Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid won't face any supplemental discipline after he received a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for boarding Los Angeles Kings forward Adrian Kempe during Sunday's contest, according to Sportsnet's Mark Spector.Here's a look at the play:Kempe was bleeding after the hit but stayed in the game. He scored a goal during the ensuing power play to give the Kings a 3-1 lead. Drew Doughty and Trevor Moore added two more goals with the man advantage to secure a 5-1 victory.This marks the second time in McDavid's career that he was handed a game misconduct, according to Spector. The first instance occurred Jan. 25, 2018, when he pointed to the booth upstairs after scoring a goal in the shootout.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We have a very fun six-game slate on the docket to open up the week. There's a nice mix of games featuring high-end teams and struggling sides with new bench bosses making their debuts.Let's get into our best bets.Senators (+160) @ Devils (-180)The Senators picked up consecutive wins over good teams but make no mistake: They have not played well. The Senators were outshot 80-55, controlled just 42% of the expected goals, and greatly benefited from their two opponents' injuries and rest situations.The Hurricanes gave Frederik Andersen the night off and started Antti Raanta, who allowed three goals on 20 shots (.850 save percentage). Ottawa then squeezed out a 6-5 win over an Avalanche team playing without Nazem Kadri, Cale Makar, Bowen Byram, and Darcy Kuemper.Hats off to the Senators for taking advantage of the opportunities put in front of them but, again, it's not like we're talking about decisive victories.At five-on-five, the Devils should walk all over the Senators, who rank 31st in Corsi For rating over the last 10 games.All of Ottawa's goaltenders - Filip Gustavsson, Anton Forsberg, and Matt Murray - have conceded more goals than expected this season. New Jersey will have the edge there with Mackenzie Blackwood between the pipes.I like the Devils to get back on track at home. And I like them to do it within 60 minutes.Bet: Devils in regulation (-120)Kings (+110) @ Canucks (-130)Vancouver has dropped 10 of its last 13 games and duly made sweeping changes.While the Canucks are definitely flawed, I don't think they've played as poorly as the results suggest. They've controlled nearly 51% of the expected goals at five-on-five over the last 10 games. That's nothing to write home about, but it's not a number you'd expect to see from a team consistently losing games.Their mind-numbingly bad penalty kill is a big reason for their struggles. But a lack of luck also factors into Vancouver only scoring 4% of its five-on-five shots over the last 10 games.Call me crazy, but I don't think opposing goaltenders should be posting .960 save percentages over that stretch against any team, let alone one featuring weapons like Elias Pettersson, Brock Boeser, Conor Garland, J.T. Miller, and Bo Horvat up front. Perhaps the excitement from bringing in a marquee coach could provide the spark the Canucks need.If not that, then Cal Petersen could be just what the doctor ordered. He was very impressive a season ago, but he's not playing well now; he owns a .896 save percentage through 10 appearances. He'll be playing behind a fatigued Kings team against a Canucks side that should have a little extra pep in their step.Bet: Canucks (-130)Bonus round: Anaheim Ducks +1.5 (-135). The Ducks play a lot of one-goal games. They are an above-average side at full strength. With the Capitals missing several regulars due to injuries and COVID-19, I like the Ducks' chances of hanging around in this game.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.

This is the fifth 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 look at the most improved player on each team so far.1. Florida Panthers (17-4-3)Previous rank: 2Anthony Duclair is notoriously streaky, and his goal-scoring has already cooled off after a blistering start. But the Panthers forward is still collecting points on a regular basis while driving possession. He's shown plenty of improvement compared to his previous seven seasons, even if he may eventually regress.2. New York Rangers (16-4-3)Previous rank: 8Chris Kreider has enjoyed some solid seasons from a scoring perspective, but he's never filled the net like this. The Rangers winger has buried 16 goals in 23 games in 2021-22, placing him among the league leaders and putting him on pace for 57 over 82 contests. Kreider probably won't maintain this clip, but he has been New York's most improved player by a wide margin.3. Minnesota Wild (17-6-1)Previous rank: 11Ryan Hartman surprisingly leads the Wild with 13 goals and ranks second with 21 points across 24 games this season. The 27-year-old is now rightfully centering Minnesota's top line between Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello. Hartman is on pace to shatter personal bests of 19 goals and 31 points that he established early in his career.4. Calgary Flames (15-5-5)Previous rank: 6While Andrew Mangiapane has obviously been exceptional, we're going to shed some much-deserved light on Oliver Kylington. The smooth-skating Swedish blue-liner went unclaimed on waivers a year ago, and now he's logging top-four minutes and piling up points on one of the NHL's best teams.5. Toronto Maple Leafs (17-7-2) Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPrevious rank: 5Defenseman Rasmus Sandin has made massive strides in his development this season. The 21-year-old has been limited to sheltered third-pairing minutes, but among NHL blue-liners with at least 300 minutes at five-on-five, he ranks first in expected goals percentage. Unfortunately, he was injured Sunday and his status is up in the air.6. Washington Capitals (15-4-6)Previous rank: 3Aside from Alex Ovechkin's exploits, Ilya Samsonov has been the biggest reason the Capitals have remained so competitive amid a slew of injuries and COVID-19-related absences. The 24-year-old goaltender is 10-1-1 with a .917 save percentage in 13 appearances this season. He's been far more reliable in 2021-22 than he was one season ago.7. Tampa Bay Lightning (15-5-4)Previous rank: 7Cal Foote has taken some time to develop after being selected 14th overall in 2017. He's still not piling up points or playing regularly, but he's been stellar when in the lineup. His 61.3 expected goals percentage is the best among Lightning blue-liners.8. Carolina Hurricanes (16-6-1)Previous rank: 1Many questioned whether signing Frederik Andersen was worth the risk for the Hurricanes. But he's silenced the critics by being one of the NHL's best goalies in 2021-22. He's only played 16 games with Carolina, but the Dane has what would be a career-best .928 save percentage to go along with his 11-5-0 record.9. Edmonton Oilers (16-7-0)Previous rank: 4Jesse Puljujarvi would be a strong choice, but Evan Bouchard is more deserving in our eyes. The Oilers have sustained multiple injuries on the back end, but the 2018 10th overall pick has really stepped up, logging big-time minutes and making significant offensive contributions. A year ago, he couldn't even crack the lineup on a regular basis.10. Dallas Stars (12-7-2) Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPrevious rank: 23Braden Holtby struggled immensely in his first season away from the Capitals last year, posting an .889 save percentage in Vancouver. It's been a different story this year for the former Vezina Trophy winner, who has a .927 save percentage in 11 contests with the Stars.11. Colorado Avalanche (12-7-2)Previous rank: 13It's not Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, or Gabriel Landeskog who leads the Avalanche in points this season. It's Nazem Kadri, the longtime pest whose best offensive efforts before this were four and five years campaigns ago. The 31-year-old is pacing Colorado with 21 assists and 30 points, matching his assist total from last season and sitting within two points over 36 fewer games.12. Anaheim Ducks (13-8-4)Previous rank: 10It has to be Troy Terry, right? The 24-year-old leads the Ducks in both goals (15) and points (25). He recorded just 20 points in 48 games last season.13. Boston Bruins (12-8-1)Previous rank: 9Charlie McAvoy has been great defensively over the last few years for the Bruins, but he's finally starting to flourish at the other end of the ice. His career high in points is 32, but he's playing at a cool 57-point pace this season.14. Vegas Golden Knights (14-10-0)Previous rank: 15Nic Hague is continuing to develop into a solid top-four defenseman for the Golden Knights. The 23-year-old is averaging 18:34 minutes of ice time per game this season. He ranks third on the team with 35 blocked shots and fifth with 14 takeaways.15. Winnipeg Jets (12-8-4) Darcy Finley / National Hockey League / GettyPrevious rank: 12The Jets snatched up Evgeny Svechnikov after the Detroit Red Wings opted not to extend him a qualifying offer. The 2015 first-round pick has developed into a real solid bottom-six player for Winnipeg. He's notched three goals and six assists while owning a 56.55 expected goals for percentage at five-on-five, which is good for third on the team.16. Detroit Red Wings (13-9-3)Previous rank: 25Dylan Larkin didn't play like his usual self last year. He posted a career-worst nine goals and 23 points in 44 games. This season, he's already surpassed that goal total with 10 tallies and looks rejuvenated as the Red Wings continue to make significant strides in their rebuild.17. St. Louis Blues (12-8-4)Previous rank: 14Jordan Kyrou and Robert Thomas are both deserving, but we're going with the latter here. Thomas only tallied 12 points in 33 games during an injury-plagued 2020-21 campaign but already has 20 assists in 24 contests this season - good for top 10 in the league.18. Pittsburgh Penguins (11-8-5)Previous rank: 18Evan Rodrigues is proving it's never too late for a breakout season. The 28-year-old has already tallied eight goals and eight helpers in 24 contests, putting him well on his way to a career year. Rodrigues was an integral offensive catalyst while the Penguins were dealing with early-season injuries, but even now that the team has gotten healthier, he's holding down a spot on Sidney Crosby's wing.19. Nashville Predators (13-10-1)Previous rank: 20The Preds' decision to protect Alexandre Carrier in the expansion draft came as a surprise to some, but the 25-year-old blue-liner is rewarding his team's faith. He ranks third among Nashville D-men in average ice time (20:19) and second in points (eight).20. San Jose Sharks (13-11-1) Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPrevious rank: 26It's Timo time in San Jose. Meier is leading the Sharks in goals (11) and points (26) through 20 games and has almost matched his output of 12 goals and 31 points from last year. The Sharks are playing much better as a group this season and Meier is leading the charge on offense.21. Los Angeles Kings (10-9-4)Previous rank: 19Is Jonathan Quick back? The 35-year-old is shining in the Kings' crease, playing his best hockey of the last decade. After posting an .898 save percentage last year, he owns an impressive .924 mark this season. It looked like Cal Petersen was going to own the crease this campaign, but Quick has done more than enough to earn more starts.22. Columbus Blue Jackets (13-10-0)Previous rank: 21Jake Bean had difficulties carving out a regular role for himself in Carolina, but he's been a real asset in his first season with the Blue Jackets. The 23-year-old has played over 22 minutes a night, second on the team behind Zach Werenski.23. Seattle Kraken (9-13-2)Previous rank: 31Brandon Tanev has quickly become a fan favorite among Kraken fans for his tenacious play, but he's also having a banner year. His 53.5 expected goals percentage is a personal best, but he's also on pace for career highs in goals (27) and points (44).24. Chicago Blackhawks (9-13-2)Previous rank: 27Brandon Hagel has seemingly come out of nowhere to become a relevant player for the Blackhawks. A sixth-round pick by the Buffalo Sabres in 2016, Hagel is fifth among Chicago forwards in ice time, second in goals, third in points, and first in expected goals percentage.25. New Jersey Devils (9-9-4) Joe Sargent / National Hockey League / GettyPrevious rank: 17Andreas Johnsson's first season with the Devils could not have gone worse, as he recorded just 11 points in 50 games. However, the Swedish winger has been an offensive catalyst for the club this year, registering nine goals and nine assists in just 22 contests.26. Philadelphia Flyers (8-10-4)Previous rank: 16There was nowhere to go but up for Carter Hart after a disastrous 2020-21 campaign in which he posted a dreadful .877 save percentage. It's mightily impressive that he's played his way back into Team Canada conversations with an excellent start to the new season.27. Buffalo Sabres (8-13-3)Previous rank: 24While the Ryan O'Reilly trade continues to look horrendous to this day, at least the Sabres have Tage Thompson to show for it. The 6-foot-7 24-year-old is enjoying a breakout year in his first NHL season as a full-time center. His 10 goals and 16 points are already career highs.28. Ottawa Senators (6-15-1)Previous rank: 29It's hard to find many positives about the Senators' season, but Drake Batherson has emerged as a legitimate top-six threat. He leads the team with 18 points in only 17 games.29. Vancouver Canucks (8-15-2)Previous rank: 30Does a new head coach count? With Travis Green out of the picture, bringing in Bruce Boudreau could help inject some life into these Canucks. The team has too much talent to be this bad, so an improvement behind the bench should hopefully turn things around.30. Arizona Coyotes (5-17-2) Norm Hall / National Hockey League / GettyPrevious rank: 32Shayne Gostisbehere and Travis Boyd have been surprisingly solid for the moribund Coyotes, but Scott Wedgewood is Arizona's most improved player. The 29-year-old goaltender has a .921 save percentage over nine contests in 2021-22, a career-best mark aside from a four-game run in his rookie year. Wedgewood hasn't been flawless, but the fact that he also has a positive goals saved above expected rate on such an atrocious team speaks volumes about his value.31. Montreal Canadiens (6-17-3)Previous rank: 28There isn't much individual improvement to be found on the Canadiens this season, but Chris Wideman has stepped up amid the numerous injuries to defensemen. The journeyman has nine points in 19 games, is tied for fourth on the team with seven assists, and has managed to drive possession with a 52.92 expected goals for percentage, all while logging a career high in average ice time.32. New York Islanders (5-10-5)Previous rank: 22Second-year goaltender Ilya Sorokin has been tasked with handling a larger workload this season, starting 15 of the Islanders' 20 games. He's managed to improve his save percentage by eight points from his stellar rookie campaign.(Analytics sources: Evolving Hockey, Natural Stat Trick)Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Robin Lehner revealed that he turned down the opportunity to play for Sweden at the upcoming Olympics in Beijing, according to The Athletic's Jesse Granger.Lehner added that he and his psychiatrist decided it was in his best interests not to go for health reasons.The 30-year-old has been open about his mental health over the last few years, specifically his experiences with bipolar disorder and addiction.Lehner was projected to be in the running for Sweden's starting goalie job, along with Jacob Markstrom, Linus Ullmark, and Anton Forsberg.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vancouver Canucks replaced head coach Travis Green with veteran bench boss Bruce Boudreau, the team announced late Sunday night.Boudreau becomes the 20th head coach in franchise history and will be joined on the bench by Scott Walker, who joins the team as an assistant coach."I am excited to add Bruce Boudreau as our new head coach, and Scott as assistant," Canucks chairman Francesco Aquilini said in a statement. "Bruce is one of the most experienced coaches in the NHL, with nearly 1,000 games behind the bench and a successful track record working with some of the game's best talent. Scott is a young coach with an excellent reputation who will fit in very well with our group."Boudreau will coach the club through at least next season, TSN's Darren Dreger added.The Canucks also moved on from general manager Jim Benning, assistant GM John Weisbrod, and assistant coach Nolan Baumgartner on Sunday.Green had been the head coach of the Canucks since 2017-18, leading the team to one playoff appearance. He owns a lifetime .478 points percentage behind the bench. Vancouver sits last in the Pacific Division this season with an 8-15-2 record.Boudreau has coached 984 games in the NHL between the Washington Capitals, Anaheim Ducks, and Minnesota Wild. He won the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year in 2007-08 with the Caps.The 66-year-old has been out of coaching since the Minnesota Wild fired him in 2019-20, serving as an NHL Network analyst since.Boudreau ranks 18th on the all-time coaching list in points percentage (.635) and 22nd in wins (567). He's made the playoffs in 10 out of his 13 seasons as an NHL head coach, winning eight division titles.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Rasmus Sandin had to be helped off the ice on Sunday night against the Winnipeg Jets following a knee-on-knee collision with Jets blue-liner Neal Pionk.

