Cole Caufield is back with the big club.The Montreal Canadiens recalled the sniper from the AHL's Laval Rocket on Thursday, the team announced.Alex Belzile has been assigned to the AHL in a corresponding move.Caufield was demoted to the Rocket 10 games into the NHL season after recording just one assist with Montreal. However, he seemed to regain his offensive form in the AHL, collecting two goals and three helpers in six contests.The 20-year-old was tremendous last season for the Habs during their miracle run to the Stanley Cup Final, potting four goals in 10 regular-season games and producing 12 points in 20 postseason contests.The Canadiens drafted Caufield 15th overall in 2019.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ryan Ellis' first season with his new team hasn't gone according to plan thus far.The Philadelphia Flyers defenseman will miss an additional four-to-six weeks after aggravating a lower-body injury, head coach Alain Vigneault said Thursday, according to NHL.com's Adam Kimelman.Ellis has suited up in just four of Philadelphia's 14 games this season. The 30-year-old missed nine straight contests with a lower-body injury and then returned to the lineup last Saturday before he aggravated the ailment and sat out of the team's next game.The Flyers initially listed Ellis as week-to-week after getting re-injured.Ellis doesn't need surgery at this point and will treat his injury through rest and rehab, said Vigneault.In an attempt to bolster their blue line, the Flyers acquired Ellis from the Nashville Predators this past offseason for Philippe Myers and Nolan Patrick.Ellis has been productive when healthy this season, producing a goal and four assists over four games. He's also been reliable defensively, as his expected goals against per 60 minutes at five-on-five is the best among Philadelphia defensemen, per Natural Stat Trick.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Wednesday was a mixed bag on the ice. After a slow start, the Vancouver Canucks mostly played well but couldn't stay out of the box. Their horrendous penalty kill erased an otherwise solid effort.Luckily, the shot props stayed hot for us as Viktor Arvidsson recorded four against the Washington Capitals. I also tweeted out a Brock Boeser over, which hit rather easily.Let's dive into our best bets for this busy Thursday slate.Blue Jackets (-155) @ Coyotes (+135)You don't need me to tell you the Coyotes are terrible ... but I'm going to do it anyway. They've won just two of 16 games and, despite always playing from behind, their share of high-danger scoring chances (41.53%) is the lowest in the NHL. It's easier to generate offense while trailing - teams tend to sit on leads and play conservative - so it's pretty telling that Arizona still grades out so poorly. They're a disaster.On the flip side, the rebuilding Blue Jackets are one of the league's biggest surprises. They own a respectable 8-5-0 record and their underlying numbers are trending upward.At five-on-five they have controlled 57% of the expected goals over the last five games - good for second in the NHL. If you want to up the sample size a little bit, they're at 54% over eight games. The point being, they're playing well.I would feel better if Elvis Merzlikins started in goal - I think there's a decent chance we see Joonas Korpisalo - but, regardless, Columbus has what it takes to take care of business.Bet: Jackets in regulation (+100)Lightning (-130) @ Flyers (+110)If I were to play a side it would be Tampa Bay. However, the total is more intriguing to me here.The Lightning have played fantastic defensive hockey this season. Only Colorado and Boston are conceding fewer high-danger chances at five-on-five this season. They don't give up much and they have one of the league's best goaltenders, Andrei Vasilevskiy, to clean up when necessary. He's been his usual self thus far, posting a .924 save percentage while stopping 7.1 more shots than expected through just 12 games.This is a bad spot for Philadelphia's offense. They struggle to generate high-danger chances (29th) at the best of times and Tampa Bay is one of the worst possible matchups for a team trying to change that.Why the total instead of Tampa Bay? Put simply, I don't think the latter is going to explode offensively, either. The Bolts rank 23rd in expected goals for per 60 this season and aren't nearly as prolific sans Nikita Kucherov.There's also the Carter Hart factor. He has rebounded in a huge way this season, stopping 11.5 shots more than expected thus far. That puts him third in the NHL behind only Sergei Bobrovsky and Jack Campbell.With two high-end goaltenders squaring off, and several key weapons missing from this game (Kucherov, Ryan Ellis, etc.), I like this contest to stay under the number.Bet: Under 5.5 (+100)Bonus round: If Jordan Binnington starts, I like under 6 goals (-120) in the Sharks vs. Blues. Both teams rank in the bottom half of the league in expected goals generation over the last handful of games. James Reimer is one of the NHL's leaders in goals saved above expectation per start and Binnington is a positive as well.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.

