We are off to a fantastic start to the week with our best bets, nailing both picks in consecutive days.We'll look to stay hot as we attack this huge 11-game slate.Penguins (-235) @ Flyers (+185)The Philadelphia Flyers posted a respectable 5-3-2 record over their last 10 games, but they're not playing overly well. At five-on-five, Philadelphia ranks 25th in expected goals against and 31st in shot attempts against per 60 minutes.Those numbers aren't good, and there's reason to believe they're about to get even worse for the Flyers. As if playing without their best forward (Sean Couturier) and best defenseman (Ryan Ellis) wasn't problematic enough, the team recently placed Claude Giroux, Travis Konecny, Ivan Provorov, and Travis Sanheim, among others, onto the COVID-19 list.Philadelphia is now severely lacking in both star power and depth. That's far from ideal, especially against a team like the Pittsburgh Penguins.The Penguins own a remarkable 9-1-0 record over their last 10 games. Pittsburgh ranks in the top three in both shot share (56.42%) and expected goal share (58.29%) over this hot streak.What's impressive is the Pens did a lot of that while missing key players. Jake Guentzel and Bryan Rust just returned, though Jeff Carter won't be back for Thursday's contest.Pittsburgh is firing on all cylinders, and Philadelphia's key players are dropping like flies. I think this is a big mismatch, and - even in a back-to-back situation for the Penguins - I expect that to shine through.Bet: Penguins inside regulation (-135)Blue Jackets (+135) @ Devils (-160)The Columbus Blue Jackets are in a really tough spot. They've won just three of their last 10 games and struggled mightily to defend in that time.At five-on-five, the Blue Jackets sit 28th in expected goals against per 60 and dead last in shot attempts against per 60. They've fared no better on the penalty kill, conceding expected goals at a higher rate than all but the New York Islanders.A lot of those numbers came with Zach Werenski in the lineup. Columbus put the star blue-liner onto the COVID-19 list ahead of the team's game Tuesday. His Blue Jackets certainly missed him as they gave up eight goals, 38 shots, and 77 shot attempts to the Tampa Bay Lightning.The New Jersey Devils are not Tampa Bay's caliber. However, they've played better hockey of late, winning three of four on the back of a breakout from Jack Hughes (nine points in four games).I expect Hughes, Jesper Bratt, Nico Hischier, and some of the Devils' top weapons to cause Columbus all kinds of problems in this game.Bet: Devils inside regulation (-105)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 11 games on tonight's NHL slate, which means there's a ton of value on the board.Let's dive into some of my favorite shot totals.Brad Marchand over 2.5 shots on goal (-140)We've seen a big uptick in Marchand's shot volume lately. He recorded 57 shot attempts and 37 shots on goal over his last 10 games. He registered at least three shots in eight of the last nine, including four shots in seven of those games.As I pointed out when I wrote up the Bruins forward in his last game, he's not just hitting the number - he's consistently finishing above it. He's also clearly a better individual shot generator when a volume shooter like David Pastrnak is off the top line.I expect Marchand to go over again in an advantageous matchup with the Wild.Minnesota has some key absences - especially on defense - that really hurt its level of play. Normally a stout defensive side, the Wild have given up five-on-five shots at a higher rate than all but one team over the last 10 games.Jonathan Huberdeau over 2.5 shots on goal (-120)Huberdeau has been a cheat code for what feels like months. After a slow start to the campaign in terms of shot generation, he's taken it up five notches.He registered at least three shots on goal in 16 of the last 20 games - an 80% hit rate.While I don't expect the Panthers forward to sustain that kind of shot productivity the entire season, I do like him to stay hot against the Stars - even in a mediocre matchup.With Sam Bennett and Sam Reinhart out of the lineup, Florida is missing two of its best weapons. Bennett's absence, in particular, leaves more shots up for grab, which Huberdeau generally claims.Huberdeau recorded 15 shots in the three games Bennett missed over the last few months, hitting the over on each occasion.Look for that trend to continue in Dallas.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 Toronto Maple Leafs placed forward Nick Ritchie on waivers, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Ritchie has struggled to produce with his new team after signing a two-year, $5-million deal as a free agent in the offseason. He's tallied a goal and seven assists in 30 games while averaging 12:14 minutes per contest.He's posted poor underlying numbers over the past three seasons, too.

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

Leon Draisaitl insists the Edmonton Oilers aren't throwing in the towel amid an extended slump.The club lost its fifth straight contest and 11th out of 13 on Wednesday night, a 4-2 result at the hands of the Toronto Maple Leafs."We're not quitting on anyone," Draisaitl told reporters postgame. "We're not quitting on our coach, we're not quitting on ourselves as players, our team, our goalies, nobody. We're not quitting."Speculation has swirled about head coach Dave Tippett's job security during the Oilers' skid. Edmonton started the season 9-1 but now sits fourth in the Pacific Division with 38 points.Draisaitl, who scored Wednesday to tie teammate Connor McDavid atop the league's scoring race with 53 points, believes time is still on the Oilers' side."There's still lots of season left, right?" Draisaitl said. "But it's frustrating. Eventually, you have to find a way to turn it around."Edmonton returns to the ice Monday versus the Ottawa Senators.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid, forward Derek Ryan, and defenseman Tyson Barrie have been placed in COVID-19 protocol, the team announced Wednesday.The trio of players wasn't in the lineup for Wednesday's 4-2 loss against the Toronto Maple Leafs.The Oilers also placed forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins on injured reserve and activated forward Zack Kassian from COVID-19 protocol.McDavid leads the league with 53 points in 33 games while averaging over 22 minutes of ice time per contest. The 24-year-old previously tested positive and experienced mild symptoms in October 2020.Barrie, 30, has recorded 17 points in 33 games this season while playing a key role on Edmonton's power play.Ryan, 35, has primarily served as a bottom-six center and has two goals in 30 contests.The Oilers have now lost five straight games and are 2-6-2 in their last 10 contests.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vancouver Canucks placed forward Elias Pettersson in COVID-19 protocol, the team announced Wednesday.He joins four other Canucks currently in the protocol: Brock Boeser, Phil Di Giuseppe, Justin Dowling, and Jason Dickinson.Vancouver is slated to play the Ottawa Senators at home Saturday before taking on the Florida Panthers on Tuesday.Pettersson has six goals and 11 assists in 34 games this season.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Blackhawks traded forward Alex Nylander to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for forward Sam Lafferty, the teams announced Wednesday.Alex, son of longtime NHLer Michael Nylander and younger brother of Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander, hasn't appeared in an NHL game since March 2020. He missed all of 2020-21 with a torn meniscus and has played exclusively with the AHL's Rockford IceHogs this season, recording eight goals and four assists in 23 contests.The 23-year-old has tallied 13 goals and 19 assists in 84 career NHL games split between the Sabres and Blackhawks. Buffalo selected him eighth overall in 2016.Nylander has one year left on his contract with an $874,125 cap hit and will be a restricted free agent at season's end, according to CapFriendly. He'll report to the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.Lafferty, 26, has 21 points in 94 career NHL games across three seasons with the Penguins, primarily in fourth-line minutes."Hardworking role player," an Eastern Conference scout told NBC's Charlie Roumeliotis of Lafferty. "Can play in the middle or wing. Above-average size and plus skating. Competitive and provides energy."Lafferty, a fourth-round pick of the Pens in 2014, carries a $750,000 cap hit and is in the final year of his contract before becoming an unrestricted free agent.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Count Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper among those still not over the NHL and NHLPA's decision to forgo participation in the 2022 Beijing Olympics.The 54-year-old was slated to be behind the bench for Team Canada, but the NHL officially withdrew from participation over COVID-19 concerns."To be honest, it was devastating," Cooper told The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun."I would be remiss if I didn’t use such a strong word," he continued. "I look at the sport of hockey, the country of Canada, and the marriage the two have and the passion the country has for it. The thrill of being named to that position. It didn’t sit lightly with me."I was genuinely humbled and honored to have that opportunity. And then to have it swept out from under you, it … it just leaves you empty."Cooper would've been the fourth head coach of an NHL-led Canadian Olympic hockey roster after Marc Crawford (1998), Pat Quinn (2002, 2006), and Mike Babcock (2010, 2014).The two-time Stanley Cup champion had already begun building relationships with potential team members, too."Opening night, we’re playing Pittsburgh, Sidney Crosby sitting in my office," Cooper recalled. "And we’re just talking hockey and Olympics and how things are going to go. We must have just sat there 45 minutes, just the two of us."Cooper said he met with others on the prospective player list, including Cale Makar, Drew Doughty, and Tom Wilson.The NHL aims to participate in the 2026 Olympics, which would mark a 12-year gap from the league's last appearance."Who knows where anybody is going to be in four years," Cooper said.It's possible the NHL could schedule another World Cup of Hockey to satisfy the widespread appetite for a best-on-best international tournament. Cooper, who was an assistant coach on Team North America in 2016, admitted that the tournament was a bit of a "gimmick," and that it doesn't compare to the Olympics."It's the Olympic experience, it's being in the village, it is getting to wear your country's colors with pride. It’s being able to go to other athletes' events and cheering them on," Cooper said. "It’s being able to go in the cafeteria and having the bobsledder come up to Sidney Crosby and ask for an autograph. And for Sidney Crosby to ask for an autograph back from that person."That’s the bond that the Olympics bring to you," Cooper added. "I feel bad for the players because they’re going to miss out on that. Being part of the Olympic spirit, that’s what it’s all about."Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Sabres prospect and 2021 No. 1 overall pick Owen Power will play for Canada at the Beijing Olympics, The Athletic's Corey Pronman reports.Power is the first player to be named to the team after the NHL pulled out of the Games last month.The 19-year-old has racked up 23 points in 18 games with Michigan this season. He had five points in two world junior appearances - including the first hat trick ever by a Canadian defenseman - before the event was canceled due to the pandemic.Power won gold at the world championships in May.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A trio of Quebec-born ex-NHLers headline a list of candidates in the Montreal Canadiens' general manager search.The club plans to interview Roberto Luongo, Daniel Briere, and Mathieu Darche for the vacancy, reports The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.Luongo is still new to managerial circles, retiring from his playing career in 2019. The Montreal native has since served as a special assistant to the GM of the Florida Panthers. He was also the architect of Team Canada's gold-medal winning squad at the 2021 World Championship. A likely future Hall of Famer, Luongo ranks fourth on the NHL's all-time wins list with 489 victories.Briere served as a special assistant to the GM of the Philadelphia Flyers for two seasons post-retirement before joining the ECHL's Maine Mariners. He's currently the president of the minor-league squad but has previously held the titles of GM and vice president of hockey operations. The Mariners are a farm team of the Boston Bruins but are owned by the Flyers' parent company, Comcast Spectator.A native of Gatineau, Quebec, Briere played 17 NHL seasons, including one campaign with the Habs in 2013-14. He was known as a clutch playoff performer, tallying 116 points in 124 career postseason contests.Darche, a two-time Stanley Cup-winning executive, is in his third season as the Tampa Bay Lightning's director of hockey operations. A McGill University alumnus and St. Laurent, Quebec product, Darche played 250 games across nine NHL seasons. He suited up in 149 contests for the Habs from 2009-12.The Canadiens fired longtime GM Marc Bergevin in November and brought on Jeff Gorton as executive vice president of hockey operations. Gorton doesn't speak French, but owner Geoff Molson insists he'll hire a bilingual GM.The club will speak with as many as 10 candidates in the first phase of interviews, LeBrun added. Montreal is reportedly considering at least three women for the position.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tuesday night was a good one for our best bets. We successfully backed the Tampa Bay Lightning to take care of business inside regulation against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The underdog Nashville Predators also pulled off a small upset for us in Vegas.While there are only a couple of games to work with on tonight's slate, there's still value on the board. Let's get into it.Blues (+115) @ Penguins (-135)I initially planned on writing up the Pittsburgh Penguins. They're not starting Tristan Jarry tonight, though, so the over is now more of interest.The St. Louis Blues have scored in bunches all season as they rank fifth in goals per game. Pavel Buchnevich and Brayden Schenn returning tonight should only breathe more life into an already formidable attack.Among goaltenders with at least seven starts, only five have given up more goals above expectation per start than Pittsburgh's Casey DeSmith. He's really struggled.On the flip side, the Penguins are an above-average offensive team despite dealing with a vast amount of injuries and COVID-19 issues to key players all campaign. Jake Guentzel and Bryan Rust are back in the mix, which further bolsters their offense.I think this game could feature plenty of scoring. While my lean is still with Pittsburgh, the over is more appealing.Bet: over 6 goals (-125)Oilers (+235) @ Maple Leafs (-300)The Edmonton Oilers are an absolute mess right now. They've dropped 12 of their last 14 contests and scored only 37 goals in that span. Just five teams have found the back of the net fewer times.A lack of depth surrounding the team's stars is a big reason they've struggled to score. Unfortunately for the Oilers, things aren't getting any easier. They'll be without Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (again), Tyson Barrie, and Connor McDavid tonight. Edmonton recently placed the latter two players onto the COVID-19 list.Generating offense will now be even more difficult for an Oilers team already struggling.It's a different story for the Toronto Maple Leafs. They enter play on a 7-2-1 run in which no team has scored more goals than the 47 they've amassed.Edmonton's Mike Smith figures to be in for a long night, and not just because of the caliber of the opponent. He's performed poorly thus far, allowing 0.80 goals above expectation per start. Sure, it's a small sample size, but only seven netminders with at least five appearances have fared worse.Toronto's red-hot offense should be able to stay hot against a skidding Oilers team missing several key players.Bet: Toronto -1.5 goals (-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.