The Philadelphia Flyers are on a downward spiral, losing their eighth game in a row with a 7-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday night.Flyers captain Claude Giroux wasn't a fan of his team's performance and is looking to right the ship as soon as possible."I've played a lot of embarrassing games, and this is one of them," Giroux said postgame. "We need to figure it out pretty quick here."Despite the lopsided score, Philadelphia outshot the Lightning 39-27. The Flyers also had 27 scoring chances to Tampa Bay's 20 and finished with a 60.53 Corsi For rating, according to Natural Stat Trick.Carter Hart was pulled after allowing five unanswered goals through the first period and a half. Sunday's contest marked the young netminder's fourth straight loss.Cam Atkinson - who is leading the team with eight goals - was also disappointed in his team's performance in front of the Flyers' home crowd."Our fans, they support us, and to lay kind of a goose egg like that in front of them, it's embarrassing," Atkinson said. "Like I said, let's take a hard look in the mirror, and we have another opportunity tomorrow, and let's get back on track."Head coach Alain Vigneault shouldered a lot of the blame for the team's recent performance and is looking for ways to move in the right direction."We are looking for solutions to our situation and, you know, we all have a job to do. We got to get to work and all do our part," Vigneault said. "The leader of this group - the guy that's got both his hands on the steering (wheel) - is me, and I got to find a way to get this group to play better. We're in a bad skid right now, and we need to end this."The Flyers currently sit in seventh place in the Metropolitan Division with an 8-10-4 record. The club owns a 1-7-2 record in its last 10 contests.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers are getting a big boost on the back end, as the club activated defenseman Darnell Nurse for Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Kings.Nurse missed the previous six contests with a broken finger.The 26-year-old has posted 11 points - all assists - over 16 games this season. He leads the Oilers and ranks fourth in the NHL in average ice time during the 2021-22 campaign at 26:06.Edmonton signed Nurse to an eight-year contract extension carrying an average annual value of $9.25 million in August. He's in his eighth season with the Oilers, who drafted him seventh overall in 2013.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carolina Hurricanes forward Vincent Trocheck was handed a five-minute major and game misconduct for a boarding hit on Buffalo Sabres forward Tage Thompson on Saturday.Trocheck hit Thompson into the boards from behind after the Buffalo forward attempted to turn back toward his own end. Thompson's teammates came to his defense after the play.