New York Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock will miss the next four-to-six weeks with a lower-body injury, the team announced Wednesday.The 27-year-old seemed to be in pain after blocking a shot and then limping to the bench during the second period of Monday's clash against the Tampa Bay Lightning, according to The Athletic's Arthur Staple. He played just over two minutes in Monday's final frame and didn't suit up for Tuesday's 6-1 loss to the Florida Panthers.Pulock's absence is a huge blow for New York's defense corps. He eats up a ton of hard minutes for the team, averaging 21:07 of ice time per game. He's registered two points over 12 contests this campaign and leads all Islanders defensemen with 34 blocks.A crucial component to New York's recent playoff runs, the underrated stalwart signed an eight-year, $49.2-million extension in October that kicks in after this season.The Islanders have stumbled to a 5-6-2 record to start the campaign. They host the Calgary Flames on Saturday, which will be the first game ever played at UBS Arena.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Montreal Canadiens winger Brendan Gallagher avoided suspension for sucker-punching New York Rangers forward Barclay Goodrow in the final minute of Tuesday's game.Instead, he was fined $2,500 for roughing, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced Wednesday."I kind of expected that to come, but there's two sides to it as well. There was some acting involved there," Gallagher said Wednesday while addressing the league's decision, according to The Athletic's Arpon Basu.Gallagher was assessed a misconduct and a roughing minor following the incident. He and Goodrow jostled and traded verbal jabs before a faceoff in the neutral zone. After the puck was dropped, Gallagher dropped Goodrow.

Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov is week-to-week with a lower-body injury, interim head coach Andrew Brunette said Wednesday, according to NHL.com's Jameson Olive.Barkov doesn't need surgery but will require rehab, Brunette added.The 26-year-old took a knee-on-knee from New York Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield on Tuesday night. Mayfield received a five-minute major and game misconduct on the play but won't face any further discipline for the incident, reports The Athletic's Arthur Staple.Here's a look at the play:Barkov, one of the game's premier two-way centers, leads the Panthers with 17 points over 15 games this season. Here's how Florida's lines project to shake out in the reigning Selke Trophy winner's absence:

Tuesday night's 11-game NHL slate went about as well as it possibly could have.The Winnipeg Jets jumped out to a 4-0 lead over the Edmonton Oilers and survived a late push en route to a 5-2 win as home underdogs. We also hit a sweat-free under between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Nashville Predators. Oh, and two of our three shot props came through. We're now 10-2 overall on the year.While there are only three games to work with tonight, there is value to be had. Let's dive into it with our best bets.Avalanche (-160) @ Canucks (+140)The Canucks are a tire fire. They've won just five of 16 contests this season and have conceded 22 goals over their current four-game losing skid. They are objectively bad ... and yet I still can't agree with Colorado being favored to this extent.While a healthy Avalanche team can compete with anybody, they aren't close to that. Nathan MacKinnon, their best player, is sidelined for the foreseeable future. J.T. Compher, a solid middle-six forward, and impact rookie Bowen Byram are also unavailable.Colorado moved Mikko Rantanen to center as a byproduct of the injuries, and the team now looks paper-thin on the right side. The Avalanche are expected to trot out Logan O'Connor, Andre Burakovsky, Nicolas Aube-Kubel, and Kiefer Sherwood at right wing. Not great.The Avs still have difference-makers like Rantanen, Gabriel Landeskog, and Cale Makar in the lineup, but the depth just isn't there - at least to the usual extent.For all of the Canucks' faults, they do have several stars on their roster, a game-stealer between the pipes in Thatcher Demko, and they've proven to be one of the NHL's best teams at drawing penalties. It's not as if there's nothing to work with here.There is value on the Canucks. Plug your nose and play it.Viktor Arvidsson over 2.5 shots (-125)Have we, as a society, forgotten about Arvidsson during his COVID-19 absence? That must be the case because it's the only explanation for this line.Arvidsson is one of the more trigger-happy players in the NHL. He won't pass up a look at the net, be it in close or from range.That shows in the numbers. He's recorded 32 shots on goal and 57 shot attempts over just eight games this season. I'll save you the math at home; that's four shots and more than seven attempts per contest.Arvidsson has gone over this prop number in six of his eight games, including all four home dates.He should play a prominent role at even strength and on the power play against an injury-plagued Capitals team playing their third game in four nights.I think this line is well short. Take advantage of it.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.