In our third edition of theScore's 2021-22 Vezina Trophy Power Rankings, we add one new netminder who's been playing at the top of his game.Due to COVID-19 outbreaks and postponements across the league over the past month, it was difficult to evaluate performances due to sporadic schedules. With that being said, here's a look at the top five candidates for the award:5. Thatcher Demko, Vancouver Canucks Jeff Vinnick / National Hockey League / GettyRECORDGAAXGA/60SV%HDSV%GSAA15-11-12.552.71.920.8448.80The Canucks have looked like a brand new team since Bruce Boudreau took over as head coach, and Demko's been one of the biggest beneficiaries. The young netminder has rattled off seven straight victories since Dec. 6 and has officially entered his name into the Vezina race. He showed flashes of brilliance at times prior to Boudreau's arrival but lacked the consistency he now seems to have found. Only John Gibson has played more minutes this season than Demko, and the team will continue to ride him as long as he stays hot.4. Frederik Andersen, Carolina Hurricanes Gregg Forwerck / National Hockey League / GettyRECORDGAAXGA/60SV%HDSV%GSAA17-5-01.922.63.929.82911.31Andersen continues to show that his hot start to the season wasn't just a fluke. The Hurricanes play a strong two-way, defensive game, and are in first place in the NHL when you look at points percentage. Although the club also ranks first in the league with a 55.97 Corsi For rating, Andersen is still among the league's elite this year.3. Tristan Jarry, Pittsburgh Penguins Emilee Chinn / Getty Images Sport / GettyRECORDGAAXGA/60SV%HDSV%GSAA15-5-41.932.34.932.84515.48The Penguins are basically back at full strength after battling injuries throughout the season, and Jarry has done everything in his power to keep the team afloat. He's won five straight games and has allowed two goals or less in 19 of his 24 contests this year. With the Penguins playing with a fully healthy lineup now, Jarry's strong play should continue and keep him in the Vezina conversation for the remainder of the season.2. Igor Shesterkin, New York Rangers Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyRECORDGAAXGA/60SV%HDSV%GSAA15-4-22.092.98.936.85916.97The Rangers just keep on winning and Shesterkin just keeps on doing his thing. The team currently sits right near the top of the NHL's standings, and Shesterkin is playing a large part in his team's success. The club allows the eighth-most high-danger scoring chances against (407), but Shesterkin is tied for the second-highest high-danger save percentage (.859) in the NHL. If he keeps playing at this level, it'll be hard to deny him the trophy at season's end.1. Jack Campbell, Toronto Maple Leafs Codie McLachlan / Getty Images Sport / GettyRECORDGAAXGA/60SV%HDSV%GSAA16-5-21.862.52.939.85420.38Campbell has only appeared in six games since the beginning of December, but his high-quality stats still put him ahead of pretty much every netminder in the NHL. Campbell's workload was a cause for concern among many after starting the majority of the Maple Leafs' games to begin the season, but perhaps the time off over the last month could work in his favor.Honorable mentions: Jacob Markstrom, Andrei Vasilevskiy, Juuse Saros(Analytics source: Natural Stat Trick)Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Coyotes are receiving inquiries from other clubs about defenseman Jakob Chychrun, but they're looking for a hefty collection of talent in return."There's been much speculation on Chychrun's availability for the last several weeks, I would say, but it's real," TSN's Darren Dreger reported on Tuesday's edition of "Insider Trading.""Who's to say when a deal involving Jakob Chychrun may be made," Dreger added. "Perhaps it doesn't happen. He's got a wonderful contract ... but calls are coming in from interested teams. Offers are being made."The biggest obstacle to a trade appears to be what Arizona is seeking in a potential deal."The asking price expectedly is enormous, and it has scared some of these GMs away," Dreger said. "You're talking about (an) Eichel-like return here. That's Alex Tuch, that's Peyton Krebs, that's a conditional first(-round pick and) a conditional second. That's too much for a lot of teams to stomach right now, but it's a story we're going to continue to follow. The Coyotes are in no rush to move Jakob Chychrun."The 23-year-old is in his sixth season with the Coyotes, who drafted him 16th overall in 2016. Chychrun has blossomed into a legitimate No. 1 blue-liner, leading the club in average ice time by nearly three minutes, though he last played Dec. 10 due to an injury.Chychrun hasn't produced offensively in 2021-22 like the career-high 41 points he posted over 56 games last season. He entered Tuesday's action with two goals and five assists across 26 contests this campaign, but the Coyotes have been the NHL's worst team with only six wins in 30 games heading into Tuesday evening's slate.The talented rearguard is signed through 2024-25 at a cap hit of $4.6 million, according to CapFriendly. Arizona traded defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson to the Vancouver Canucks in July.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL announced Tuesday it's rescheduling five games, including two contests featuring the Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Islanders.The Islanders will now host the Leafs on Jan. 22 and travel to Toronto on April 17. Due to provincial regulations in Ontario, the Leafs wouldn't have been able to host fans against the Islanders at Scotiabank Arena if their Jan. 22 matchup went on as originally scheduled.Additionally, the league postponed two Jan. 18 matchups between the Islanders and the Columbus Blue Jackets as well as the Philadelphia Flyers and Detroit Red Wings. As a result, the Flyers-Islanders contest, which was originally set for Nov. 30, will now be played Jan. 18.HomeAwayNew dateOriginal dateIslandersBlue JacketsPPDJan. 18FlyersRed WingsPPDJan. 18FlyersIslandersJan. 18Nov. 30Maple LeafsIslandersApril 17Jan. 22IslandersMaple LeafsJan. 22April 17Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Jersey Devils placed defenseman Dougie Hamilton on injured reserve with a broken jaw, the team announced Tuesday.Hamilton is set to have surgery Wednesday.The 28-year-old sustained the injury in the first period of Sunday's contest against the Washington Capitals. He exited after getting hit up high by a deflected puck.Hamilton was taken to hospital for evaluation after the incident, and assistant coach Alain Nasreddine initially said he was doing OK.The Devils announced earlier Tuesday that the blue-liner was still in New Jersey and would miss Tuesday's contest against the Boston Bruins.Hamilton, the crown jewel of the franchise's offseason additions, leads all New Jersey defensemen with 20 points in 30 games while averaging over 21 minutes of ice time a night.He was placed on the IR retroactively to Jan. 2 and will be out until at least Jan. 9. The team will likely have a clearer idea of Hamilton's timetable after his his surgery is complete, according to beat reporter Amanda Stein.The team also announced Tuesday that goaltender Jonathan Bernier will miss the remainder of the season after undergoing successful hip surgery. The issue has impacted Bernier since training camp, and head coach Lindy Ruff said earlier in January that he was "worried" about the 33-year-old's long-term health.Bernier put up a .902 save percentage and 3.06 goals against average across 10 appearances this season.Also out against the Bruins are captain Nico Hischier (lower-body injury), Yegor Sharangovich, and Pavel Zacha (COVID-19 protocol).There was one piece of good news in New Jersey, as forward Tomas Tatar is set to return to the lineup Tuesday after a three-game absence while in the COVID-19 protocol.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A pair of Anaheim Ducks legends are helping the franchise find its next general manager.Hockey Hall of Famers Paul Kariya and Scott Niedermayer are part of the organization's GM search committee, reports TSN's Pierre LeBrun.The group is rounded out by team CEO Michael Schulman, president of business operations Aaron Teats, and owners Susan and Henry Samueli.Kariya, selected fourth overall in 1993, was the first draft pick in team history. He became an instant superstar, recording 669 points in his 606 games across nine seasons in Anaheim. He also served as captain for seven campaigns and led the team to the 2003 Stanley Cup Final.Niedermayer played his final five seasons with the Ducks after joining the team as a free agent. The defenseman captained the franchise to its lone Stanley Cup title in 2007 and also won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. He recorded 264 points in 371 regular-season games in Anaheim.Both players' numbers were retired by the club. They're two of only three Ducks to receive the honor. Teemu Selanne is the other.Longtime Ducks GM Bob Murray resigned from his post in November. Jeff Solomon is currently serving as interim GM.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It appears Auston Matthews doesn't have COVID-19 after all.The Toronto Maple Leafs forward took a PCR test Monday, and the results came back negative Tuesday, head coach Sheldon Keefe said, according to The Hockey News' David Alter.Matthews had tested positive from a rapid test Monday, though Keefe admitted at the time that the club has seen those return false positives before.