It appears Anton Khudobin may be the odd man out in the Dallas Stars' crowded goalie room.The Stars have started to test the trade market to see what they can get for the veteran netminder, Sportsnet's Jeff Marek reported on "32 Thoughts."The Buffalo Sabres are at least one team the Stars have spoken to about Khudobin, Marek added.Khudobin has struggled this season, posting an .873 save percentage and a 3.73 goals-against average in seven appearances. However, the 35-year-old is just two seasons removed from leading the NHL with a .930 save percentage and backstopping the Stars to the 2020 Stanley Cup Final. He has two years left on his contract with a $3.3-million cap hit, per CapFriendly.Dallas is rich in goaltending depth. Offseason acquisition Braden Holtby has enjoyed a bounce-back season after getting bought out by the Vancouver Canucks, sporting a .927 save percentage and a 2.30 goals-against average in 11 games. Jake Oettinger, 22, has been fantastic as well, owning a sparkling .951 save percentage in six outings.The rebuilding Sabres have an obvious need between the pipes. Journeyman Dustin Tokarski has been asked to carry the load, posting a .903 save percentage in a team-high 14 appearances. Veteran Aaron Dell and 40-year-old Craig Anderson - who's currently injured - have also started games. Additionally, Buffalo traded for goaltender Malcolm Subban on Thursday.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Rangers placed goaltender Igor Shesterkin on injured reserve Saturday. He'll miss at least seven days retroactive to Friday when he had to be helped off the ice after suffering a lower-body injury against the San Jose Sharks.Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant said postgame the ailment is "not as bad as it looked."Gallant added Saturday that the Rangers "feel real comfortable he'll be ready to go in a week."New York plays four times over the next week, beginning with home and road matchups against the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday and Tuesday, respectively. The Rangers will then host the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday before a road game against the Buffalo Sabres on Friday.Shesterkin appeared to be in discomfort after stretching out for a loose puck in front of his crease. He didn't put any weight on his right leg as teammate Jacob Trouba and a member of the club's medical staff helped Shesterkin off the ice.

The Montreal Canadiens claimed defenseman Kale Clague off the wire from the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday.Clague collected five points - all assists - while averaging 17:50 of ice time through 11 games with the Kings in 2021-22. The 23-year-old also registered four assists over five contests for Los Angeles' AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign, this season.The Kings drafted Clague 51st overall in 2016.Saturday's transaction is Jeff Gorton's first as Montreal's executive vice president of hockey operations after team owner Geoff Molson hired him on Sunday.The Canadiens are significantly depleted on the back end due to injuries. Shea Weber and Joel Edmundson have yet to play in this campaign, and Jeff Petry will miss Saturday's game against the Nashville Predators.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ottawa Senators general manager Pierre Dorion met with media Saturday and conveyed his disappointment in his club's substandard first quarter of the 2021-22 campaign."I've had a few sleepless nights," Dorion said, according to Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch. "The buck stops with me. We're going to battle through this. ... We've got to get out of this together."The Senators were widely expected to take a step forward this season, but they sit dead last in the NHL with a 5-15-1 record through 21 games.Ottawa enjoyed a late surge in the all-Canadian North Division to close out the 2020-21 season, leading many to believe the club was on the upswing. Dorion expressed personal confidence in the team's progress in September, proclaiming its rebuild over.He reneged on that statement Saturday."What I should have said is all the core pieces are in place," Dorion said.Injuries and a COVID-19 outbreak have affected the Senators' performance, but their numbers don't suggest a quick turnaround is imminent. Ottawa ranks near the bottom of the league in several key areas:StatisticTotalLeague rankGoals for per game2.4228Goals against per game3.8632Expected goals percentage44.7829Corsi against per 6063.9532Expected goals against per 602.830The Senators' next contest comes Saturday against the Colorado Avalanche.(Advanced stats source: Evolving-Hockey)Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jeff Gorton met with media on Friday for the first time since being named Montreal Canadiens executive vice president of hockey operations.The veteran executive discussed a wide range of topics, including a possible rebuild for the league's most storied franchise.Gorton said he needs more time to acclimatize to his new surroundings, but the team would be transparent if it decides to rebuild, according to Sportsnet's Eric Engels.The Canadiens currently sit 29th in the league with a 6-17-2 record, months after reaching the Stanley Cup Final.Gorton has experience implementing foundational changes to his rosters. In 2018 as general manager of the New York Rangers, he and then-president Glen Sather penned a letter to fans warning of an impending rebuild. It seemed unorthodox at the time, but three years later, the Rangers have a brand new look and are contenders in the Metropolitan Division.Gorton also provided some insight on what he envisions for the makeup of the Canadiens."The team had a tough start, I recognize that and (owner) Geoff (Molson) and I went through that," Gorton said, per The Athletic's Marc Antoine Godin. "Things need to happen. My teams are fast and skilled. We need to work on player development. We need to add analytics."Gorton added, "We need to build that out better. We need to modernize it. I believe in it," according to TSN's John Lu.As for the club's general manager search, Gorton said the club will cast a wide net but likely won't name Marc Bergevin's successor until after Christmas. Gorton also confirmed Dominique Ducharme's job as head coach is safe for the rest of the season, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Anaheim Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf is week-to-week with a lower-body injury, the team announced Friday.Getzlaf exited Tuesday's contest versus the Los Angeles Kings after logging only 2:48 of ice time, and he was unavailable for Wednesday's clash versus the Vegas Golden Knights.The 36-year-old is off to a terrific start this season, recording 20 points in 23 games while ranking fourth in the NHL with 19 assists.The Ducks sit third in the Pacific Division with a 13-8-3 record.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Thursday was a good night on the ice. We won both shot props and rightfully backed the Colorado Avalanche to win in regulation. Had things gone differently for the New York Islanders in overtime, we'd have swept the board. Alas, a 3-1 night will have to do.Let's keep climbing as we head into the weekend.Sharks (+170) at Rangers (-200)

There's still plenty of hockey to be played in this NHL season, but the Hart Trophy race continues to take shape nearly two months into the campaign.The top three contenders have remained as such for the majority of 2021-22 - though the order of that trio looks a bit different this time around - while another longtime impact player and a young star in the making are building cases to be included in the MVP conversation.Here are our top five Hart candidates with one-quarter of the season in the rearview mirror.5. Steven Stamkos Mike Carlson / Getty Images Sport / GettyGPGAATOIxGF%21111417:5049.96The Tampa Bay Lightning are used to dealing with injuries, but Stamkos has raised his ever-reliable game while playing without Nikita Kucherov for most of this season and with Brayden Point now on the shelf as well.Stamkos ranks among the NHL's goals and points leaders while collecting three more goals and three more points than the next closest Lightning skaters. Yes, Tampa Bay also boasts all-world defenseman Victor Hedman and standout goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy, but Stamkos has kept the Lightning's offense afloat while the team has been without its two most electric forwards.Much like the player who's ranked third on this list, Stamkos is at an age when he should be declining. But the veteran center, who'll be 32 in February, hasn't slowed down, and his steady play has been critical to Tampa Bay's success.4. Troy Terry Jeff Vinnick / National Hockey League / GettyGPGAATOIxGF%23151017:0954.69Terry's emergence has been one of the NHL's best stories this season. The 24-year-old reeled off a 16-game point streak from Oct. 18 to Nov. 18, during which he amassed 12 goals and 10 assists while burying nine of those markers at even strength. Terry is the most surprising name near the top of the league's scoring list, but it's time to start recognizing his impressive contributions.The forward's production has been a major reason the Anaheim Ducks have exceeded expectations. Terry has scored more than twice as many goals as any teammate in 2021-22. He also leads the club in points, with eight more than the next closest teammate not named Ryan Getzlaf, and 19 of the captain's 20 points are assists. Getzlaf deserves some credit for Terry's dominance, but the latter proved Wednesday he can score without the playmaking pivot in the lineup.Terry's inflated shooting percentage is bound to regress, but the underlying numbers show he's no fluke. The winger's favorable expected goals for percentage bodes well for the future, especially considering his goals for percentage is under 50% at 47.06. That means the team has actually had additional opportunities to score with Terry on the ice but just hasn't converted them.3. Alex Ovechkin John McCreary / National Hockey League / GettyGPGAATOIxGF%24191921:3350.21Ovechkin has carried his team amid multiple injuries even more effectively than Stamkos has. The Washington Capitals have been without Nicklas Backstrom for all of 2021-22, while T.J. Oshie has missed various stretches and Anthony Mantha remains out indefinitely after getting hurt in early November.And yet, Ovi has been nothing short of incredible this season, which is even more jaw-dropping considering he's 36 years old. The Russian ranks second on the NHL's goal-scoring list and third in the league in points this season. He's scored 11 more times and racked up 10 more points than his next closest teammate.Ovechkin isn't just banging home power-play one-timers to pad his numbers, either. The Capitals captain has relied on that method for only one of 19 markers in 2021-22, and he leads the league in both even-strength goals and points. If not for the Edmonton Oilers' dynamic duo, Ovi would be the Hart favorite.2. Leon Draisaitl Codie McLachlan / Getty Images Sport / GettyGPGAATOIxGF%21202122:5749.38Draisaitl continues to lead in the "Rocket" Richard and Art Ross Trophy races, and there's no denying his immense talent. However, the German has an absurd shooting percentage of 27.8% in 2021-22, which will surely regress as the season goes on. He's also scored half of his goals on the power play.His underlying numbers at five-on-five also remain largely unfavorable. The 26-year-old has a commendable goals for percentage in those situations (63.89), but his subpar expected goals for percentage indicates an inability to drive possession. In addition, the Oilers aren't controlling the share of scoring chances with Draisaitl on the ice at five-on-five, earning only 45.34% of them.Draisaitl's analytic figures without McDavid are even worse. The 2019-20 Hart Trophy winner has a 42.76 xGF% and a 41.72% SCF% while playing without the Edmonton captain at five-on-five. Draisaitl is undoubtedly one of the NHL's most valuable players, but a closer look at numbers beyond just goals and points clearly indicates he's still not the Hart frontrunner.1. Connor McDavid Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPGAATOIxGF%21152522:1954.89Draisaitl has been producing at a higher rate than McDavid since the start of November, but the latter superstar remains the NHL's most valuable player for several reasons.Firstly, the Oilers are better with just McDavid on the ice than they are with only Draisaitl at five-on-five. In contrast to Edmonton's paltry xGF and SCF percentages with Draisaitl and without McDavid, the team is driving possession at rates above 50% when the two-time MVP is playing without his older teammate.Draisaitl deserves credit for his stellar production while logging a bit more ice time, but McDavid has been more effective by just about any analytic measure. The 24-year-old has favorable xGF and SCF percentages on an individual basis in addition to his superior numbers in the with-and-without comparison.McDavid also boasts the NHL's best individual expected goals rate in all situations and one of the league's top ixG figures at five-on-five, while Draisaitl sits 94th in the latter. So while Draisaitl's counting stats are superior, McDavid has consistently proved he has a greater impact on his team's ability to control the play and create more scoring opportunities, thereby demonstrating his superior value.(Analytics sources: Natural Stat Trick, Evolving Hockey)Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After yet another loss, fans in Montreal are starting to lose patience with the Canadiens.Late in Thursday's 4-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche, a spectator tossed a Canadiens jersey onto the Bell Centre ice:

