-287OTT +358/VGK -272Matt Russell is a betting writer for theScore. If there’s a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

One thing's for certain in the 2021-22 NHL MVP race: the winner won't be unanimous this time around. We're in the midst of one of the most competitive Hart Trophy races in years, and while three candidates have been at the forefront for most of the campaign, several others have built convincing cases of their own.Calgary Flames star Johnny Gaudreau and Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov are on the fringes of the discussion, but those who've led the charge for much of 2021-22 continue to separate themselves from the pack.Here are our top five Hart contenders as we plunge further into the season's second half:5. Igor Shesterkin Joe Sargent / National Hockey League / GettyGPRecordSV%GSAxGSAA3526-6-3.94029.8632.63No goaltender has won this award since Carey Price in 2014-15, but Shesterkin has carried the contending New York Rangers and deserves to be in the conversation.Without looking at Shesterkin's numbers, one would assume the Rangers have no business being in a playoff spot. New York ranks in the bottom half of the NHL in goals and shots per game, and is also allowing more shots per contest than over half of the league's squads. The Rangers are one of the NHL's best clubs on special teams, but their expected goals for and scoring chances for percentage at five-on-five both sit among the league's worst.Despite New York's weaknesses, the 26-year-old leads all qualified goalies in save percentage (both in all situations and at five-on-five), and he ranks among the NHL leaders in wins despite playing fewer games than those above him. Shesterkin also leads the league in goals saved above expected at five-on-five and in all situations. He sits atop the NHL by a wide margin in goals saved above average in all situations and ranks second in GSAA at five-on-five.All of this illustrates how valuable Shesterkin has been. Even though he likely won't be able to convince voters to make him a finalist, his play deserves recognition beyond just the Vezina Trophy.4. Jonathan Huberdeau Eliot J. Schechter / National Hockey League / GettyGPGAATOIxGF%54185719:2054.47Huberdeau's candidacy has taken a slight hit lately, but by little fault of his own. The Florida Panthers winger leads the NHL in assists this season while notching 22 more helpers and 25 more points than his next-closest teammate. Huberdeau has just one goal since our last edition of these rankings on Feb. 4, but he's added 10 assists across the seven-game span.The Panthers have plenty of firepower, including two-way wizard Aleksander Barkov. Florida's depth hurts Huberdeau's MVP case, but the 28-year-old carried the club when Barkov was out earlier in the campaign, further demonstrating his importance to this ultra-competitive squad.Huberdeau likely won't garner as much Hart buzz as those above him on this list due to the trio of players providing superior value.3. Alex Ovechkin Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPGAATOIxGF%54333221:3450.63Ovechkin's production has cooled since he led this race a month ago, but the Washington Capitals captain's season remains remarkable considering he's in his 17th campaign and 36 years old.The three-time MVP is still in the "Rocket" Richard Trophy hunt, and he's been more versatile than usual in 2021-22. Ovechkin's assists per game rate is his highest since 2010-11 and he ranks third in the NHL in even-strength goals, so he's doing far more than burying one-timers from his office on the power play.Ovi has amassed 16 more goals and 14 more points than his next-closest teammate, displaying significant value relative to his club. Washington sits fourth in the Metropolitan, but Ovechkin's squad would be in danger of missing the playoffs without his efforts.His dip in production is also partly due to the fact he's only played eight games over the last month, whereas both of the players ahead of him here have suited up for 13 and 12, respectively. Ovechkin tallied four goals and three assists over that span, which is solid but unspectacular, especially when compared to the top two Hart candidates.2. Connor McDavid Gregg Forwerck / National Hockey League / GettyGPGAATOIxGF%54295022:2658.89No one will argue that McDavid is the most gifted player in the NHL, but that's not what this award recognizes. The Edmonton Oilers captain leads the league in points and ranks second in assists, but this isn't the Richard or Art Ross Trophy.McDavid has excellent underlying numbers, which is partly why he's on the doorstep of the top spot. The 25-year-old's SCF% at five-on-five (55.2) is nearly as good as his xGF%, and he's fourth in the league in goals above replacement.However, McDavid's bid to repeat as MVP is hurt by Leon Draisaitl's offensive exploits, and unlike last season, the reigning Hart winner isn't piling up points at the historic clip that made him a rare unanimous pick. Draisaitl still has less-than-stellar analytic figures, which show how much of his success is due to McDavid.McDavid has lit it up lately with six goals and 13 assists over the 13 games since our last edition, but the player ranking No. 1 here scored two more goals in one fewer contest over that span.1. Auston Matthews Mark Blinch / National Hockey League / GettyGPGAATOIxGF%51373120:2562.16Matthews has been one of the NHL's most potent goal-scorers since coming into the league, but the new dimensions he's added to his game have vaulted him atop the MVP race. The Toronto Maple Leafs center has a realistic shot at winning the "Rocket" Richard Trophy for the second straight year. However, he also has the highest assist per game rate of his career; he can set a career high in helpers with just six more before season's end.Primary points are a key indicator of a skater's worth, and Matthews has more per game than the others on this list. The Maple Leafs superstar has posted 1.078 goals or primary assists per contest, edging out McDavid (1.055) as well as Ovechkin and Huberdeau (0.963 apiece). This shows Matthews has played a larger role in creating offense.Even more impressively, the 24-year-old is excelling on the defensive end. Matthews ranks among the league leaders in takeaways and sits atop the NHL in goals above replacement, which assesses a player's all-around value. He trails only Patrice Bergeron in xGF% among skaters with at least 600 minutes played at five-on-five, and ranks third in the league in SCF% among the same group in those situations.To top it all off, he's been on an absolute tear recently, racking up eight goals and nine assists in the 12 games he's played since our last edition. Toronto has a boatload of skill up front just like Florida, but Matthews' universal prowess and explosive output of late have pushed him ahead of the other contenders.(Analytics sources: Natural Stat Trick, Evolving Hockey)Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Capitals have activated forward Anthony Mantha from long-term injured reserve, the team announced.Mantha hasn't played since Nov. 4 after undergoing shoulder surgery. He'll return to the lineup Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes.The 27-year-old collected six points in 10 games before getting hurt. Washington acquired Mantha from the Detroit Red Wings last season.In corresponding moves, the Capitals placed forward Joe Snively on IR and Carl Hagelin on LTIR.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