We have a busy eight-game slate ahead of us Tuesday. Let's dive right into a couple of my favorite plays.Lightning (-225) @ Blue Jackets (+180)The Blue Jackets are playing their worst hockey of the season. They've won only three of their last 10 games and, at five-on-five, have controlled just 41.91% of the expected goals over that span, which ranks them 31st.They'll get a key player back in Oliver Bjorkstrand but will lose a pair of important pieces in Zach Werenski and Elvis Merzlikins. Columbus was already thin on defense so not having Werenski, who averages well over 26 minutes per game, is crushing.Merzlikins is clearly the best goaltender on the roster. The Jackets can ill afford to lose him, especially against such a strong opponent.The Lightning have amassed 110 high-danger chances over the last 10 games. Only three teams have generated more. Suffice to say, Tampa Bay should be able to expose Columbus' shaky defense and questionable goaltending.I think the Lightning, who have lost three straight, will be out for blood in this one. Expect them to capitalize on an advantageous matchup and win inside regulation.Bet: Lightning in regulation (-145)Predators (-105) @ Golden Knights (-115)The Predators are the hottest team in the NHL. They enter play with an 8-1-1 record over their last 10 games, which is equaled by two sides but bested by zero.They are full value for their recent string of success. Nashville has owned teams at five-on-five, controlling 58.38% of the expected goals.A lot of that stems from their ability to dominate the high-danger chances. The Predators rank 12th in Grade A looks in this span, while no team has given up fewer. Essentially, they've been above average at creating dangerous opportunities and better than anybody at preventing them.The Golden Knights are no pushovers - even when undermanned - but I think the wrong side is favored here. Vegas doesn't have Mark Stone, Max Pacioretty, or Robin Lehner, and Jack Eichel is not yet ready to return. Those are key players to be missing when going up against a complete, red-hot team like Nashville.I don't expect a cakewalk but do back the Preds to win for the ninth time in 11 games.Bet: Predators (-105)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 Minnesota Wild recalled top prospects Marco Rossi and Matthew Boldy from the team's AHL affiliate to the taxi squad, the team confirmed Tuesday.Rossi, the Wild's ninth overall pick in 2020, leads the Iowa Wild with 23 points in 21 contests this season. The 20-year-old forward experienced complications from COVID-19 last year and was shut down for the 2020-21 campaign after being diagnosed with myocarditis, which is an inflammation of the heart muscle.Minnesota drafted Boldy 12th overall in 2019. The forward has four goals and six assists in 10 games with Iowa in 2021-22.Rossi and Boldy are set to make their NHL debuts when Minnesota faces the Boston Bruins on Thursday, according to The Athletic's Michael Russo.Wild head coach Dean Evason said the pair will even get some time on the power play "because our power play has sucked," per Russo.The Wild are on a five-game winless streak and have been forced to deal with a slew of injury- and COVID-19-related absences.Captain Jared Spurgeon and center Joel Eriksson Ek have each been sidelined with injuries since mid-December, while winger Jordan Greenway landed in COVID-19 protocol Monday. Goalie Cam Talbot is out indefinitely after sustaining a lower-body injury during Saturday's Winter Classic.Jonas Brodin was on the COVID-19 list and missed the Winter Classic, but the defenseman has cleared protocols and will return to the lineup Thursday, according to Russo.The Wild sit third in the Central Division with a 19-10-2 record.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We have a huge eight-game slate on the docket tonight, which means there are plenty of shot props to comb through.Shot props have been very profitable this season - my record sits at 92-73 for +16.45 units - so let's hope that continues tonight.Brad Marchand over 2.5 shots on goal (-110)Brad Marchand has been one of the NHL's most consistent shot generators lately, registering at least four - yes, four - shots in seven of his last eight games. Marchand's not just going over the number - he's doing so comfortably.While the New Jersey Devils have defended better recently, they're still not a great defensive team. The Devils will also be without star Dougie Hamilton on the back end, which should make them more susceptible to spending time in the defensive zone.I also like that David Pastrnak - a very trigger-happy player - is off the top line. With him on a different line, there's more puck to go around for a guy like Marchand.Victor Hedman over 2.5 shots on goal (-130)Victor Hedman is one of my favorite targets. He's a willing shooter, and he logs so many minutes that he's in play every single night regardless of opponent. This time around, Hedman just so happens to find himself in a dream matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets.No side has allowed more shots, at five-on-five or overall, than the Blue Jackets over the last 10 games - they're getting peppered by anyone and everyone.To make matters worse, the squad is now without defenseman Zach Werenski. The star rearguard averages well over 26 minutes for Columbus, so suffice to say, the unit's going to feel that loss.Hedman has registered three shots or more in six of his last seven and eight of the last 10. I like him to stay hot and come through again tonight.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.

In our third edition of the 2021-22 Calder Trophy Power Rankings, we welcome two first-timers to the list and introduce a new, but perhaps predictable, owner of the top spot.COVID-19 outbreaks and postponements across the league made it harder to gauge performances over this past month, but without further ado, here are the league's top five freshmen now that the calendar's flipped.5. Tanner Jeannot, Predators Frederick Breedon / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious rank: N/AGPPATOIXGF%332015:4049.01%Jeannot is an unheralded story beginning to make his mark in the NHL. The 24-year-old winger went undrafted and spent four years in junior before bouncing between the AHL and ECHL. He recorded a modest seven points in 15 games for the Predators last season, but he's evolved into a key contributor for a resurgent Nashville squad this campaign.Jeannot is tied for the rookie lead in goals (10) and tops every player on our list with 1.3 goals per 60 minutes at even strength. It's worth noting that Jeannot is shooting an unsustainable 19.2% this year, but he deserves recognition after pacing all rookies in points over this past month.4. Anton Lundell, Panthers Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPrevious rank: N/AGPPATOIXGF%281616:2952.73%Lundell is a long shot to win the award at season's end, but he'll be a dark-horse candidate to be a finalist if he keeps up his recent form. The 12th overall pick from 2020 ranks second in rookie scoring since our last Calder list, and all nine of his points in that span came at even strength.Lundell has also posted sparkling underlying numbers, which isn't an easy feat for a 20-year-old center still testing the NHL waters. He's hard-pressed to garner national attention on a Panthers team rife with stars, but Florida appears to have another gem in its system.3. Moritz Seider, Red Wings Michael Martin / National Hockey League / GettyPrevious rank: 3rdGPPATOIXGF%332122:2747.44%Seider continues to log huge minutes and put up points, but his underlying numbers took a massive hit over the past month with a miserable 38.38% expected goals rate across 11 games. The rearguard managed a 54.86% actual goals clip in that same span to minimize the damage, but Seider will have to pump his numbers back up if he wants to take home some hardware at season's end.All that said, it's typical for young defensemen to endure highs and lows while figuring out the league. Seider still ranks third in rookie scoring this season and possesses all the tools to become Detroit's No. 1 blue-line option for years to come.2. Lucas Raymond, Red Wings Brian Sevald / National Hockey League / GettyPrevious rank: 1stGPPATOIXGF%332817:2848.13%For the first time this year, Raymond's fallen off the top of the podium. The Detroit dynamo still leads all rookies in scoring, but his points-per-game clip dropped last month. He's also seen his underlying statistics drastically plummet as well.Since our last installment, Raymond managed only one goal and fired just 14 shots on net. He may have hit a rookie wall, but it still wasn't an easy decision to drop him a spot. He's neck-and-neck with our top candidate in many statistics this season, and he's by no means out of the Calder race.1. Trevor Zegras, Ducks Bill Wippert / National Hockey League / GettyPrevious rank: 2ndGPPATOIXGF%302517:0855.62%Zegras has officially arrived. The Ducks' brightest star produced 11 points over 10 games last month and went viral for arguably the highlight of the year after his alley-oop assist to teammate Sonny Milano. Whether they lead to goals or not, the dazzling plays he pulls off on a nightly basis help grow the game and will certainly carry significant weight for Calder voters.Zegras also plays fundamentally sound hockey at both ends of the ice, and he's in the positives in all the key advanced metrics. Rookie of the year will be his if he keeps producing at this rate and helps an underdog Anaheim squad reach the playoffs.Honorable mentions: Seth Jarvis (CAR), Jeremy Swayman (BOS), Dawson Mercer (NJ)(Analytics source: Evolving-Hockey)Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Edmonton Oilers head coach Dave Tippett wasn't pleased with goalie Mikko Koskinen's blunder that put his club behind the eight ball early in Monday's loss to the New York Rangers.Koskinen coughed up the puck below the goal line just over five minutes into the opening frame, leading to an easy tally by Alexis Lafreniere that gave the Rangers momentum they never relinquished."It's a brutal mistake, what are you gonna do? Call it what it is. We're playing well, it's a brutal mistake," Tippett told reporters after the 4-1 loss.He added: "I thought we did a lot of things well tonight. Our goaltender wasn't very good, and we didn't find enough pucks at the net to get us back in the game."Koskinen has been Edmonton's starter for most of the season, while Mike Smith has battled an injury. The 33-year-old entered Monday's clash with a .902 save percentage this campaign, and he hasn't won in his last six appearances now.Smith also hasn't fared well when healthy, posting a .897 save percentage across five games. Goaltending has been the Oilers' Achilles heel of late, as the club ranks 31st with 48 goals against in 13 contests since Dec. 1.Edmonton's won only three games in that span."There's a lot of adversity here, we're learning a lot about our team," Tippett said. "We've been through a lot of injury issues and COVID issues. We haven't played as well as we'd like to as a group, so there's lots to improve on."The Oilers currently own the second wild-card seed in the Western Conference with 38 points.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Like testing the waters of a bubbling hot tub, we're dipping our toe back into the NHL season. While we're at peak levels of uncertainty these days, it's still worth wading through the cloudy picture of the daily schedule to project the moneylines for the games this week - with the obvious caveat that the rosters can change quite literally at any time.The recipeBefore the season, 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.Two weeks ago, we posted my 2021-22 season ratings that use the metrics I deem important to predict future success. Considering the forced and longer-than-usual break the NHL had over the holidays, we'll use an even 50-50 split between those ratings and the pre-season priors via the regular-season point-total markets.The cheat sheetThe following includes my fair price on the games (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 near a coin flip, a 2.5% edge is enough to be a worthwhile wager. Also, I have a 5% win probability consideration for a team playing in the second game of a back-to-back with travel and 3% without travel.DATEGAMETRUE MLPRICE TO BETJan. 3EDM@NYR-105/+105EDM -101/NYR +123Jan. 4NJD@BOS+157/-157NJD +186/BOS -151CGY@FLA+140/-140CGY +166/FLA -134TBL@CBJ-147/+147TBL -141/CBJ +174SJS@DET-112/+112SJS -108/DET +132COL@CHI-142/+142COL -136/CHI +168WPG@ARI-145/+145WPG -140/ARI +172PHI@ANA-103/+103PHI +107/ANA +114NSH@VGK+156/-156NSH +185/VGK -149Jan. 5EDM@TOR+119/-119EDM +141/TOR -115STL@PIT+135/-135STL +160/PIT -130Jan. 6SJS@BUF-102/+102SJS +108/BUF +113CBJ@NJD+142/-142CBJ +168/NJD-136MIN@BOS+116/-116MIN +137/BOS -112CGY@TB+140/-140CGY +165/TB -134PIT@PHI-102/+102PIT +108/PHI +113FLA@DAL-112/+112FLA -107/DAL +131CHI@ARI-122/+122CHI -117/ARI +143WPG@COL+143/-143WPG +169/COL -137OTT@SEA+152/-152OTT +180/SEA -145DET@ANA+107/-107DET +118/ANA +103NYR@VGK+140/-140NYR +166/VGK -135NSH@LAK-114/+114NSH -109/LAK +134Jan. 7CGY@CAR+137/-137CGY +161/CAR -131WSH@STL+103/-103WSH +107/STL +114Jan. 8PIT@DAL-111/+111PIT -107/DAL +131TOR@COL+106/-106TOR +117/COL +104NJD@CBJ+104/-104NJD +107/CBJ +114BOS@TBL+124/-124BOS +146/TB -119FLA@CAR-100/+100FLA +110/CAR +110SJS@PHI+127/-127SJS +149/PHI -122WSH@MIN+132/-132WSH +155/MIN -126NSH@ARI-139/+139NSH -133/ARI +164CHI@VGK+179/-179CHI +214/VGK -171NYR@ANA-125/+125NYR -120/ANA +148OTT@VAN+183/-183OTT +219/VAN -175DET@LAK+149/-149DET +176/LAK -143Jan. 9DAL@STL+156/-156DAL +186/STL -150This chart is a good reference to determine whether you're truly getting value betting on one side or the other. However, keep in mind that new injuries or lineup issues will naturally arise. So if you notice a big discrepancy, make sure to do a quick search for any major lineup issues for the team you want to bet on.Matt 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.