Montreal Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher and defenseman Sami Niku are out for at least the next 10 days after testing positive for COVID-19, Canadiens head coach Dominique Ducharme confirmed Thursday.Ducharme said Gallagher and Niku are symptom-free, according to Sportsnet's Eric Engels.The Canadiens are enhancing their safety measures, eliminating outings and team gatherings away from the rink, Engels adds.Here's a look at Montreal's lines without Gallagher and Niku:

Wednesday was not kind to us on the ice. Both Jaden Schwartz and Jordan Eberle were out for the Kraken, rendering that suggestion a no-play. Fair enough, we still had the Avalanche.Well, Colorado announced just prior to puck drop that Darcy Kuemper - previously named starter - wasn't available to play. Instead, fringe NHLer Jonas Johansson got the nod in goal and the Maple Leafs absolutely feasted on him. Not ideal.Luckily, we have a huge slate Thursday to get us back on track. Let's break things down.Sharks (+110) @ Islanders (-130)This season couldn't be going worse for the Islanders. They've won just five times through 17 games and have dealt with a never-ending run of injuries and COVID-19 cases.Thankfully, things appear to be trending in the right direction. The postponement of a couple games has given players time to get healthy again. Key members like Anders Lee and Adam Pelech have exited protocols. The expectation is those two, as well as veteran defenseman Andy Greene, will return to the lineup Thursday.While the Sharks are a competent team, they have defensive issues. At five-on-five, they rank 24th in scoring chances against per 60 over the last 10 games. James Reimer has routinely masked their problems, but I'm not sure they can rely on tonight's starter, Adin Hill, to do the same. Reimer has saved 7.3 goals above expectation thus far while Hill sits at -2.7.The Isles figure to have the edge in goal. They're getting key players back in the lineup. They're at home. If they don't right the ship fast, the season is as good as over, so they have serious motivation to put their best foot forward.Back the Islanders to snap their eight-game skid.Bet: Islanders (-130)Avalanche (-180) @ Canadiens (+160)Colorado was flat-out embarrassed by Toronto on Wednesday night. But despite goaltending concerns, we're going right back to the well for this one.The Avalanche are one of the better teams in the NHL at five-on-five. They should be able to walk all over the Canadiens, who are getting throttled in that game state. Over the last 10 contests, the Habs rank 31st in attempts against and expected goals against per 60 minutes. Their share of the expected goals sits at just 42%. Now, they'll be without one of their most effective full-strength players in Brendan Gallagher.Making matters worse is the special teams matchup. Montreal has conceded 12.52 goals per 60 on the penalty kill this season. Only the Canucks have fared worse. That's a recipe for disaster against these Avs. Even missing key players, they lead the league in power-play goals over the last 10 games.I think the Avalanche are going to outscore their problems, and then some, against the Canadiens in this one.Bet: Avalanche inside regulation (-105)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.

Shot props return to the app for this busy Thursday night in the NHL. We're sitting on a 46-34 record for +11.35 units on the year.Let's get into our best bets.Victor Hedman over 2.5 shots (-110)The Blues are a structured defensive team that takes away quality shots and forces teams to the perimeter. They rank ninth in high-danger chances against per 60 but 17th in shots against per 60. St. Louis will undoubtedly stress the importance of protecting the middle of the ice with Jordan Binnington unavailable due to him being in COVID-19 protocol.Victor Hedman figures to be a prime beneficiary of the Blues' style. We saw that firsthand the last time these two sides met when Hedman recorded three shots on goal at five-on-five alone. Across all game states, he amassed six shot attempts and five shots on target, easily clearing the number.Look for the Lightning's leader in shot attempts and shots on goal to be heavily involved in this one.Jonathan Huberdeau over 2.5 shots (-120)While Jonathan Huberdeau is rightfully thought of as a playmaker first, he's not afraid to pull the trigger. That has certainly been evident of late.Huberdeau has piled up 35 shots on goal over his last 10 games, and he recorded at least three shots in nine of those contests.He's consistently hitting the number, so this isn't a spot where I'm worried about a letdown.The Sabres bleed shots like few other teams, giving up 34.02 per 60 minutes of play over their last 10 games. Only the Canadiens, Flyers, and Devils have allowed shots at a higher clip.Let's ride the hot hand in an advantageous matchup.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 Chicago Blackhawks traded goaltender Malcolm Subban to the Buffalo Sabres for future considerations, the team announced Thursday.Subban, 27, has spent the early portion of the 2021-22 campaign with the AHL's Rockford IceHogs, where he's posted a .893 save percentage in five appearances. He spent time in the NHL last season, recording a .900 clip in 16 games.Subban was a first-round pick of the Boston Bruins in 2012 and has made 82 career NHL appearances between Boston, Chicago, and the Vegas Golden Knights.Buffalo has used Dustin Tokarski, Aaron Dell, and Craig Anderson in goal so far this season. Subban should get a chance to play as both Tokarski and Dell have struggled, while Anderson is battling an upper-body injury that's kept him out since Nov. 2.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Coyotes affirmed their desire to remain in the desert after rumors circulated Thursday that the club is up for sale with a plan to relocate to Houston."This is false. Totally false. We're not selling. We're not moving. The Coyotes are 100% committed to playing in Arizona," the team said, per ESPN's Emily Kaplan.NHL commissioner Gary Bettman denied the relocation report as well, calling it "completely false," according to Craig Morgan of Phoenix Sports.Relocation rumors have hung over the Coyotes for much of their existence. While ownership says it's steadfast in its intention to keep the team in Arizona, the franchise faces major uncertainty as early as next season. The city of Glendale announced in August it won't renew the operating agreement next season for city-owned Gila River Arena - where the club has played since 2003-04.The Coyotes filed a bid for a new facility in nearby Tempe in September, but the evaluation process is ongoing.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

On a Thursday morning in early November, the sounds of hockey bounce off the walls inside a fanless rink. It's a practice day at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan, a midsized city some 150 miles west of Detroit.Skates dig into the ice surface. A shot rings off the goalpost. Cursing fills the air after a shooter narrowly misses the net. A coach barks "Gap up! Gap up!" at a defenseman competing in a two-on-two drill.In this hockey laboratory, there's one coach for every two-and-a-half players. The players' red hockey pants are emblazoned with the Detroit Red Wings' iconic winged wheel logo, but the Grand Rapids Griffins emblem on each helmet serves as a reminder of the present moment. This is the minor leagues."Up top, in the NHL, you're just worried about the final product," says Mike Knuble, the former NHL forward who's now an assistant coach for the Griffins. "Down here, it's more so about the process to create the product." John Matisz / theScoreA variation of these sights and sounds can be seen and heard daily in AHL rinks across the continent, from San Diego to Laval, Quebec. All 32 NHL organizations are inherently invested in the development of their prospects - particularly in the AHL, where top affiliates compete not only for the league championship but also for the feeder league's highest graduation rate.For the Red Wings, a proud Original Six franchise, the significance is amplified.Amid an extensive rebuild, Detroit hasn't made the postseason since 2015-16, the last hoorah in a 25-year playoff streak that produced four Stanley Cups. Over the past five-plus seasons, the Wings' points percentage ranks 31st in the NHL, ahead of only the expansion Seattle Kraken, who've played all of 23 games.Even though super rookies Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider have provided a jolt of momentum in 2021-22, the rebuild under general manager Steve Yzerman - also known as the "Yzerplan" - remains far from complete.Effective and efficient player development is how Detroit intends to advance past the pain of the rebuild and into the competitive stage of the cycle. Eventually, if all goes according to plan, the Wings will start contending for Cups again."Every guy you draft isn't going to turn out to be an NHL home-run player. But what you want to do is maximize each guy the best you can," Red Wings head coach Jeff Blashill says. "It's something that's been important to our organization for a long time. It's become even more in focus here in the last few years."With 5:45 left in the third period of the Wings' eighth game this season, ESPN's John Buccigross could barely contain his excitement on national TV."That's the craziest sequence I've ever seen!" Buccigross blurted out.The Wings had just denied eight straight scoring attempts in a whirlwind shift against a then-undefeated Florida Panthers squad. Forwards Adam Erne and Robby Fabbri each blocked two attempts in fearless fashion. Defenseman Danny DeKeyser blocked another, and then, as he tried to fire the puck out of harm's way, watched his stick snap into two pieces. In the thick of the chaos, goalie Alex Nedeljkovic frantically turned aside the three other attempts.