New York Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield was tossed from Tuesday night's game for kneeing Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov.The officials handed Mayfield a major penalty and game misconduct after he caught Barkov leg-on-leg early in the second period.Barkov went to the dressing room after being helped off the ice. The Panthers later announced he wouldn't return to the contest due to a lower-body injury.Panthers interim head coach Andrew Brunette didn't provide an update on Barkov after Florida's 6-1 win, saying the 26-year-old center would be re-evaluated Wednesday.Barkov entered Tuesday's contest leading the Panthers in goals and points. He collected an assist on Florida's first goal of the game.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The IIHF is interested in introducing a three-on-three Olympic hockey tournament."We really believe in it," recently appointed president Luc Tardif said Tuesday, per Sportsnet's Luke Fox. "I think it's important to bring a new format. At the moment, the kids are zapping (between channels). They'd rather play a one-hour game twice than play two-and-a-half hours. They're following on TV four games at a time. So, we have to try to bring a new format."Tardif's idea is under consideration by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) but nothing is imminent. Tardif admitted implementing the fast-paced format in time for the 2026 Milan Games is unlikely, but he's hopeful it can become a reality in 2030."More medals for hockey, that's not bad," Tardif said.The NHL, IOC, and IIHF came to an agreement in September to send NHLers to the 2022 Beijing Games after they sat out the 2018 tournament in PyeongChang, South Korea.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Hockey Hall of Fame finally welcomed its class of 2020 on Monday night, as six new members received the highest honor in the sport. This induction ceremony was previously postponed due to the pandemic, and there won't be a 2021 class. Here's a look at the resumes of each inductee and various highlights from the festivities in Toronto.Players Marian Hossa Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyPosition: Right wing

The Toronto Maple Leafs have acquired forward Kyle Clifford from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for future considerations, the team announced Tuesday.Clifford played 16 games with the Maple Leafs in 2019-20 before signing a two-year contract with the Blues the following offseason. The 30-year-old cleared waivers earlier Tuesday and will report on loan to the AHL's Toronto Marlies, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.Clifford carries a $1-million cap hit and is set to be an unrestricted free agent this summer. He's appeared in two games this season, notching one assist.A two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Los Angeles Kings, Clifford has 65 goals and 75 assists in 728 career contests.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Fenway Sports Group LLC is in advanced talks to purchase the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins, according to Cara Lombardo and Laine Higgins of the Wall Street Journal.A deal could reportedly be finalized later this week, assuming the talks don't fall apart. The terms of the deal are unknown.The Penguins have been owned by NHL legend Mario Lemieux and investor Ron Burkle since 1999. The pair bought the team out of bankruptcy, helped build a new arena, and have overseen three Stanley Cups.Lemieux would remain a minority owner if a deal went through, sources told ESPN's Emily Kaplan.Fenway Sports Group, led by billionaire John Henry, owns the MLB's Boston Red Sox and English football team Liverpool.The Penguins were given an $845-million valuation in October, the 15th-highest in the league, according to Sportico.