The 2021-22 NHL campaign is flying by, with some teams having already played 43% of their games.Despite nearing the halfway point of the season, we haven't seen much separation in the hunt for the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy.Let's take a look at how the race is shaping up.PlayerOddsGoalsLeon Draisaitl+27525Alex Ovechkin+33024Auston Matthews+35020Connor McDavid+60019Kyle Connor+160019Only listing players with odds 20-1 or shorter.Leon DraisaitlDraisaitl has a few things working for him in his quest for hardware. He leads in goals and goals per game, generally double-shifts on the power play, and leads all forwards in average ice time per game at nearly 23 minutes. He's certainly going to get every opportunity to fill the net. However, his shots and chance-generation lag behind the competition, meaning he needs to shoot at an extremely high percentage to maintain his output.Alex OvechkinWhat can you say about Ovechkin? The guy is just a monster. It feels like he's been around forever, yet he's logging 22 minutes a night and lapping the field in shots on goal. Unlike Draisaitl, Ovechkin's output is driven more by volume than percentage. I think he has a real shot at passing the current leader.Auston MatthewsAfter Matthews' slow start to the season, I noted that his chance-generation was still through the roof and that he'd catch up sooner than later. Well, that happened: Matthews is up to 20 goals in 28 games. Using his goals-per-game output, he would be at 22.8 over 32 games (the number Draisaitl has played). Matthews doesn't log the same kind of ice time but he might not need to. He leads the NHL in scoring chances by 27 and we all know the kind of shot he possesses. If he keeps piling up the chances to this extent, he's going to contend for his second straight trophy.Connor McDavidMcDavid is absolutely a tier (or two) below the big three. He doesn't generate the same shot volume as Ovechkin or Matthews, nor does he finish at Draisaitl's rate. It's going to be tough for him to hang around and I'd be surprised if he's in the mix much longer. Still, he's the NHL's most talented player, so you never know.Kyle Connor Connor generates shots and scores at a high clip but is noticeably behind the big three in terms of shot generation or conversion rate, if not both. While I wouldn't be surprised if he nets 40 goals, I don't see him passing the 50-goal mark it'll likely take to win the "Rocket" Richard.Best bet: Matthews (+350). Nobody matches his chance generation and he's been more opportunistic than Ovechkin, McDavid, and Connor over the last couple of years. If Matthews stays healthy and can continue generating chances at such a high clip, he has an excellent chance of beating the field.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 forward Auston Matthews tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday morning, head coach Sheldon Keefe announced, according to The Hockey News' David Alter.Keefe said the positive result came from a rapid test and that the team has had rapid tests produce false positives before. The results of Matthews' PCR test will be available Tuesday. He is asymptomatic, Keefe said, according to Mark Zwolinski of the Toronto Star.The Maple Leafs return to action Wednesday against the Edmonton Oilers. John Tavares centered the top line in Matthews' absence during Monday's practice, while Alexander Kerfoot shifted from wing to center:

This is the seventh edition of theScore's NHL Power Rankings for the 2021-22 season. Check back for updated rankings every second Monday during the regular season.In this edition, we make a New Year's resolution for each team in 2022.1. Carolina Hurricanes (23-7-1)Previous rank: 1stGet Andrei Svechnikov some confidence. After a blistering October in which the dynamic winger potted seven goals in as many games, Svechnikov has only found the back of the net three times since. If he gets going again, the Hurricanes might be unstoppable.2. Washington Capitals (20-6-8)Previous rank: 3rdRip the Hart Trophy away from Edmonton. The league's MVP award has gone to Edmonton for the past two campaigns, which tracks because Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are bonkers good. However, Alex Ovechkin has proved over and over again this season that he can hang with any young star out there. Go get that hardware, Ovi.3. Tampa Bay Lightning (21-8-5)Previous rank: 2ndProtect Nikita Kucherov at all costs. Forget that the Lightning are trying to win a third straight Stanley Cup (though having Kucherov in the lineup certainly helps the Bolts' case), hockey is more fun when the best players are able to hit the ice. The fact that the incomparable Russian star has suited up for just three games this season is a travesty. Cover him in bubble wrap once he returns.4. Florida Panthers (21-7-4)Previous rank: 7thWin the division. This can go for any team, particularly those in the race for the Atlantic, but the Panthers surely would love an easier playoff path after bowing out in the opening round in each of the past two seasons.5. Toronto Maple Leafs (21-8-2)Previous rank: 4thWin a playoff series. This may seem like low-hanging fruit, but what else could the Maple Leafs possibly want to set their sights on in 2022? Toronto knows what regular-season success looks like and once again looks poised to finish at or near the top of the division. It's beyond time for the next step.6. New York Rangers (21-8-4)Previous rank: 5thHold onto the puck. The Rangers' record looks good, but their underlying numbers? Not so much. Their shot attempts for, expected goals for, and scoring chances for percentages all sat below 50% entering Sunday. Puck possession should be a priority in 2022.7. Vegas Golden Knights (22-12-1)Previous rank: 9thKeep grinding. The Golden Knights have plenty of star power, but their biggest strength this season has been their incredible depth. Vegas has remained among the NHL's best clubs despite seemingly always missing at least one or two impact players. The team just needs to continue playing through it and hope to have the full roster back for crunch time.8. Pittsburgh Penguins (18-8-5)Previous rank: 10thPut the pedal down. The Penguins have stayed afloat through several injuries but are rolling of late and should get Evgeni Malkin back soon. Time to make the most of a healthy roster and make another run.9. Colorado Avalanche (18-8-2)Previous rank: 8thBe extra careful. The Avalanche have been ravaged by key absences all season. A fully healthy roster in 2022 will go a long way in aiding their Stanley Cup aspirations.10. St. Louis Blues (19-9-5)Previous rank: 13thMore opportunities for Jordan Kyrou. He's enjoying a fine breakout season with 32 points in 29 games yet ranks ninth among Blues forwards in average ice time. Kyrou's 4.03 points per 60 at five-on-five places him seventh among all NHL forwards. Let him loose.11. Minnesota Wild (19-10-2)Previous rank: 6thDon't panic. The Wild should resist the urge to start worrying amid a five-game losing streak that includes a Winter Classic defeat at Target Field. Minnesota is still a talented, well-constructed team despite its recent struggles. Wiping the slate clean now and starting the rest of 2022 off with a fresh outlook would surely be beneficial.12. Nashville Predators (20-11-2)Previous rank: 11thDon't change much. The Predators are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games and have been very good in all situations. Nashville ranks among the league's best on the power play, penalty kill, and at even strength. There's still room for improvement, but this squad just needs to focus on maintaining its all-around consistent play.13. Calgary Flames (17-7-6)Previous rank: 14thGet better results at home. The Flames haven't looked so hot at the Scotiabank Saddledome this season. Their 4-3-4 record in Calgary is a far cry from their sparkling 13-4-2 showing on the road, so the Flames should aim to give the home crowd something to cheer for in 2022.14. Anaheim Ducks (17-11-7)Previous rank: 12thDon't overthink it. Throw all the projections that had the Ducks toiling in the Pacific Division basement in the trash. The team's eclectic mix of youngsters and vets have been putting on a show all season long. They even have a real shot at making the playoffs. Anaheim, just go with it.15. Vancouver Canucks (16-15-3)Previous rank: 17thDon't get complacent. The Canucks have flipped the script since Bruce Boudreau took the reins and are finally back to playing close to their potential. But now's not the time to rest on their laurels. Opposing scouts will soon figure out what's working for Vancouver, so the club needs to keep the pedal to the metal.16. Edmonton Oilers (18-12-2)Previous rank: 15thFind an upgrade in goal. The Oilers are in danger of letting another season of the Connor McDavid-Leon Draisaitl era go to waste due to shoddy goaltending. Edmonton entered Sunday ranked 24th in the league with an .896 save percentage in all situations since Nov. 1. Acquiring a goalie midseason is no easy task, but it has to be priority No. 1 for Ken Holland before the trade deadline.17. Boston Bruins (16-10-2)Previous rank: 16thCook up some Pasta. This season, David Pastrnak isn't producing at anywhere near the rate we've grown accustomed to over his career. He's only managed eight goals through 27 contests, and it's clear Boston needs its top sniper to get rolling if it wants to be a contender.18. Winnipeg Jets (15-11-5)Previous rank: 20thExtend Pierre-Luc Dubois ASAP. Dubois appears to have put last season's difficulties permanently in the rearview mirror, as he ranks second on the Jets in goals (12) and points (25). He's a restricted free agent this summer, and it'd be wise for Winnipeg to lock him up before his future cap hit grows even bigger.19. Los Angeles Kings (16-12-5)Previous rank: 18thImprove on special teams. The Kings have been solid at five-on-five, but they'll be kicking themselves for their play in other departments if they miss out on a playoff spot in a wide-open Pacific Division. They entered Sunday ranked 24th on both the power-play and penalty kill.20. Dallas Stars (15-12-2)Previous rank: 19thShoot the puck more. Yes, the Stars have been a defensive-minded team for years, and their shot-suppression stats show that's still the case. But Dallas has skilled offensive players (when healthy), and yet it still sits in the middle of the pack in shots per game and ranks in the bottom third of the league in goals.21. San Jose Sharks (17-15-1)Previous rank: 21stFigure out a direction. Are the Sharks truly rebuilding? Are they just retooling? What are they going to do with Evander Kane and Tomas Hertl? San Jose must decide how to proceed - not just ahead of this year's trade deadline but in regards to the long-term plan and how it affects the club's core.22. Philadelphia Flyers (13-13-6)Previous rank: 23rdFix the power play. The Flyers aren't bad at killing penalties, but their performance with the man advantage has been unacceptable considering the number of playmakers they employ. Philadelphia ranks near the bottom of the NHL in power-play success, and that needs to improve significantly.23. Columbus Blue Jackets (15-14-1)Previous rank: 25thBe better on the road. Playing away from home is obviously harder than being in a friendly environment, but the Blue Jackets need to improve when they're not at Nationwide Arena. Columbus is 5-10-0 on the road this season - only four teams have been worse.24. Detroit Red Wings (15-15-3)Previous rank: 22ndBe patient. There's no way Steve Yzerman would entertain any other method when it comes to building his team, but Red Wings fans need not jump the gun either. The building blocks for Detroit's roster are mostly in place, so let 2022 be a precursor of what's to come.25. Chicago Blackhawks (11-17-4)Previous rank: 24thGet Marc-Andre Fleury to a contender. The Blackhawks loaded up in the offseason, and Fleury's addition was one of several moves that raised the team's expectations. But it clearly hasn't worked out, and this club needs to retool. Doing the veteran goalie and pending UFA a solid by trading him to a playoff hopeful for future assets would be a win for all involved.26. New York Islanders (10-12-6)Previous rank: 28thListen to Wayne Gretzky. The Islanders have taken the second-fewest shots at five-on-five in the league and, as a result, have scored the fewest goals. Hopefully, they just need to remember The Great One's iconic mantra: "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take."27. New Jersey Devils (13-15-5)Previous rank: 29thStop giving up shorthanded goals. Who do the Devils have to make a deal with in order to sort out their power play? They've given up the most shorthanded goals in the league and are tied for the second-fewest goals on the man advantage. Nearly one-third of the goals scored on the Devils' power play have gone into their net.28. Ottawa Senators (9-18-2)Previous rank: 27thDon't compare rebuilds. Every team's situation is different and complex - even the struggling ones. The Senators have promising young players at the NHL level and in the pipeline alike, and it's going to take time for them all to fully blossom. Ottawa can't get hung up looking at how other clubs are progressing. The organization just needs to focus on what it has and what it can do to get better.29. Seattle Kraken (10-19-4)Previous rank: 26thThou shalt not covet thy neighbor's success. Repeat after us: Not all new teams are going to make the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural year. Unfortunately for the Kraken, their disappointing first campaign is exacerbated by the fact that they had to follow the Golden Knights as the next expansion team. It'll all be OK, there's always next season.30. Buffalo Sabres (10-17-6)Previous rank: 30thJust make progress. Nobody expects the Sabres to seriously compete this season. But even amid another lost campaign, there have been encouraging signs. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Alex Tuch, Tage Thompson, and Peyton Krebs have made Buffalo a little more fun to watch recently despite the team's woes. As tempting as it is to fully tank for a shot at another No. 1 pick, it would be wiser to see the new core develop and help the squad avoid the basement.31. Montreal Canadiens (7-23-4)Previous rank: 31stWin the tank. The Canadiens clearly aren't making a miracle run for a second straight year, so they might as well do all they can to give themselves the best odds at securing the No. 1 selection in the 2022 draft, which happens to be in Montreal. Shane Wright would be one heck of a prize after a season that's yielded almost nothing to be excited about on the ice.32. Arizona Coyotes (6-21-3)Previous rank: 32ndGet more than 30 wins in 2022. The Coyotes really aren't doing much this season, so they might as well compete against themselves. Arizona won 30 games in the 2021 calendar year. Let's see if they can go for 31 in 2022.(Analytics sources: Evolving Hockey, Natural Stat Trick)Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett has been suspended three games for a hit to the head of Montreal Canadiens forward Cedric Paquette, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced Sunday.The play occurred during the first period of Florida's 5-2 victory Saturday. Paquette left the game but did return, while Bennett wasn't penalized.

Pittsburgh Penguins forwards Bryan Rust and Jake Guentzel made an instant impact when they returned to the lineup during Sunday's 8-5 victory against the San Jose Sharks.Guentzel scored during the Penguins' productive six-goal opening frame, while Rust potted his fifth career hat trick after lighting the lamp twice in the first period and capping it off with an empty-netter. Rust also added two assists for a tidy five-point game.Pittsburgh activated the pair off injured reserve earlier on in the day.Rust sat out 11 games with a lower-body ailment before Sunday's contest, marking the second time this season that the 29-year-old has missed time due to injury.Guentzel, meanwhile, sat out the Penguins' last five games with an upper-body injury. The 27-year-old winger was riding a 13-game point streak before being sidelined.Both players slotted onto the top line.

Target Field in Minneapolis was already going to serve as a picturesque backdrop for the 2022 NHL Winter Classic, but the freezing temperature produced even more compelling images than the league's typical stadium spectacles.The open-air contest, which the St. Louis Blues won 6-4 over the Minnesota Wild, was the coldest outdoor game in NHL history based on the minus-8 degrees Fahrenheit reading recorded at puck drop, according to Bally Sports Midwest.Here are 10 indelible images from the chilly tilt:The Blues hilariously arrived at the ballpark in beach clothes despite the subzero conditions. Eliot J. Schechter / National Hockey League / GettyThe cold left several of the players, including Blues captain Ryan O'Reilly, with some frozen facial hair. David Berding / Getty Images Sport / GettyJordan Kyrou could see his breath, but he had the hot hand, too. The Blues forward ultimately collected two goals and two assists, setting an NHL outdoor game record with four points in the win. Eliot J. Schechter / National Hockey League / GettyThe spotlight shone on Wild star Kirill Kaprizov during pregame introductions, and he would ultimately be the best player for the home squad, notching a goal and two assists. Patrick McDermott / National Hockey League / GettyPlaying under the lights is always scenic, and Saturday night was no different. Harrison Barden / Getty Images Sport / Getty Scott Rovak / National Hockey League / GettyKyrou celebrated his second goal of the game in style. Patrick McDermott / National Hockey League / GettyThe Blues' Robert Thomas and Wild's Ryan Hartman got acquainted after falling to the ice together in the third period. Patrick McDermott / National Hockey League / GettyThe aerial view of the field showed off the full scope of the hockey setup. NHL Images / National Hockey League / GettySure, the Wild lost, but that didn't stop the Target Field crew from setting off some impressive fireworks. Eliot J. Schechter / National Hockey League / GettyCopyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner and defenseman Rasmus Sandin returned to the team's lineup Saturday against the Ottawa Senators.Marner hadn't played since Dec. 1 due to a shoulder injury he suffered after colliding with teammate Jake Muzzin in practice. Heading into Saturday's game, the winger ranked fifth on the team with 21 points in 24 outings.Sandin was injured during a Dec. 5 game against the Winnipeg Jets when he was on the wrong end of a knee-on-knee hit from Neal Pionk, who was suspended two games for the play. Entering play, the 21-year-old Swede registered eight assists in 25 games this season while averaging 16:15 per contest, and he led all qualified NHL defensemen with a 62.5% expected goals share, per Natural Stat Trick.Here's how the Leafs lined up in practice on Friday:

With the calendar flipping over to 2022, we're highlighting five NHL teams hockey fans should keep a close eye on. Remember, this is for the next 12 months, not just the remainder of the 2021-22 campaign. And it can be for a variety of reasons, too: on-ice excitement, off-ice drama, and more. Let's dive in.Minnesota Wild Bruce Kluckhohn / National Hockey League / GettyThe Wild are in prime position to make a major splash at the trade deadline. Not only are they one of the most complete teams in the league, but there's financial motivation for them to go all-in this season.The Ryan Suter and Zach Parise buyouts combine for $4.7 million in dead cap this season. Next year, however, that increases to $12.7 million and rises again to $14.7 million in 2023-24 and 2024-25, before coming off the books entirely.It's evident that this season presents a window of opportunity.The Wild have one major hole to fill: center. That will be highly difficult to address over the next three seasons, but it could be done this year with a rental. Tomas Hertl and Claude Giroux would be ideal fits if they're available.Pittsburgh Penguins Joe Sargent / National Hockey League / GettyEvgeni Malkin has yet to play this season, Sidney Crosby has missed 12 games, and Bryan Rust has missed 18. And yet, the Penguins find themselves rather comfortably in a playoff spot with a .650 points percentage.The Pens will be fascinating to watch in 2022 for several reasons. Firstly, how will Malkin look in his return from offseason knee surgery? He's optimistic because the last season he played coming off knee surgery, he won the Hart Trophy. He's 35 years old now, though.Pittsburgh is also in a prime position to buy at the deadline. While the club may not have a ton of cap space, this team is clearly in go-for-it mode considering Crosby, Malkin, Kris Letang, and Co. are in the twilight of their careers. Tristan Jarry's play in goal gives the front office even more reason to push all of their chips forward.Speaking of Letang, he and Malkin are both pending unrestricted free agents. It feels incredibly unlikely that either of them leaves Pittsburgh, but crazier things have happened. In a perfect world, Malkin and Letang re-sign cheaply, giving the Pens more flexibility to make moves that can extend their Cup window before the core is too old.Toronto Maple Leafs Steve Russell / Toronto Star / GettyFor the second consecutive season, the Maple Leafs have one of the best records in the NHL. Everyone in Toronto knows it doesn't mean anything if the team crumbles come playoff time again, though.If the Leafs do lose in the opening round of the playoffs for a sixth consecutive year, you can bet there will be wholesale changes. It would likely result in the team firing head coach Sheldon Keefe, who's been at the helm for the last two choke jobs. Whether fair or not, Toronto would probably get rid of general manager Kyle Dubas as well. Heck, even president Brendan Shanahan might be on thin ice.And, regardless of who's making the decisions in the front office, another postseason failure could spell the end of the team's "core four," with Mitch Marner as the most logical candidate to be traded.On the flip side, if Toronto does win its first playoff series since 2004, getting that gigantic weight off the team's shoulders may cause a breakthrough, leading the Leafs to go on a deep playoff run. None of it will be easy, though. Unless Toronto wins the Atlantic Division, it'll likely have to face either the Tampa Bay Lightning or Florida Panthers in Round 1.Regardless of how the Leafs' season ends, it's going to be fascinating for the neutral observer to watch.Vancouver Canucks Jeff Vinnick / National Hockey League / GettyThe Canucks dug themselves what looked like an insurmountable hole early in the season. After 25 games, they were 8-15-2 and owned the fourth-worst points percentage in the NHL. Then Bruce Boudreau was hired as the new head coach.Boudreau led the Canucks to seven straight wins to begin his tenure before finally losing his first game Thursday. The winning steak has miraculously vaulted Vancouver back into playoff contention. It's still going to be an uphill battle, but Boudreau has given them a chance, and if they can somehow squeak into the playoffs, he'll be a favorite for the Jack Adams Award.The other wrinkle that makes Vancouver interesting to follow this year is new president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford, who's also doubling as interim GM. Who will he hire as his protege? And how soon will he start making moves?Rutherford has long been known as an aggressive executive unafraid to pull the trigger on big trades. With significant holes on defense, will the 72-year-old make any in-season upgrades? Or will he wait until the offseason to start leaving his mark? One thing we do know is everything is on the table with Rutherford.Vegas Golden Knights Ethan Miller / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Golden Knights will be must-see TV down the stretch for one primary reason: Jack Eichel.Not only will the hockey world be glued to see how the superstar center performs with his new team, but an immediately successful return could be groundbreaking for the medical field as well.If Eichel returns with no hiccups, his artificial disc replacement surgery will almost certainly become much more common among athletes. Concern over the relatively new surgery was a driving factor that led to his trade from the Buffalo Sabres. Eichel was the first NHLer to have the procedure, and even though he's yet to return, it's already caused a ripple effect, as Chicago Blackhawks forward Tyler Johnson had ADR surgery as well in December.But back to the on-ice ramifications, all eyes will be on Eichel to see how he gels with his new teammates. It's widely expected that he'll center the club's top line between wingers Mark Stone and Max Pacioretty, the latter of whom is also injured right now. However, Chandler Stephenson is doing his best to hold down that spot by playing at a point-per-game pace.How short will Eichel's leash be between Stone and Pacioretty? If it doesn't work, would Vegas break up the "Misfit Line" to accommodate Eichel? It will be interesting to see how the team is lined up come playoff time. The safe bet is Eichel on the first line and Stephenson on the third.(Cap source: CapFriendly)Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

He did it in anti-climactic fashion, but Washington Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin ultimately moved past Dave Andreychuk on Friday night for the most power-play goals in NHL history.Ovechkin blasted home a goal as a power play was expiring late in the Capitals' 3-1 victory against the Detroit Red Wings and was credited with his 275th career marker on the man advantage.The official scorer initially ruled that it came on the power play but changed it to an even-strength goal shortly thereafter. Then, once the game concluded, the league reviewed the play and reversed course again, awarding the 36-year-old a goal on the man advantage.Here are the league's all-time leaders in that category:PlayerGPPPGAlex Ovechkin1230275Dave Andreychuk1639274Brett Hull1269265Teemu Selanne1451255Luc Robitaille1431247Ovechkin has done more than one-third of his damage from his "office" on power plays.