Welcome to the second 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.

Detroit Red Wings forward Tyler Bertuzzi will be sidelined for at least the next 10 days after being placed in the NHL's COVID-19 protocol Wednesday, Red Wings head coach Jeff Blashill confirmed, according to the Detroit Free Press' Helene St. James.Bertuzzi disclosed before the season that he is unvaccinated; he remains the only NHL player not inoculated. He'll miss at least four more games after sitting out Wednesday's 4-3 victory over the Seattle Kraken.The 26-year-old missed three contests earlier this season due to his vaccination status when the Red Wings visited Canadian teams. Unvaccinated players can't cross the Canada-U.S. border without quarantining.Bertuzzi has nine goals and nine assists in 20 games this season.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Like the rest of the hockey world, Sidney Crosby is in awe of what Connor McDavid is doing on a nightly basis this season.The Pittsburgh Penguins captain had nothing but praise for his Edmonton Oilers counterpart ahead of their marquee matchup Wednesday."He's playing at such a high level, and when someone is playing at the level he's at, it's hard to think that they can find another level," Crosby said, according to NHL.com's Mike Zeisberger. "I think he's done that. I think that's the most impressive part about it."McDavid's notched 36 points in 20 games this season, good for third in the league's scoring race. His seemingly weekly highlight-reel goals have earned Crosby's admiration."I think it's an appreciation for how difficult it is to make the plays that he does," Crosby said. "The one against New York, that was late in the game too, it was the tying goal. That's the fun part. You don't want to be on the other side of that if you're on the ice, but you have a certain level of appreciation."That's fun to see. It's great for the game and it's great to see someone at that level doing what he's doing."Crosby is referring to McDavid's showstopper against the New York Rangers from early November.Crosby is off to a relatively slow start this season after undergoing offseason wrist surgery and battling COVID-19. The 34-year-old's notched seven points in 10 games.McDavid has outscored Crosby 10-4 in head-to-head matchups, but the Penguins have gone 6-0-1 in those games.The Oilers enter Wednesday's tilt sitting second in the Pacific Division at 15-5-0, while the Penguins occupy fourth in the Metropolitan Division at 10-7-5. The puck drops at 10 p.m. ET.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL gave the go-ahead for the New York Islanders to proceed with their regular-season slate after having a pair of games postponed due to COVID-19 protocol.The team will host the San Jose Sharks on Thursday as previously scheduled after the league temporarily called off the Islanders' matchups versus the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday and Tuesday, respectively. The NHL is still working on rescheduling those contests.Eight Islanders players were on the COVID-19 list at the time of the postponements, but several of them were back on the ice Wednesday. Anders Lee, Josh Bailey, Adam Pelech, Andy Greene, and Ross Johnston are now out of protocol, head coach Barry Trotz said, according to Newsday's Andrew Gross. Trotz added that he expects four of those players to suit up against the Sharks.Zdeno Chara, Casey Cizikas, and Kieffer Bellows are the other three Islanders players on the list. General manager Lou Lamoriello confirmed Saturday that Cizikas tested positive.The Islanders became the second NHL team to have games postponed due to COVID-19 protocol this season. The Ottawa Senators were forced to temporarily scrap three contests earlier in November after 10 players and their associate coach landed on the list.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We have a surprisingly fun slate tonight. Headlined by a matchup between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Colorado Avalanche, we have six games to look forward to.Let's dive in with our best bets.Kraken (-120) at Red Wings (+100)Don't look now, but our beloved Seattle Kraken appear to have turned a corner. They have quietly won four of their last five games, besting high-end teams like the Washington Capitals, Carolina Hurricanes, and Florida Panthers.The Kraken haven't necessarily upped their play. In fact, their share of the chances and shots has actually dropped. But they're finally getting the competent goaltending they thought they'd have when they partnered 2021 Vezina finalist Philipp Grubauer with Chris Driedger, one of the NHL's save percentage leaders since entering the league. That's huge for them.So, too, is better health. Calle Jarnkrok is their only forward confirmed to be sidelined, and, with just two points through 14 games, it's hard to argue that's a sizeable loss. Forwards Jaden Schwartz and Jordan Eberle missed the morning skate, so I recommend waiting for confirmation on their status.Though the Detroit Red Wings are an improving side, they can still be exposed defensively. We saw that Tuesday when they were outshot 42-15 by a Brad Marchand-less Boston Bruins.I think a fresh Seattle team should be able to control the run of play. As long as the goaltending holds up and at least one of Schwartz or Eberle play, it should be enough for the Kraken to pick up their fifth win in six games.Bet: Kraken (-120)Avalanche (+105) at Maple Leafs (-125)The Maple Leafs are playing fantastic hockey right now. But luck has also played a role in their absurd run.Take the last 10 games, for example: the Maple Leafs have controlled a whopping 58% of the expected goals across all game situations, but their share of the actual goals in that span is 73%. Put another way, they're getting better results than they deserve - I'm not trying to take anything away from this team, though, as I really do believe this is the best version of the Leafs we've seen.Still, they're going to come down a notch sooner rather than later. They're not going to continue getting .961 goaltending, including .920 against high-danger shots.For some perspective, only four teams have gotten .920 goaltending (or better) over the last 10 games. It's flat-out absurd the Leafs are getting goaltending that good against Grade A opportunities.I'm buying Jack Campbell as a quality starter - I think he's legit - but even so, he's not this good (nobody is). What he's doing right now simply isn't sustainable.If ever there was a time for the pendulum to swing, a game against the Avalanche seems like it. The Avs rank third in expected goal share during the last 10 games and were without their best player, Nathan MacKinnon, for the vast majority of them. Bowen Byram just returned, as well.This Avalanche team, for my money, is as good as any when healthy. It's finally getting its key pieces in the lineup at the same time, and I expect it's about ready to go on a run.I'll take Colorado plus money against anybody.Bet: Avalanche (+105)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.

In our second edition of theScore's 2021-22 Vezina Trophy Power Rankings, we feature two new netminders that have leaped to the top of the list.5. Sergei Bobrovsky, Florida Panthers Joe Sargent / National Hockey League / GettyRECORDGAAXGA/60SV%HDSV%GSAA10-1-22.182.68.930.8627.04Previous rank: 4Bobrovsky is proving that his hot start to the year might not be a fluke. He's still playing at an elite level and is very much looking like his old Vezina-winning self. His .896 high-danger save percentage at five-on-five is tied with Jacob Markstrom for tops among all netminders in the league. The Panthers have firmly established themselves as a legitimate Stanley Cup contender, and they'll be tough to play against all season long with Bobrovsky back on the case.4. Igor Shesterkin, New York Rangers Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyRECORDGAAXGA/60SV%HDSV%GSAA11-3-22.222.82.933.8329.77Previous rank: 3The Rangers continue to sit near the top of the league's standings, and Shesterkin's play deserves a lot of the credit. He's facing 32.9 shots per 60 minutes, and New York is often in the defensive end as it ranks dead last in the NHL with a 45.19 Corsi For rating at five-on-five. The Rangers have a ton of talent, but Shesterkin is carrying a lot of the load early in the season.3. Tristan Jarry, Pittsburgh Penguins Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyRECORDGAAXGA/60SV%HDSV%GSAA10-4-41.852.37.938.86413.68Previous rank: N/AAfter a miserable campaign last year, Pittsburgh GM Ron Hextall expressed his confidence in Jarry to rebound this season. The 26-year-old is now playing the best hockey of his career, stopping 175 out of 178 shots over his past six outings. He's helped an often injury-ravaged Penguins team stay competitive. Pittsburgh moved on from Matt Murray last year and entrusted Jarry with the crease, which looks like an A+ move these days.2. Jacob Markstrom, Calgary Flames Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyRECORDGAAXGA/60SV%HDSV%GSAA9-4-41.752.23.938.88112.12Previous rank: 2It might be time to hit the panic button in Calgary - Markstrom hasn't recorded a shutout in nearly two weeks. The Flames netminder undoubtedly remains at the top of his game despite cooling off a bit following a torrid stretch when he allowed just one goal over four contests. Markstrom has risen to the occasion every time he's stepped on the ice, ranking second among goalies with a 6.74 high-danger goals saved above average.1. Jack Campbell, Toronto Maple Leafs Claus Andersen / Getty Images Sport / GettyRECORDGAAXGA/60SV%HDSV%GSAA12-4-11.642.33.946.87416.81Previous rank: N/ACampbell hasn't disappointed whatsoever in his first year as a legitimate No. 1 starting goaltender. He's leading the league in nearly every statistical category and is a huge reason the Maple Leafs are one of the NHL's hottest teams. His .946 save percentage, 16.76 goals saved above average, and 1.64 goals-against average all rank No. 1 among netminders. The heavy workload could be a concern moving forward - he's appeared in 18 out of 23 games - but Campbell seems to be the goalie to beat for now.Honorable mentions: Frederik Andersen (CAR), James Reimer (SJ), Andrei Vasilevskiy (TB)(Analytics source: Natural Stat Trick)Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Matt Murray knows he hasn't been good enough for the Ottawa Senators to start the season, but he says he's somewhat in the dark about why the franchise placed him on waivers over the weekend."They said it was a management decision. That's about all I got," Murray said Tuesday during his first media availability since joining the Belleville Senators, Ottawa's AHL affiliate.The netminder added that he hasn't heard from Senators general manager Pierre Dorion since being waived.Murray holds a substandard .890 save percentage and a headache-inducing 3.26 goals-against average across six starts this campaign, which probably isn't what Ottawa expected when it signed the two-time Stanley Cup champion to a four-year, $25-million deal in October 2020.However, Murray has struggled to stay healthy. A non-COVID-19 illness sidelined him to begin the season. He then suited up for two games before sustaining a head injury. The 27-year-old eventually returned to action for another three contests and then tested positive for COVID-19.He returned to the crease last Wednesday and surrendered four goals in a loss to the San Jose Sharks. That was the last game he played before the Senators, who sit in the league's basement with a 4-14-1 record, placed him on waivers Saturday.Murray gave an honest answer Tuesday when asked if he felt he was being blamed for Ottawa's early-season struggles."I do, yeah. I also think that's part of what you sign up for as a goalie. I think that comes with the territory," he said. "I don't think I've been bad, but I haven't been good enough to win."Murray said the Senators informed him about their plan to waive him with the intention of sending him to Belleville following the team's 4-0 road loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Friday. He didn't dress for that game.The netminder flew back from California on his own after hearing the club's decision. He summed up his feelings during that flight with one word Tuesday."Confusion. Honestly, it was the main one," Murray said. "A lot of confusion, but at the end of the day, I thought about what I wanted to get out of (an AHL stint)."I'm here to make the most of it and keep my eye on the prize and eventually obviously get back up there as soon as possible."Murray has played in just 33 games with the Senators over two seasons. He's authored a .892 save percentage and 3.35 goals-against average during that span.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL suspended Los Angeles Kings forward Brendan Lemieux for five games for biting Ottawa Senators forward Brady Tkachuk during Saturday's contest, the league's Department of Player Safety announced Tuesday.The incident occurred during the third period when Lemieux and Tkachuk wrestled in the corner of the ice. Both players received two roughing minors on the play.The Department of Player Safety singled out a moment where it could see Lemieux biting Tkachuk's hand:

Max Pacioretty has nothing but love for his time with the Montreal Canadiens. However, he admitted Tuesday that the pressure of playing in the Quebec market takes its toll on players."Montreal is an amazing place, and I'm so proud of what I accomplished there, but I just feel like everybody has a shelf life there," Pacioretty told Adam Wylde and Allan Walsh on the "Agent Provocateur" podcast. "Everyone told me it - ex-players, current players, fans."He added: "I was stubborn, I was hard-headed. (I thought), 'No, that won't happen to me. I'm gonna be here for the rest of my career, I love it here. I live in Westmount. I'm down in the city with the fans going out to dinner every night.' And even when I did get traded, I still thought I could be here forever and not have it affect me."But when Pacioretty was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights in 2018 after spending his first 10 seasons with the Canadiens, he realized the stark contrast between Montreal and a less hockey-centric market."There just seems to be so much less pressure, and whether you admit it or not, you just go about your everyday life in such an easier manner that it really (takes) so much less of a toll on you," he said. "Whether you're a leader or a young guy, there's no media here. Even if you don't read the media in Montreal, you know what's being said."He added: "I was so used to (coming) to the rink after a loss - two or three losses - and it's the end of the world. No one's talking to each other, and it's heavy. You go out to dinner and everyone's complaining about the team, and the traffic, and the weather. In Vegas, you can lose three in a row and everyone's still positive."Pacioretty enjoyed tremendous individual success while lacing it up in Montreal, scoring 30-plus goals each season from 2013-17. His Canadiens teammates voted him captain in 2015.Pacioretty has continued his dominant play since arriving in Vegas. He led the team in goals (24) last season, and he ranked first in goals (32) and points (66) during the 2019-20 campaign.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Following his first practice as a member of the San Jose Sharks' AHL affiliate, Evander Kane addressed his part in a tumultuous summer that has put a temporary pause on his NHL career.Kane ended last season leading the Sharks in scoring with 49 points in 56 games. However, he cleared waivers just a couple of months later and was assigned to the San Jose Barracuda after an offseason full of NHL investigations. The league ended up suspending Kane for 21 games for violating its COVID-19 protocol.Reports also surfaced in August that Kane's teammates were frustrated by his behavior and didn't want him to return to the Sharks."I don't think you're going to have a group of people for ... 150, 160 days get along perfectly," he said Tuesday, according to NBC Sports. "I think there's been a big misconception of the entire team or multiple players. It's funny, I had my end of the year meeting last year, and it was nothing but positive, positive, positive, and how great I was with the young guys, how great of a season I had."But apparently something happened in the summer that I wasn't aware of. It was all new to me and news to me. It was interesting."Kane added that he hasn't spoken to any of his Sharks teammates."I've been doing my own thing, getting myself prepared. Handling my business, as I'm sure they have," Kane said, according to The Athletic's Kevin Kurz.The winger cleared the league's September investigation into allegations from his estranged wife, Anna, that he gambled on NHL games. The league later opened up two subsequent probes looking into domestic abuse accusations made by Anna and Kane's alleged use of a fake vaccination card."You'll have to refer to the NHL statement that they put out via the suspension," Kane said. "I served my time, I did my 21 games, now I'm back."I'm fully vaccinated, and that's all I have to say about it."Kane also stayed tight-lipped about his plans for his future within the organization and league."I think we have a good plan in place. I'm not going to get into that too much. But I'm looking forward to it," he said.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Jersey Devils locked up 2019 first overall pick Jack Hughes with an eight-year contract extension that carries an average annual value of $8 million, the team announced Tuesday.The 20-year-old's production has been slow to start his career. He tallied 21 points in 61 games during a turbulent rookie season, followed by a 31-point effort over 56 contests a year ago.Hughes drastically improved between his rookie and sophomore campaigns, though. Here's a look at his underlying numbers from 2019-20: Evolving-Hockey.comAnd here's his underlying numbers from 2020-21: Evolving-Hockey.comHughes was a popular choice as a breakout candidate this campaign, and he began the season strong, recording two goals and an assist in two contests. However, he then suffered a dislocated shoulder that caused him to miss 17 games. He's returning Tuesday against the San Jose Sharks.The extension, which begins in 2022-23 after his entry-level contract expires, will make Hughes tied for the 15th-highest-paid center in the league, per CapFriendly.The Devils now have their top two centers locked in through 2026-27, as 2017 first overall pick Nico Hischier signed a seven-year extension at $7.25 million per season in 2019. Dougie Hamilton, their No. 1 defenseman, is also signed through 2027-28 with a $9-million AAV.New Jersey still projects to have over $24 million in cap space next season. Restricted free agents Pavel Zacha, Jesper Bratt, and Miles Wood will need new deals.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Kings' workhorse is making his return to the lineup against the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday night.Drew Doughty will play in the evening's matchup after missing the previous 16 contests, Kings head coach Todd McLellan confirmed, according to the club's editorial content manager Zach Dooley.Doughty hurt his right knee on a collision with Dallas Stars defenseman Jani Hakanpaa on Oct. 22. Five days later, the team revealed Doughty sustained a contusion and was expected to return to game action in about eight weeks, which would've had him coming back around Dec. 22.The veteran blue-liner, who'll turn 32 on Dec. 8, was enjoying a productive start to the season before missing time. Doughty posted a goal and six assists while averaging 22:37 of ice time over the first four games of the campaign, including a four-point effort in a season-opening win over the Vegas Golden Knights.Doughty has spent his entire 14-year career with the Kings. He helped them win the Stanley Cup in 2012 and 2014, then won the Norris Trophy in 2016.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Hockey Hall of Famer and Montreal Canadiens icon Patrick Roy is interested in the club's vacant general manager position."Would I be interested? Of course. But, at the same time, I am aware that it is a process and that there are several very good candidates who will be in the running. But if I get a call, I'll definitely listen," Roy told TVA Sports and Radio-Canada on Tuesday, according to The Canadian Press.The Canadiens cleaned house on Sunday, firing GM Marc Bergevin, assistant Trevor Timmins, and vice president of public affairs and communications Paul Wilson. The team named Jeff Gorton the new vice president of hockey operations."Decisions were made over the weekend, and if the phone rings, it will ring," Roy said. "Otherwise, we will continue to do what we do, it's not more complicated than that."Roy is the head coach and general manager of the QMJHL's Quebec Remparts. He hasn't worked in the NHL since stepping down as coach and vice president of the Colorado Avalanche in 2016, but he thinks he could help restore the Habs' winning ways."Since 1993, the team has been running in circles," Roy said, according to CBC. "What do they have to lose by giving me a chance, and seeing what I can do with this club?"Roy backstopped the Canadiens to a Stanley Cup in 1993, his second title with the franchise and its most recent of 24 championships. Montreal traded him during the 1995-96 season in arguably the most infamous breakup in league history.Roy then played eight seasons with the Avalanche and won two more Cups. He finished his playing career with 551 wins, four championships, three Conn Smythe Trophies, and three Vezina Trophies.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We didn't have a player props post yesterday. However, those of you who follow me on Twitter were able to enjoy a 3-1 night on shot totals. That pushes our record to 42-30 on the year for +11.49 units.We'll look to keep the good times rolling tonight.Jesper Bratt over 2.5 shots (+115)Jesper Bratt is cooking on home soil. He has recorded at least three shots on goal in four straight games and has averaged 3.8 shots on target over his last five at the Prudential Center.His line has more or less been the Devils' top unit of late and it's benefited from cushier usage in their own building. That should continue Tuesday.Not only is Bratt trending upward on his own, he finds himself in a very favourable matchup against San Jose. The Sharks are bleeding shots, ranking 28th in shot attempts against per 60 minutes of five-on-five play over their last 10 games.I like Bratt's chances of staying hot in this one.Ryan Hartman over 2.5 shots (-130)The Arizona Coyotes are a terrible hockey team. They don't generate much and are prone to giving up shots in bulk, as we saw last night against Winnipeg.Now, the Coyotes are on the latter half of a road back-to-back against the Wild, one of the most dominant five-on-five sides in the NHL.A lot of that dominance stems from Minnesota's top line, which is centered by Ryan Hartman. The Wild have controlled nearly 57% of the shots - and 60% of the expected goals - with Hartman on the ice.Hartman's line should be able to generate a lot of shots against this Coyotes team, with plenty of them coming off his stick. He's amassed 53 shot attempts over the last 10 games and recorded at least three shots on goal in eight of them.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.

Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy is in COVID-19 protocol, the club announced.Cassidy has mild symptoms, and assistant coach Joe Sacco will assume primary duties behind the bench, Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said Tuesday, according to the Boston Globe's Matt Porter.Boston is already without suspended star Brad Marchand, who was handed a three-game ban Monday for slew-footing Vancouver Canucks defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson on Sunday.It hasn't been an ideal 24-hour period for the Bruins. Forward Jake DeBrusk's agent confirmed Monday his client is requesting a trade. He will remain with the team while the club and his representative try to arrange a deal.Boston entered Tuesday's action sitting in fifth place in the Atlantic Division - albeit fourth in terms of point percentage - with a record of 11-7-0.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Colorado Avalanche superstar Nathan MacKinnon will suit up against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday night, head coach Jared Bednar confirmed Tuesday."He'll be in," Bednar said on Denver's Altitude Sports Radio. "He'll be playing (Wednesday). It would take a lot to keep him out."MacKinnon has missed the last eight games with a lower-body injury. Bednar said on Nov. 10 that MacKinnon would miss "give or take three weeks."The 26-year-old has produced a goal and nine assists over eight games this season.Colorado went 7-1-0 during his most recent absence. MacKinnon also missed the first two contests of the campaign, over which the club went 1-1-0.The bolstered Avalanche will face a Maple Leafs squad that's currently the hottest team in the NHL. Toronto has won four straight games and nine of the last 10.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes is in the lineup for Tuesday's clash with the San Jose Sharks after missing 17 games, the team announced.Hughes suffered a dislocated shoulder in the club's second game of the season but didn't require surgery. He was off to a terrific start, recording three points before the injury.Devils head coach Lindy Ruff said Hughes may start on the wing rather than center, according to team reporter Amanda Stein.New Jersey is 9-6-4 and sits sixth in the Metropolitan Division.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We opened the week in style, hitting both sides - Vancouver and Seattle - en route to a 2-0 night on Monday.We'll look to build on that on Tuesday as we get into our best bets.Capitals (+120) @ Panthers (-140)I see a lot of value on the total in this game.The Panthers are playing solid defensive hockey. At five-on-five, they have allowed 2.04 expected goals per 60 minutes, which is good for fourth in the league over the last 10 games.They're not giving their opponents many quality looks at net. When they do, they have Sergei Bobrovsky there to clean up the mess. Bobrovsky leads the NHL in goals saved above expected, sitting at a ridiculous +18.6 through just 13 games played.Washington is missing several key players up front. That's taken a lot of the bite out of their attack. They rank 23rd in expected goals and 25th in high-danger chances per 60 minutes over the last 10 games.The Capitals have maintained a strong scoring pace because they've scored on an insanely high percentage of their shots. I don't see that continuing on Tuesday.With the Capitals missing key weapons, and so much riding on this game, I wouldn't expect a wide-open, high-scoring affair.Bet: under 6 goals (-110)Red Wings (+190) @ Bruins (-230)Generating offense is a struggle for the Bruins at the best of times. They just don't have many consistent facilitators outside the big dogs on the top line. That's why, as a team, they sit 28th in high-danger chances per 60 this season.While the Red Wings have allowed quality looks at a high clip, their numbers are trending in the right direction. This is hardly the smash spot it appears on paper - especially with Brad Marchand out due to suspension.Taylor Hall is expected to take Marchand's spot on the top line. That's a drop off, of course, but Hall is still a good player. That line remains in great shape, but lines two through four are even less threatening than normal. That's problematic.Detroit is playing good hockey right now. Their share of expected goals is third-highest over the last 10 games. They should be able to hang with this thin Bruins team at five-on-five.The Red Wings also appear to have an edge in goal. Alex Nedeljkovic has performed (slightly) above expectation thus far. Meanwhile, Linus Ullmark is keeping company with the likes of Matt Murray and Joonas Korpisalo in terms of GSAE per start. Not good!I like the Wings to keep this game within striking distance. Heck, I wouldn't be surprised if they win outright.Bet: Red Wings +1.5 (-125)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.