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We are coming off yet another successful night with shot props, as Victor Hedman and Zach Werenski each went over their totals of 2.5 on Monday.Those wins pushed our record to 8-1 on the year for shot props. We'll look to keep the heater going during Tuesday's 11-game slate.Miro Heiskanen over 2.5 shots (+115)We targeted the Detroit Red Wings with our props on Monday and we're going right back to the well.Detroit has allowed 62.23 shot attempts per 60 minutes of five-on-five play over the last 10 games. That ranks them 29th in the NHL over that span.They're having a tough time in their own zone and I don't see that changing in the latter half of back-to-back road games.Heiskanen leads the Dallas Stars in shot attempts and shots on goal this season. He's recorded at least three shots on target in seven of his last nine games and we're getting plus money on him to do it again against a fatigued team bleeding looks.Take the value and back a great player in a great spot.Claude Giroux over 2.5 shots (-105)The Calgary Flames are a good defensive side. But, even after adjusting for that, this number seems out of line.Claude Giroux has averaged 3.15 shots on goal per game this season. His best work has come on home soil, where he's been remarkably consistent as a shooter. Philadelphia's captain has recorded at least three shots on goal in five of six contests at home.The Flyers are fully rested and can get their best weapons in favorable matchups, while the Flames are playing their fourth road game in six nights. They won't have their legs to try and neutralize opposing attacks.Bonus round: Aaron Ekblad over 2.5 (-115). Ekblad is Florida's leader in shot attempts and shots per game. As mentioned in prior articles, the Islanders have struggled to limit shots, particularly against high-end defenders. Their opponent's No. 1 blue-liner has recorded at least three shots on goal in four consecutive games.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.

New York Rangers forward Sammy Blais is out six-to-eight months due to a knee injury, the team announced Tuesday.The ailment is a torn ACL in his right knee, reports NHL.com's Dan Rosen.Blais suffered the injury during Sunday's game against the New Jersey Devils after being clipped by P.K. Subban.

Monday was a strong night on the ice as both of our player props hit at plus money.With 11 games on Tuesday's slate, we can get back to playing some sides and totals as well.Let's dive into a couple of my favorites.Oilers (-115) @ Jets (-105)The Oilers are a good team but they still have flaws, especially defensively.Over the last 10 games, Edmonton ranks 29th in expected goals against and dead last in high-danger chances allowed at five-on-five. They bleed quality chances - they just have the firepower to outscore their problems.I'm not sure they'll be able to do that on Tuesday. The Jets lead the NHL in high-danger chances over the last 10 games. They're constantly creating Grade A looks, which is bad news for a team struggling to prevent them.Conversely, the Jets have been an above-average team of late at suppressing chances, and it doesn't hurt to have 2020 Vezina winner Connor Hellebuyck there to clean up any mess made in front of them.Beyond edges in goal and current five-on-five form, this is also a big schedule win for the Jets. They're rested, they're at home, and they haven't been forced to travel since October.Meanwhile, Edmonton is playing its fifth road game since last Tuesday and its fourth in six nights.I see plenty of value on the home underdogs.Bet: Jets (-105)Predators (+170) @ Maple Leafs (-200)The Nashville Predators tend to play low-event games. They don't generate a ton of chances and do a pretty good job of limiting the danger in front of Juuse Saros.Simply put, they try and suck the life out of each game. That plan is even more evident with Filip Forsberg out of the mix.Nashville ranks 27th in expected goal generation over the last 10 games. On the flip side, they sit fourth in expected goal suppression.Believe it or not, the Maple Leafs have also effectively protected the danger zones in front of Jack Campbell. They slot eighth in xGA per 60 over the last 10.Each team is defending well, and each team has reason to expect a quality start from their netminder.Saros sits 12th in goals saved above expectation this season; Campbell grades out even better, sitting fourth.Don't expect a ton of goals in this one.Bet: Under 5.5 (-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.