The NHL has postponed the following nine games due to various attendance restrictions across Canada:DateHomeAwayJan. 3OTTMIN*Jan. 4SEANYIJan. 5VANNYIJan. 8EDMNYIJan. 11CGYNYIJan. 12EDMMINJan. 14EDMVGKJan. 15CGYVGKJan. 16WPGEDM*To be rescheduled due to the Islanders' three other road game postponements.Most provinces have set capacity limits due to rising COVID-19 numbers. Ontario, for example, has set a 1,000-person limit at indoor sporting venues. Alberta and British Columbia, meanwhile, are currently allowed 50% capacity, and Manitoba has a 250-person limit.The NHL has yet to establish make-up dates.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We have a busy weekend ahead. There are 13 games scheduled over the next couple of days as we end 2021 and bring in the new year.With so many games, there's plenty of value on the board. Let's get into it with our best bets.Oilers (-150) @ Devils (+130)

There were plenty of avenues to throw money around in 2021 as we returned to a normal sports schedule.The past 12 months offered some incredible moments, from league champions and award winners to remarkable individual performances. We look back at 2021 to uncover the best bets from the past year in sports.Canada: Women's soccer gold (+1200) Naomi Baker / Getty Images Sport / Getty"With illusions of someday

Most of the major NHL storylines this year were of a negative nature, and they ranged from disappointing and frustrating to downright disturbing. However, there were also some bright spots in an otherwise difficult 2021.Here are the league's 10 biggest stories of the year:COVID-19 continues to proliferate David Berding / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe pandemic affected the NHL as it did the world at large for much of 2021, even before the Omicron variant made things significantly worse. Players, coaches, and staff members landed in protocol throughout the year. The Montreal Canadiens had to place bench boss Dominique Ducharme on the list during the playoffs, making him miss the first two games of the Stanley Cup Final.The emergence of the Delta variant left the league largely unchanged at the start of the 2021-22 season. Omicron's arrival forced the NHL to take drastic measures regarding the Olympics and its own schedule as more than 100 players entered protocols. The NHL postponed over 60 games and expanded its holiday break from three days to six in an effort to stop the spread.Play resumed on Tuesday, and the league later aligned with recent CDC guidance by cutting its isolation period in half for vaccinated players. But the spike in cases and some poor planning by the IIHF also led to the cancellation of the World Junior Championship midway through the tournament on Wednesday. It's clear COVID-19 is likely to remain a significant concern both for the NHL and society as a whole in 2022.Blackhawks scandal Raymond Boyd / Michael Ochs Archives / GettyThe Chicago Blackhawks' sexual abuse scandal shook the NHL to its core. In late October, the results of an independent investigation led to resignations both within the organization - most notably general manager Stan Bowman - and from others like Florida Panthers head coach Joel Quenneville, who had been Chicago's bench boss in 2010.The probe revealed Blackhawks management failed to act promptly after learning about allegations of sexually inappropriate behavior toward a player during the team's playoff run that year. Kyle Beach, a player who was referred to but not named in the investigation, later revealed himself as the "John Doe" from the lawsuit he filed against the team in May. Beach said in the lawsuit that then-video coach Brad Aldrich sexually assaulted him and another player in 2010 and that the team covered it up.Beach's courageous decision to come forward and the fallout from the independent inquiry forced the NHL to act, but the league did little to address the matter. Commissioner Gary Bettman held a video call with Beach, during which the ex-player questioned the league's handling of his allegations. Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly held a press conference to discuss the NHL's response but were criticized for not taking more responsibility and ignoring TSN's Rick Westhead - whose reporting on the story was the most consequential - until other media members called them out on his behalf.In December - less than a week before Beach and the Blackhawks reached a confidential settlement - the league extended its "commitment to inclusion, diversity, safety, and respect," which included mandatory training sessions for all team personnel. But between the 90-minute sessions and the $2-million fine (relative to the team's reported $1.4-billion net worth) the NHL imposed on the Blackhawks in October, the league's actions in the wake of the scandal remain insufficient.Canadiens draft Logan Mailloux Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyMost of the hockey world was shocked when the Montreal Canadiens selected Logan Mailloux in July's draft. The Canadiens chose the London Knights defenseman with the 31st pick despite the fact that he asked for his name to be withdrawn from consideration three days earlier.Mailloux made the request in light of being fined for invasion of privacy and defamation in 2020 after taking an offensive photo of a woman without her consent during a sexual encounter and distributing it.Bettman didn't hold back when asked about Montreal's decision to draft Mailloux, saying he was "stunned" and what the player did was "horrific." Some called on the Canadiens to renounce the pick, and even Canadian Prime Minister and lifelong Habs fan Justin Trudeau voiced his concern, saying he was "deeply disappointed" with the club.The OHL suspended Mailloux indefinitely in September. The league ultimately reinstated him Wednesday, citing the fact the 18-year-old had taken part in therapy and counseling since being temporarily banned.Olympic participation NOEL CELIS / AFP / GettyThe NHL ultimately decided against taking part in the upcoming Beijing Olympics due to the aforementioned spike in COVID-19 cases.However, from a tentative 18-day Olympic break in the NHL schedule to the competing countries naming management personnel, coaches, and even a few players per squad, the league's participation seemed plausible for the vast majority of the year until it suddenly became evident it wasn't.While it's disappointing the games will once again lack a best-on-best hockey tournament, the NHL unquestionably made the right decision.Kucherov misses regular season, then helps Bolts repeat Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Tampa Bay Lightning claimed their second consecutive championship when they vanquished the Montreal Canadiens over five games in July. The star-studded and well-rounded club remained on top despite playing without Nikita Kucherov for the entire 2021 regular season due to injury.The Lightning gained some financial flexibility by placing the Russian star on long-term injured reserve before activating him for the playoffs - when the cap no longer applies. Tampa Bay's detractors complained about this throughout the campaign, but by all accounts, the team did nothing illicit in the process.Those who whined about the Lightning's cap gymnastics should've instead directed their ire toward the league's own rules. Kucherov is on LTIR once again in 2021-22 after getting hurt three games in, and the Lightning have remained near the top of the standings without him.Kraken released Christopher Mast / National Hockey League / GettyThe NHL's first expansion team since 2017-18 joined the league for real this past year. Yes, the Seattle Kraken franchise was born in December 2018 and revealed its name in July 2020. Beginning with free agency and the expansion draft, the club took shape and then took the ice in 2021.Seattle made a few splashes in free agency and could have done so in the draft, but instead opted to pass on big-ticket stars like Carey Price and Vladimir Tarasenko in favor of more affordable selections. That strategy might pay off down the road, and there was no way rival general managers would let the Kraken fleece them as the Vegas Golden Knights did four years ago. But, ultimately Seattle has been underwhelming so far in its inaugural campaign.Still, the Kraken's arrival was a significant subplot this year, and after hearing so much about Seattle's potential as an NHL market, it was fun to see that assertion validated with raucous home crowds. If and when the team starts winning, Climate Pledge Arena could be one of the loudest buildings in the league.McDavid's dominance Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyNo NHL player had a better calendar year than Connor McDavid. The Edmonton Oilers superstar racked up a mind-boggling 105 points over 56 games last season en route to becoming the first unanimous Hart Trophy winner since Wayne Gretzky and only the second ever.McDavid isn't quite maintaining that absurd pace in the current campaign, but he's once again the favorite to claim MVP honors. The Oilers captain, who'll turn 25 on Jan. 13, continues to prove his unparalleled value.Ovi's pursuit of The Great One Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyAlex Ovechkin's ascent up the NHL's all-time goals list was a persistent storyline throughout 2021. The Washington Capitals sniper passed Mike Gartner for seventh in February, leapfrogged Phil Esposito for sixth in March, surpassed Marcel Dionne for fifth in October, and supplanted Brett Hull for fourth in November.Ovi's chances of catching Wayne Gretzky for the record remains a frequent debate in hockey circles. The Russian superstar has been fantastic at age 36, and Gretzky himself even said earlier in December he believes his record will fall.The Eichel saga Ethan Miller / Getty Images Sport / GettyJack Eichel's dispute with the Buffalo Sabres dragged on for a significant stretch of the year before it was finally resolved in early November. The injured captain wanted to undergo a procedure never before performed on an NHL player, and the team refused to approve it.The stalemate eventually forced the Sabres to strip Eichel of the "C." After months of trade talks, Buffalo finally dealt him to the Golden Knights along with a third-round pick for prospect Peyton Krebs, forward Alex Tuch, a first-rounder, and a second-rounder. Eichel underwent his desired surgery shortly afterward and may be on track to make his Vegas debut in January or February 2022.Coyotes' dysfunction plummets to new lows Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyOne of the NHL's most evergreen storylines took a few more twists in 2021. The Arizona Coyotes' uncertain future is usually what keeps the team in the headlines, and several scandals ensured that once again. In February, the club came under fire following a report detailing financial and interpersonal issues within the organization.In August, the city of Glendale told the Coyotes it wouldn't renew the operating agreement for Gila River Arena, meaning the 2021-22 season would be the club's last in the facility. The Coyotes then filed a bid for a new arena in nearby Tempe, but the situation involving their current home escalated further a few months later.On Dec. 9, Glendale threatened to lock the team out of Gila River Arena if their debt of more than $1 million in unpaid taxes and fees wasn't resolved in the next 11 days. The Coyotes blamed human error and said the next day that they'd paid up in full, a claim multiple reports later contradicted.As if that wasn't enough, one week before their latest arena drama began, both the Coyotes and Bettman had to deny rumors that the team was on the market with plans to relocate to Houston. It's clear this club will continue to be a talking point in 2022.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Flyers placed forward Sean Couturier on injured reserve Thursday with an upper-body injury.He's week-to-week.Couturier skated in the Flyers' Dec. 18 contest before the league's pause due to rising COVID-19 cases. He was placed in the NHL's protocol Dec. 21 and missed the Flyers' first game back against the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday.The 29-year-old has six goals and 11 assists in 29 contests this season while leading all forwards on the team with 20:23 of ice time per game.