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.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

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.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ivan Miroshnichenko, a top prospect in the upcoming NHL draft, was recently diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Miroshnichenko was told his diagnosis is the most common form of Hodgkin’s lymphoma - a cancer of the lymphatic system - and is curable.The 18-year-old is currently receiving treatment in Germany and could miss all of next season.Miroshnichenko was playing for the VHL's Omskie Krylia in Russia this campaign. He recorded 10 goals and six assists in 31 games with the club. Miroshnichenko captained Russia's U18 team to gold at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in 2021, managing nine points over five games.Miroshnichenko has been projected to go near the top of the 2022 NHL Draft, rating as high as No. 2 on The Athletic's Corey Pronman's rankings and No. 6 on TSN's Bob McKenzie's rankings.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Welcome to the fifth edition of theScore's Norris Trophy Power Rankings.These rankings focus on analytics and the all-around ability of defensemen rather than just points or reputation.

The Edmonton Oilers traded goaltender Alex Stalock to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for future considerations, both teams announced Wednesday night.Stalock was selected by the Sharks in the fourth round of the 2005 draft. He made 62 appearances in San Jose over the course of five seasons and authored a .911 save percentage in that span."The acquisition of Alex gives our club another goaltender with significant NHL experience," Sharks assistant general manager Joe Will said. "He is a player we are very familiar with and someone who is extremely well-liked by his teammates."The 34-year-old missed the entirety of the 2020-21 campaign after being diagnosed with myocarditis - an inflammation of the heart - in November 2020.He last played in 2019-20, suiting up for 38 regular-season contests with the Minnesota Wild. He registered a 20-11-4 record while posting a .910 save percentage. Stalock also started four playoff contests during the Wild's qualifying-round series against the Vancouver Canucks that season.The Oilers claimed Stalock off waivers from the Wild in March 2021.Stalock was initially expected to miss the entirety of the 2021-22 season with the heart condition, but the Oilers waived him in January with the intention of playing him in the AHL as he continued his NHL comeback.During his stint with the Bakersfield Condors, Stalock logged an .862 save percentage across five showings.The Sharks have been dealing with some injuries in the crease. Adin Hill has been sidelined since late January with a nagging lower-body injury, but he's expected to return soon; James Reimer exited Tuesday's contest against the Vegas Golden Knights with a lower-body ailment.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe didn't mince words after the Buffalo Sabres snapped a six-game losing streak by defeating his club 5-1 on Wednesday night.“It was terrible from start to finish," the Leafs bench boss said, according to The Athletic's Joshua Kloke."In terms of how we played with the puck, we were really careless and didn’t have much happening," Keefe added, per the Toronto Sun's Terry Koshan. "Offensively, we were abysmal. All four lines."The Leafs head coach had harsh criticism for the team's top line led by superstar Auston Matthews."That’s as bad as they’ve played in quite some time," Keefe said, according to Sports Illustrated's Mike Stephens.Keefe experimented with a defensive pairing of Morgan Rielly and Rasmus Sandin in the loss and said he will "probably not" keep the duo together in the future.The Sabres only outshot the Maple Leafs by one (31-30), but Buffalo controlled 60% of the scoring chances at five-on-five and 55.27% of the expected goals in those situations, according to Natural Stat Trick. Sandin tied the game at 1-1 in the first period but the Sabres replied with four unanswered goals over the final two frames.Toronto had won three consecutive contests before the loss.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.