Dion Phaneuf has officially called it a career.The former defenseman spent time with the Calgary Flames, Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators, and Los Angeles Kings in a career that spanned over 1,000 games and 14 seasons.

It's crazy how fast things can change.We're a hair over a month into the 2021-22 NHL season and the landscape of the league is drastically different than it was expected to be.Shockingly, each division leader entered the season with +350 odds - or longer - of claiming the crown. The Minnesota Wild (+800 then; +260 now) are the biggest risers, but there's no shortage of them.Let's take a look at how each division is shaping up and where the value may sit moving forward.Atlantic DivisionTeam Nov. 15 Odds Oct. OddsFlorida Panthers+110+350Toronto Maple Leafs+300+220Tampa Bay Lightning+400+180Boston Bruins+500+300Detroit Red Wings+5000+15000Montreal Canadiens+15000+4000Ottawa Senators+20000+15000Buffalo Sabres+20000+20000The Florida Panthers are rightfully the biggest riser, but I think the movement was a little too drastic. The Panthers are only two points clear of the Toronto Maple Leafs - and three clear of the Tampa Bay Lightning, should they maintain their current pace in points per game - while getting unsustainably good goaltending from starter Sergei Bobrovsky. It's very encouraging that he looks to have turned back the clock, but he's not going to post a .940 save percentage forever. When he regresses, Florida's small lead might disappear.I actually think the value lies with Toronto here. The Leafs have looked dominant at five-on-five this season, controlling better than 55% of the expected goals. Only the Minnesota Wild rank ahead of them in that regard. As mentioned, Toronto is just two points back of the Panthers, and that's while sitting 28th in shooting percentage; that's unlikely to continue with all the firepower the team possesses. Despite their strong play, the Leafs' implied chance of winning the division is lower than it was when the season started. Take advantage of that.Metro DivisionTeam Nov. 15 odds Oct. oddsCarolina Hurricanes+180+400Washington Capitals+330+450New York Islanders+550+350New York Rangers+600+400Pittsburgh Penguins+800+500Philadelphia Flyers+1200+550New Jersey Devils+3000+1800Columbus Blue Jackets+5000+15000The Carolina Hurricanes are off to a remarkable 11-2-0 start, which has them sitting atop the league in points percentage. As such, their implied chances of winning the Metro have risen 15%. Rightfully so. Their underlying profile looks very strong, with the Hurricanes sitting third in Corsi For percentage and eighth in high-danger chance percentage. They're a very good team. The big question mark was goaltending, and yet they lead the league in save percentage a season after finishing third with a completely different tandem. It may just be Carolina plays a style conducive to goaltending success.All that said, the Capitals were the team we isolated as the best bet prior to the season, and the odds have shifted in our favor since. They're tied with Carolina in raw points, they have a very strong goal differential, and they've piled up the points even without Nicklas Backstrom and, more recently, T.J. Oshie due to injury. The Caps are hanging around just fine, and there are reinforcements on the way. At this point, they look like the only real challengers for Carolina.Pacific DivisionTeam Nov. 15 odds Oct. oddsEdmonton Oilers-120+550Vegas Golden Knights+300-280Calgary Flames+380+1500LA Kings+2500+1800Anaheim Ducks+4000+20000San Jose Sharks+4000+6000Seattle Kraken+6000+1000Vancouver Canucks+6000+1400With respect to the Anaheim Ducks, who've played very well thus far, I think this is shaping up to be a three-horse race. The Edmonton Oilers own a 11-3-0 record and, at times, have looked unbeatable due to the dominance of their superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. The level of play they've reached on a consistent basis has risen the team to heights not thought to be possible. While the Oilers still have flaws - their bottom six gives a lot back at five-on-five - it might just be possible for their big guns to outscore their problems.I see real value on the Vegas Golden Knights here, though. They've kept themselves within striking distance despite an almost unfathomable amount of injuries. Their best player, Mark Stone, is finally healthy again, and more help will be coming