In our second edition of theScore's 2021-22 Calder Trophy Power Rankings, we feature two new freshmen making their marks early on this season.5. Dan Vladar, Flames Rich Gagnon / Getty Images Sport / GettyGPRecordSV%GSAA54-0-1.9464.8Previous rank: N/AShow us someone who had Vladar on their Calder Trophy radar heading into the season, and we'll show you a liar. Despite a hot start to his first season with Calgary, Vladar is a long shot as a backup to take home any individual hardware. Still, his recent body of work deserves some credit.Filling in behind starter Jacob Markstrom, Vladar has been brilliant for a Flames team making plenty of noise in the Western Conference. Along with a sterling save percentage, Vladar has notched two shutouts in the early going. He's making a case for the most underrated signing of the offseason, as well as a long-shot push for top rookie.4. Dawson Mercer, Devils Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPPATOIXGF%191416:1352%Previous rank: 4Mercer's fourth-place ranking is far from a knock on his play, as the Devils freshman remains a steady contributor in his first season. However, he hasn't quite done enough to usurp the top Calder contenders on our list. Mercer sits in a tie for second in rookie scoring while also ranking second among all New Jersey skaters.He's earned enough trust from his coach to play top-six minutes - which is no small feat for a first-year center - and he's made the most of his opportunities to make a lasting impression. Mercer was one of three first-round picks the Devils made in 2020, and it appears they struck gold with at least one of them.3. Moritz Seider, Red Wings Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPPATOIXGF%221422:1752.14%Previous rank: 2Seider's offensive production has slowed down a touch since our last rankings, but he's still contributing in every facet of the game on the Red Wings' top defensive pair. The German stalwart leads all rookies in average ice time by a significant margin and ranks second among Detroit's rearguards in even-strength minutes.Additionally, Seider is still tied for second in rookie scoring despite the relative dry patch, and the majority of his production is coming at even strength. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Seider's debut campaign to date is his play in the defensive zone. He's provided a ton value in shot and scoring chance suppression, leading Detroit's regular defensemen in goals against per-60, Corsi against per-60, and expected goals against per-60.2. Trevor Zegras, Ducks Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images Sport / GettyGPPATOIXGF%201416:3353.41%Previous rank: N/AAfter a modest start to a debut season with sky-high expectations, Zegras has begun to heat up. The supremely skilled star-in-the-making vaulted up the rookie scoring race to second thanks to a near point-per-game clip in November.Zegras is on the positive side of many key metrics, and if he continues to put up points for a surprisingly competitive Ducks squad, he'll be a strong Rookie of the Year candidate all season.1. Lucas Raymond, Red Wings Gregory Shamus / Getty Images Sport / GettyGPPATOIXGF%222117:0355.13%Previous rank: 1Through two months, the Calder is Raymond's to lose. He leads all rookies in goals, points, and shots while routinely showcasing electrifying game-breaking talent for a Red Wings team that wouldn't be anywhere near a wild-card position without him in the lineup.Raymond is a weapon at even strength and on the power play thanks to a lethal release that can beat any goaltender clean. Combine his shot with elite hockey IQ and deft playmaking, and it's clear Raymond is bound to become a special player.Honorable mentions: Michael Bunting (TOR), Seth Jarvis (CAR), Bowen Byram (COL), Stuart Skinner (EDM)(Analytics source: Evolving-Hockey)Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It appears Evgeni Malkin will require more time recovering from offseason knee surgery than initially anticipated.Pittsburgh Penguins president of hockey operations Brian Burke pumped the brakes on any possible return in the near future for Malkin, despite the fact that the star center participated in the team's morning skate Monday."He's not close to playing," Burke told Sportsnet, according to Seth Rorabaugh of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "He's still a ways away. But just his presence out there gave us a lift."He's an elite player. He's a great kid and it was really nice to see him out there, even though, like I say, let's not get carried away here. This guy still (has) some time to go."Malkin underwent knee surgery in June. He was given a timeline of "at least two more months" on Sept. 23.But despite missing Malkin and Sidney Crosby being out for 12 games, the Penguins entered Monday with a 10-7-4 record.Malkin's recovery has significant international ramifications as well. If he's unable to return in time for the Olympics in February, the Russian Olympic Committee will be razor thin down the middle of the ice, considering Evgeny Kuznetsov is still serving a four-year ban by the IIHF. That would leave Ivan Barbashev as the nation's top remaining center option from the NHL.The 35-year-old Malkin was productive when healthy in 2020-21, recording 28 points in 33 games.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jake DeBrusk has asked the Boston Bruins for a trade, his agent, Rick Valette, confirmed to TSN's Ryan Rishaug.DeBrusk will remain with the Bruins as the club tries to facilitate the request, Rishaug added.The news comes after head coach Bruce Cassidy made the 25-year-old a healthy scratch for the Bruins' game against the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday night."I think what happens with Jake, and what we've seen over the last few years, is that when the production is there, you're getting more second effort," Cassidy said Sunday of his decision. "They kind of go hand-in-hand. And when it's not there, we lose a little bit of that."And that's been the ask of him for a number of years now. No drop-off on this side of the ledger just because the production isn't there. Any 20-goal scorer still only scores once every four games, right? ... You still need the other things."Cassidy added: "I'd like to see him impact the game with his foot speed every night in some way shape or form; whether it's forecheck, attacking the net, penalty kill, whatever the case may be."DeBrusk has often been a staple in the Bruins' top six, but he's fallen out of favor in recent campaigns due to his inconsistent play. He recorded 14 points in 41 games last season before registering six points in 17 contests this campaign.The Bruins selected DeBrusk 14th overall in the 2015 NHL Draft. He scored a career-high 43 points during his rookie season in 2017-18 and notched a career-high 27 goals in 2018-19. He's set to become a restricted free agent after this season.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand received a three-game suspension for slew-footing Vancouver Canucks defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced Monday.Marchand took Ekman-Larsson down early in a 3-2 Bruins victory on Sunday night.The skilled Bruins agitator wasn't penalized for the incident, and Ekman-Larsson stayed in the game.Marchand is no stranger to the Department of Player Safety. This is now the seventh time he's been suspended in his 13-year career and the second for slew-footing. He's also been fined five times, two of which were for slew-footing.The 33-year-old also has a history of animosity with the Canucks. He was suspended five games for clipping Vancouver blue-liner Sami Salo in 2012, and he infamously sent Canucks star Daniel Sedin flying during Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final in 2011.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Wild will raise Mikko Koivu's No. 9 to the rafters on March 13.Koivu, the team's longtime captain and all-time points leader, will be the first player in franchise history to have his jersey retired.The 38-year-old ended his career in February as a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets after signing with them for his final campaign. Before that, he played 15 seasons with the Wild, wearing the "C" on a full-time basis for 11 of them after serving as a co-captain in 2008-09.Koivu is also Minnesota's all-time leader in games played (1,028) and assists (504) in addition to having produced a club-best 709 points. He represented Finland 14 times, captaining the country's World Cup of Hockey squad in 2016.The Wild drafted him sixth overall in 2001.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's the beginning of a new week and you know what that means: futures update!We're looking at Stanley Cup odds today, identifying the teams we should be buying and selling based on what we've seen thus far. Let's dive right in.TEAMODDS (Nov. 29) ODDS (Nov. 1)Colorado Avalanche+625+550Florida Panthers+850+900Tampa Bay Lightning+850+800Vegas Golden Knights+900+1000Toronto Maple Leafs+1100+900Carolina Hurricanes+1200+1000Edmonton Oilers+1200+1400Boston Bruins+1400+1400Minnesota Wild+1400+1800Washington Capitals+2000+2700New York Islanders+2200+1800Calgary Flames+2400+5500St. Louis Blues+2400+2800New York Rangers+2500+3000Pittsburgh Penguins+2800+2400Winnipeg Jets+3000+5000Dallas Stars+3500+3500Philadelphia Flyers+4000+5500Nashville Predators+5500+10000Los Angeles Kings+6000+10000New Jersey Devils+6000+5000San Jose Sharks+7000+6000Anaheim Ducks+7500+30000Chicago Blackhawks+10000+8000Columbus Blue Jackets+10000+20000Detroit Red Wings+10000+11500Montreal Canadiens+10000+8000Seattle Kraken+10000+7000Vancouver Canucks+10000+8000Buffalo Sabres+15000+30000Ottawa Senators+15000+15000Arizona Coyotes+50000+30000BuyToronto Maple Leafs (+1100)I know, I know, the Maple Leafs need to get out of the first round before we start talking about the Stanley Cup. Nobody is buying into them until they prove it ... but that might be part of the reason we have an edge here.The Maple Leafs rank second in the NHL with a 55.20% share of the expected goals at five-on-five. They lead the league in high-danger chances (252) by a landslide, sitting 35 clear of the closest team. Their power play is really clicking, and Jack Campbell has played at an elite level.Toronto looks strong across the board, and that's with Auston Matthews finishing at about half the rate he has for his career. There's reason to believe he can produce a lot more, which is a scary thought when talking about a club with 14 wins in 16 games.Really, this team's only red flag is its history. If, say, Vegas dominated at five-on-five to this extent, led the league in Grade A chances by a country mile, and had a starter with a .946 save percentage, the Golden Knights would be talked about as a force.Toronto's reputation seems to have led the market to undervalue this year's edition of the Maple Leafs - which really looks like the best yet.Minnesota Wild (+1400)Speaking of undervalued, meet the Minnesota Wild. Only three teams have more wins to date. Only three teams have controlled a larger share of the expected goals at five-on-five. The Wild rank second in goals scored during that game state, and only the Bruins, Lightning, and Kraken have done a better job of suppressing expected goals. Put another way, Minnesota is lethal with the puck and suffocating without it.Although the Wild have piled up the the wins and own a strong underlying profile, they're deemed ninth-most likely to win the Stanley Cup. I think that's too low, especially considering they're likely to go all-in on this year's team given the cap penalties that kick in next year from buying out Ryan Suter and Zach Parise.SellNew York Islanders (+2200)The Islanders currently sit 15th ... in the Eastern Conference. They've won five of their 17 games. The offense looks lifeless, they're dealing with injuries to key players such as Brock Nelson and Ryan Pulock, and COVID-19 is absolutely tearing through the roster.Sure, they have a ton of home games coming up. But this team will be hard-pressed to crawl out of its early-season hole and make the playoffs, let alone make noise once it gets there.I doubt the Islanders will fold like a tent and go quietly. But more than 20% through the season, a team 30th in points is priced as the 10th-most likely side to win the Stanley Cup. This Islanders team might finally be getting too much respect.New York Rangers (+2500)The Sabres, Senators, Flyers, Coyotes, and Blackhawks are the only teams controlling a lesser share of the expected goals than the Rangers at five-on-five.While they have looked a little more potent of late, I simply can't buy a team routinely getting outplayed at full strength when the vast majority of every contest is played in that game state. And the refs tend to put the whistles away in the postseason, placing an even larger premium on success at five-on-five.Igor Shesterkin, Artemi Panarin, and Adam Fox are all among the truly elite at their positions. However, there just isn't enough competent depth around them to make me a believer come playoff time.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 just four games on the docket to start the week, and they're rather ugly. Five of the bottom eight teams in the NHL are in action, and only one game features two competitive teams (Calgary Flames versus Pittsburgh Penguins).Still, there's value to be had. Let's comb through it.Kraken (-140) at Sabres (+120)Remember when the Buffalo Sabres were competent to start the year? Those days have long passed. Buffalo dropped five of its last six games and ranks 28th in expected goal share at five-on-five in the last 10 games. The Sabres are playing terrible hockey.One of their biggest issues right now is generating offense. The Sabres are averaging 1.78 expected goals per 60 minutes in the last 10 games, good for 30th in the NHL.It just so happens that the Seattle Kraken's bread and butter is suppressing opposing offenses. They've allowed 1.99 xG per 60 in the last 10, putting them just 0.01 behind the Tampa Bay Lightning and Calgary Flames for the best mark during that period.They're making life easy on their goaltenders, which is probably why the Kraken have gotten quality starts from their netminder in three of the last four games.Though the Kraken have performed better at home, they have a clear edge at five-on-five and should be able to suffocate Buffalo's rather lifeless attack.I'd like the Kraken more if Aaron Dell started, but Dustin Tokarski playing for the third time in four nights is an advantageous spot, as well.Bet: Kraken (-140)Canucks (+105) at Canadiens (-125)The Vancouver Canucks have won one of their last 10 games, and sweeping changes within the organization seem imminent. Backing them is a scary thought, I know, but I see value on this line.For all of their faults, the Canucks haven't played that bad during this stretch. Their expected goal share is around 50% - sandwiching them between the Nashville Predators and New York Islanders - and they rank in the top 10 in Corsi For percentage at five-on-five.Meanwhile, the Montreal Canadiens sit 25th in Corsi share and 29th in xG share during that same period. They've been particularly disastrous in their own zone, giving up 2.85 xG per 60 - more than all but the Philadelphia Flyers. They're horrendous at five-on-five, and their special teams are just as bad.Factor in Vancouver's edge in goal - Thatcher Demko is one of the better young netminders in the league - and, even on the road, I think the wrong team is favored here.Bet: Canucks (+105)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.

Evander Kane went unclaimed on the wire, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.The San Jose Sharks waived the forward Sunday, and assistant general manager Joe Will said the team planned to send Kane to its AHL affiliate if he cleared.The NHL suspended Kane for 21 games in October for violating the league's COVID-19 protocol. He's under contract with the Sharks through 2024-25.Kane's contract normally carries a $7-million cap hit. That came off the books while he was suspended, and it will be back on the ledger at a reduced rate if the team demotes him.