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Patrik Laine is officially back.The Columbus Blue Jackets sniper played Thursday night against the Nashville Predators for the first time since Nov. 3. Laine missed 19 games during that span due to an oblique injury."It's been a frustrating two months sitting on the sideline and just watching other guys play and not being able to help," Laine said earlier Thursday, according to NHL.com's Craig Merz. The winger added that he was excited to play and "definitely ready."The Blue Jackets could use the boost. The club started the season 6-3-0 with Laine in the lineup but went 8-10-1 without him. Columbus was just 2-7-1 in its last 10 games entering Thursday's contest.Laine was off to a strong start before the injury, tallying three goals and seven assists in nine appearances.The Finnish forward skated on the team's top line with captain Boone Jenner and veteran playmaker Jakub Voracek.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ontario is reducing capacity limits inside sporting venues to 1,000 people due to rising COVID-19 cases, the province announced Thursday.The new limit will go into effect Friday, impacting professional sports teams like the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators, and NBA's Toronto Raptors.Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment venues such as Scotiabank Arena - which hosts the Raptors and Maple Leafs - will transition to operating without any sold tickets effective Dec. 31 except for league and team requirements for up to 1,000 per game, MLSE announced.The Maple Leafs and Senators both played all of last season without fans. The Leafs were allowed to host 550 vaccinated healthcare workers during their final playoff game.The Raptors, meanwhile, took up residence in Tampa Bay last season due to the pandemic.All three clubs were able to have full crowds for the majority of their current seasons until the Ontario government set a 50% cap in mid-December.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's unclear when Max Pacioretty will return to the Vegas Golden Knights' lineup after the forward underwent wrist surgery Thursday.It's Pacioretty's second significant injury this season. The skilled forward missed just under six weeks from mid-October to late November with a lower-body ailment.The 33-year-old has performed sensationally when healthy in 2021-22, racking up 12 goals and nine assists over 16 games.Pacioretty produced only two points - both assists - over his last five contests. However, he was on a tear before that, scoring in seven straight games while amassing 10 markers and four helpers over that span.The veteran is in his fourth season with the Golden Knights, who acquired him in a 2018 trade with the Montreal Canadiens. Pacioretty led Vegas in scoring during the 2019-20 campaign when he tallied 32 goals and 66 points in 71 games. He missed seven tilts last season but registered 24 goals and 27 assists across 48 games.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Everyone loses bets. Most of us lose bets daily. But regardless of the monetary value attached to them, not all losses are the same.We all know those bets - the ones that go so awry they leave you humiliated and humbled. We're talking about the takes so bad they have us questioning our entire process and wondering if we know anything at all.We like to think we've made some pretty good calls this year, but here are the bets we made in 2021 that were equally as bad:Angels to win the World Series (+5500) Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images Sport / GettyI didn't actually think the Angels would win the World Series, but I did think 55-1 was a terrible price - one I couldn't pass up. I expected Los Angeles to reach the postseason, at which point I could easily hedge. Turns out 55-1 wasn't a generous price. In fact, it was too short.The Angels hovered around, or below, the .500 mark for the bulk of the campaign before throwing in the towel in September. L.A. never even threatened to push for a playoff spot, wasting Shohei Ohtani's historic season. This would have been a bad bet at 75-1.The worst part? I ignored all the preseason chatter about Ohtani being a great MVP value at 50-1, which I genuinely agreed with, and decided I would put my money on his club instead. My logic? If Ohtani truly did have an MVP-caliber campaign, the Angels - with Mike Trout alongside him - would be a playoff lock. So instead of holding a 50-1 winner on Ohtani, I held a 55-1 loser on the dumpster team he carried from the basement to mediocrity.Hardly my finest hour.- Alex MorettoBears to win the Super Bowl (+5000) Emilee Chinn / Getty Images Sport / GettyTransport yourself back to February 2021 when the Buccaneers were fresh off a Super Bowl victory behind a new quarterback and a stacked roster around him. "You know who that sounds like?" I told myself. "The Chicago Bears!"That was months before the Bears decided their new quarterback wouldn't be Deshaun Watson or Russell Wilson, or even Carson Wentz. No, Chicago would settle for Andy Dalton and pair him with rookie Justin Fields behind one of the worst offensive lines in football. How'd that work out?My biggest mistake, in hindsight, was thinking this squad was a quarterback away. Allen Robinson and David Montgomery haven't even been discount stars, let alone productive ones, while the Bears' talent-rich defense (or so I thought) has allowed 24.9 points per game. Even Tom Brady would have had trouble elevating this group, which is likely still a few years away.- C Jackson CowartBen Simmons to win MVP (+25000) Jesse D. Garrabrant / National Basketball Association / GettyLook, you can never be too mad about a 250-1 long shot, especially one on a player as talented as Ben Simmons. But you almost couldn't script a worse start to a season than what we've seen from Simmons, who demanded a trade in August, was kicked out of practice and suspended in October, and is away from the 76ers with no end in sight. Not exactly what you'd hope to see from an MVP hopeful!The worst part was just how effusively I praised the value of this ticket - which, in hindsight, would have been better spent on quite literally any other player in the league. I guess that just means he'll be an even bigger value next year ... right?- CowartChiefs -3 (Super Bowl vs. Bucs) Patrick Smith / Getty Images Sport / GettyBetting against Brady is rarely a fun proposition. He consistently gets the most out of his supporting cast, and he sure did have a good one in Tampa Bay - the team was essentially flawless. The Bucs ranked top-five in DVOA on both sides of the ball, and despite having the best quarterback of all-time calling shots in the biggest event in sports, I backed the Chiefs as favorites. Boy, did I pay for it.Kansas City fell behind 21-6 in the first half and was never really in the game, resulting in a 31-9 Tampa victory. And I really didn't have much reason to expect anything different. The Bucs, with an elite defense and top-tier offense, neutralized the Chiefs' exceptional offense and exposed their pedestrian defensive unit. It seems so simple in hindsight, but the aura of Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City offense blinded me. Lesson learned.- Todd CordellKraken to win the Stanley Cup (+20000) Abbie Parr / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe price is not the problem here. Many projection models had the Kraken as a playoff contender. In that regard, it'd be ignorant not to throw at least some lunch money on Seattle. But this bet couldn't look much worse.The Kraken rank 28th in wins, points, and goal differential. The squad doesn't have much firepower up front, and its goaltending has been mind-numbingly bad. Netminding was supposed to be a strength - Seattle brought in a Vezina finalist from a year ago - but given the unrivaled variance at the position, I probably shouldn't have backed a team whose biggest strength was supposed to be its play between the pipes.- CordellLoyola-Chicago ML -300 (vs. Oregon State) Jack Dempsey / NCAA Photos / GettyKeep the emotions out of it - it's the number one rule of sports betting. And yet, after Loyola-Chicago knocked off Illinois in the second round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament - wiping out my 100-1 Illini futures ticket - I bought into the Ramblers days later as big favorites against Oregon State.Unable or unwilling to acknowledge that Loyola-Chicago merely played its best game of the year or that Illinois played its worst, I paid the price as I watched the Ramblers stink it up against the Beavers, beating me for the second time that week. It was Betting 101, and I failed the pop quiz.- Matt RussellMike Zimmer to win Coach of the Year (+2500) Stephen Maturen / Getty Images Sport / GettyBefore the season, I thought that instead of betting the Vikings to win the division at +275, you might as well take Zimmer to win Coach of the Year at 10x the payout. If Minnesota won the NFC North, he would likely get credit for the team's success. I stand by the premise. Even with hindsight, the Vikings could have won the division. Just look at its losses:OPPONENTSCOREKEY PLAY@CIN27-24Dalvin Cook fumble in OT@AZ34-33Missed FG with 0:00 leftvs DAL20-16Cooper Rush GW TD drive@BAL34-31Blew 14-point lead@DET29-27Lions first win (w/ 0:00 left)However, the issue isn't that Minnesota has lost several close games, it's that the losses are almost entirely a direct result of poor coaching from Zimmer. Not only has he not done a good job, but he also seems helpless when the contests get close late - which they inevitably do, courtesy of a baffling gameplan whenever the Vikings jump out to a lead. Minnesota has led by at least six points in every game this season but sits at 7-7 thanks to Zimmer's ineptitude.That adds some rich irony to a Coach Of The Year bet.- RussellOklahoma to win the National Championship (+800) Ron Jenkins / Getty Images Sport / GettyUnlike my Angels future, I firmly believed in Oklahoma winning the National Championship. It's not even that I just thought the Sooners had a chance - I legitimately thought they were the favorites behind Lincoln Riley, Spencer Rattler, and what I told people was "a roster absolutely loaded at every position."Oklahoma was -150 to win the Big 12, and I thought even that was disrespectful. Nothing was going to stop this juggernaut from waltzing to a conference title, playoff berth, and a likely Natty. Fast forward four months and Rattler has transferred to South Carolina - like, seriously?! - after being benched halfway through the campaign, and the Sooners aren't even playing in a New Year's Six bowl. Congrats on the Alamo Bowl, though, Oklahoma. Impressive stuff.The season started badly as the Sooners scraped out a 40-35 victory against Tulane as 31-point favorites. Oklahoma rattled off nine straight wins to start the year, and each one was less convincing than the previous. At no point did the Sooners resemble anything close to title contenders before Baylor finally put them out of their misery. Lincoln Riley couldn't leave town fast enough, and the bulk of their star-studded 2023 California recruiting class followed suit. I feel like I am entirely to blame for cursing the Oklahoma football program.At least with Riley gone, I won't be suckered into wasting more money on the team next year.- MorettoCopyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. 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Throughout a busy 2021 schedule, athletes treated fans to remarkable and awe-inspiring performances. With the year winding down, theScore looked back at an exciting 12 months and voted on its top 21 sportspeople.21-17 I 16-12 I 11-7 I 6-2 I No. 1 (Dec. 31)6. Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyMcDavid took his otherworldly game to another planet over the calendar year. The NHL's MVP in 2016-17 authored a season for the ages in 2021, reclaiming the Hart Trophy after helping teammate Leon Draisaitl win it in 2019-20. As if McDavid's 105 points in 56 games weren't impressive enough, he became the league's first unanimous MVP since Wayne Gretzky nearly 40 years ago, and only the second ever. The soon-to-be 25-year-old isn't on last season's mind-boggling pace this campaign, but he's still been the Hart favorite over the first two months of 2021-22.5. Caeleb Dressel, swimming Maddie Meyer / Getty Images Sport / GettyBurdened by the impossible expectation of becoming the next Michael Phelps, American swimmer Caeleb Dressel somehow lived up to the hype in Tokyo. Dressel won more gold medals than 189 of the 205 nations at the games. One of only five swimmers to claim five golds at a single Olympics, Dressel's dominance was best displayed in the 50-meter freestyle. The shortest race in the pool is usually won by a tiny fraction of a second, but Dressel's 0.48-second margin of victory is the largest in Olympic history.4. Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images / MediaNews Group / GettyWhat Ohtani accomplished this year was simply unprecedented. Fans will note he's the first two-way star since Babe Ruth, but not even The Great Bambino came close to Ohtani's 2021. Ruth is best known for being a great pitcher while also being the best hitter of all time, but 1918 was the only campaign he threw at least 150 innings while making 300 plate appearances. Meanwhile, Ohtani hit 46 homers, led the league with eight triples, and authored a 3.18 ERA over 23 starts en route to winning the AL MVP unanimously. If baseball fans ever see a season better than this again, it'll undoubtedly be Ohtani topping himself.3. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks Andrew D. Bernstein / National Basketball Association / GettyAntetokounmpo had a dream 2021 for the Bucks. After committing his long-term future to the club with a super-max extension late last year, the Greek-born Nigerian superstar finally brought Milwaukee its second championship in franchise history, and the first since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar led the team in 1971. Like Abdul-Jabbar, he was also named Finals MVP. That was partly thanks to one of the greatest title-clinching performances ever, in which he put up a playoff-career-high 50 points in Game 6 along with 14 rebounds and five blocks. He also converted 17-of-19 free throws, purging the struggles that daunted him at the charity stripe all postseason long.2. Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images Sport / GettyBrady somehow managed to take his incredible career to another level in 2021. After a magnificent postseason run in January with wins over Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers, the 43-year-old capped his first season away from Bill Belichick by toppling the Patrick Mahomes-led Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV. Brady added a seventh ring to his resume while becoming the oldest quarterback in history to start the Super Bowl, win, and receive the MVP award. The GOAT keeps defying Father Time. This season, he's already led the Bucs to their first division title since 2007 while being the most productive passer in the NFL.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We have seven games to comb through tonight, which means there are plenty of appealing shot totals.Let's take a closer look at a few of my favorites.Filip Forsberg over 2.5 shots on goal (-125)Filip Forsberg is one of the most consistent volume shooters in the NHL, rarely passing up the opportunity to grip it and rip it. He has certainly done a lot of that recently, piling up 58 attempts and 36 shots on goal over the last 10 games.The Blue Jackets serve as a mouthwatering opponent for a shooter like Forsberg. They've allowed 34.84 shots at five-on-five per 60 over their last 10 games, which slots them 30th in the NHL.Columbus hasn't fared much better suppressing shots on the penalty kill, ranking 25th in shots against per 60 during that time.As the focal point of the offense at even strength and on the man advantage, Forsberg is primed for a big shooting night.Matthew Tkachuk over 2.5 shots on goal (-130)Matthew Tkachuk is pretty consistent at generating shots, but he's even taken things up a notch of late. He ranks fifth among all forwards in attempts (73) over the last 10 games, and that's leading to results as he's registered three shots or more seven times in that span.Tkachuk has turned into somewhat of a road warrior as well, tallying at least three shots in eight of his last 10 games away from home.Even in a slower-paced spot against the Kraken, I see value at this price.Bonus round: Bo Horvat over 2.5 shots on goal (-105). When Bruce Boudreau took over the Canucks, he told some of his key players he'd like to see them shoot more. Message received for Bo Horvat, who leads Vancouver with 28 shots in seven games under Boudreau, good for an average of four shots a night. Horvat has surpassed 2.5 in five of the seven games, including four straight. At near even money, I'm happy to back him to do it again.Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We have a full slate of games for the first time in weeks, with seven scheduled and the expectation that all seven will play. No postponements!There's plenty of value on the board so let's dive into our best bets.Canadiens (+310) @ Hurricanes (-370)I love the Hurricanes tonight, and I'm not sure you could price them high enough for me not to back them against the Canadiens.Carolina is one of the league's best teams and is finally starting to get healthy. Among many other Hurricanes, Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov, Jordan Staal, and Seth Jarvis are back in the mix and expected to play tonight.When they're anywhere close to full health, the Hurricanes are a lot for any team to handle, let alone for a bad Montreal squad decimated by injuries and COVID-19 issues.The Habs have won just two of their last 10 games, which is no coincidence since they've posted a woeful 43% expected goals for percentage at five-on-five during that span.Several absences play a key role in their struggles. It could actually be easier to list the regulars who are available for them rather than the ones who aren't.The Canadiens don't have their first-, second-, or third-string goaltender available, and their forward core has been thinned out to the point that Rafael Harvey-Pinard and Ryan Poehling are playing top-six roles. Meanwhile, on defense, recent waiver pickup Kale Clague finds himself on the second pairing. Things are bad.Montreal has thrown in the towel at this point and is just letting young guys get reps while the losses continue to pile up. I'm expecting another long night for the Habs in Carolina.Bet: Hurricanes -1.5 (-150)Sabres (+175) @ Islanders (-210)The Islanders have won eight times in 26 tries, so I can't get behind them at anywhere close to this price.New York is far from playing its best hockey entering this game, ranking 29th in Corsi For percentage and 23rd in expected goals for percentage over its last 10 games. In both metrics, they slot lower than tonight's opponent: the Sabres.I don't expect a sharp turn of the corner as the Islanders are dealing with plenty of injuries and COVID-related absences, including Ryan Pulock, Brock Nelson, and Kyle Palmieri.Backing Malcolm Subban is a very scary proposition. But with Alex Tuch healthy, and top prospects Peyton Krebs and JJ Peterka up with the big club, Buffalo has enough talent to keep games competitive against fellow basement dwellers.I like the Sabres on the puck line and wouldn't be against sprinkling them on the moneyline.Bet: Sabres +1.5 (-145)Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Wild signed their entire coaching staff to multi-year contract extensions, the team announced Thursday.That includes head coach Dean Evason, assistant coaches Darby Hendrickson, Brett McLean, and Bob Woods, as well as goalie coach Frederic Chabot, and video coaches T.J. Jindra and Jonas Plumb.Evason is in his third season as the club's bench boss. He's guided the squad to a 62-29-7 record in 98 regular-season games.The Wild promoted the 57-year-old from assistant coach to interim head coach during the 2019-20 campaign after firing Bruce Boudreau. He became Minnesota's permanent head coach in July 2020.Evason was a finalist for the Jack Adams Award last season after leading the Wild to a 35-16-5 record - the ninth-best in the NHL. He ultimately lost out to Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour.The Flin Flon, Manitoba, native has the Wild off to another great start in 2021-22, as Minnesota leads the Western Conference with a .667 points percentage.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers got some key reinforcements for Wednesday's tilt against the St. Louis Blues.Goaltender Mike Smith, forward Zach Hyman, and defenseman Duncan Keith all returned to the lineup, as head coach Dave Tippett confirmed in the afternoon.Smith started for the first time since Oct. 19 due to a lower-body injury. He was initially progressing toward a November return before suffering a setback. The 39-year-old veteran has been steady when healthy over the past two seasons, posting a .923 save percentage in 32 games a year ago and a .920 save percentage in three appearances this campaign before Wednesday's contest.Goaltending has been an area of concern in Smith's absence. Mikko Koskinen has been inconsistent, posting a .902 save percentage in 18 games. Rookie Stuart Skinner, who the Oilers loaned to the AHL on Wednesday, has been more effective, owning a .916 save percentage in 10 contests.Hyman, meanwhile, missed Edmonton's last three games due to an upper-body injury. He's been stellar in his first season with the Oilers, collecting 11 goals and eight assists in 27 contests.Keith missed Edmonton's last matchup while in COVID-19 protocol. Another marquee offseason addition, the 38-year-old has recorded five points in 21 games during his first campaign in orange and blue.The Blues defeated the Oilers 4-2 on Wednesday night.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The remainder of the 2022 World Junior Championship has been canceled due to the ongoing spread of COVID-19, the IIHF announced Wednesday.Three preliminary-round contests were called off over the past two days due to a handful of players testing positive."Together with the teams, we came into this event with full confidence in the COVID-19 protocols put in place by the IIHF, the LOC, Alberta Health, Alberta Health Services and the Public Health Agency of Canada," IIHF President Luc Tardif said. "The ongoing spread of COVID-19 and the Omicron variant forced us to readjust our protocols almost immediately upon arrival to attempt to stay ahead of any potential spread. This included daily testing and the team quarantine requirement when positive cases were confirmed.""We owed it to the participating teams to do our best to create the conditions necessary for this event to work," Tardif said. "Unfortunately, this was not enough. We now have to take some time and focus on getting all players and team staff back home safely."Tardif told reporters during a press conference Wednesday night that the IIHF will work over the next month to try to reschedule the tournament at a later date in the year, per TSN.Team USA had two players test positive and had to forfeit its game against Switzerland on Tuesday, while Czechia-Finland and Russia-Slovakia were both canceled Wednesday.Any team that received a positive test result had to enter a mandated quarantine.After Czechia forfeited its contest against the Finns due to one positive test, the IIHF announced that all on-ice game officials at the tournament would be required to wear masks during games as part of enhanced COVID-19 protocols.Last week, the IIHF canceled all upcoming tournaments that would have started in January because of the rapid spread of the Omicron variant.The world juniors, which were held in the Canadian province of Alberta, began Dec. 26. Team Canada forward Cole Perfetti will end the competition as the leading scorer with six points in two games. Sixteen-year-old Connor Bedard led the way in goals after lighting the lamp four times against Austria on Tuesday.Team USA took home the gold medal in 2021.The final game to take place at the 2022 world juniors was Canada's 11-2 victory over Austria.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.