as time passes. This team is going to get better and better, which is a scary thought considering Vegas is only four points back of Edmonton despite using what feels like half of its AHL lineup on a nightly basis.While I probably wouldn't jump on the Calgary Flames at a high point, I'm very happy holding a ticket for the team I deemed the best value prior to the season. They're top five in Corsi and expected goals at five-on-five. Their special teams are very good, and Jacob Markstrom has looked the part of a Vezina contender. There doesn't appear to be a single glaring weakness with this team, which leads me to believe their strong start isn't smoke and mirrors.Central DivisionTeamNov. 15 oddsOct. oddsColorado Avalanche+120-340Minnesota Wild+260+800St. Louis Blues+450+1500Winnipeg Jets+800+1500Nashville Predators+1800+6000Dallas Stars+2500+800Chicago Blackhawks+10000+2200Arizona Coyotes+100000+10000What a difference a month makes. The Avalanche were massive division favorites, given an implied chance of 77.4% to win the Central.Fast forward just over 30 days and the Avalanche - favored to win the Presidents' Trophy - sit fifth in their own division. Making matters worse is the Avs, who've dealt with plenty of injury concerns, will be without Nathan MacKinnon for the foreseeable future. They're getting healthier, especially on defense, but I think the odds are about where they should be. While they're the team most likely to prevail, the race is more open than expected.Minnesota has a very real chance of claiming the crown. No team has controlled a larger share of the expected goals at five-on-five than the Central leaders. That's encouraging. The Wild figure to benefit from better goaltending moving forward as well; the same tandem that currently ranks 28th in five-on-five save percentage slotted 14th a season ago.I also feel good about the Winnipeg Jets, who were our best bet prior to the campaign. A rejuvenated Pierre-Luc Dubois has helped breathe life into an already potent offense, and the Jets have a chance every night with Connor Hellebuyck in net.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 Ottawa Senators won't play their next three games against the New Jersey Devils, Nashville Predators, and New York Rangers as scheduled because of a COVID-19 outbreak, the NHL announced Monday.Senators associate coach Jack Capuano and 10 Ottawa players are currently in the NHL's COVID-19 protocol.The move marks the first time this campaign that the league has had to postpone contests due to the pandemic.The NHL could delay more games if the Senators' positive cases continue to rise, but their clash against the Colorado Avalanche on Nov. 22 remains scheduled, according to Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch.Ottawa's breakout has forced the club to cancel four straight practices. The NHL added that the franchise closed its training facilities, and the league is currently reviewing the team's regular-season schedule.The NHLPA and team medical groups made the decision in conjunction.Drake Batherson was the 10th player to join the protocol when the Sens ruled him out before their Sunday matchup against the Calgary Flames.The shorthanded Ottawa squad is also missing forwards Austin Watson, Connor Brown, Dylan Gambrell, and Alex Formenton, defensemen Nick Holden, Josh Brown, Nikita Zaitsev, and Victor Mete, as well as goaltender Matt Murray.A player being in COVID-19 protocol isn't necessarily indicative of a positive test.The Sens are last in the Atlantic Division with a 4-10-1 record.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Colorado Avalanche forward J. T. Compher will miss approximately one month with an upper-body injury, head coach Jared Bednar announced Monday, according to The Athletic's Peter Baugh.Compher sustained the injury on Saturday against the San Jose Sharks and was forced to exit during the first period. Bednar said after the game that Compher pulled something in his upper body and wasn't "doing great right now."The 26-year-old is tied with Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen for most goals on the Avalanche's roster with five.Compher was filling the top-line center role in the absence of Nathan MacKinnon, who has been on the shelf since getting hurt against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Nov. 6.Bednar said Rantanen will move to center with MacKinnon and Compher out, according to NHL.com.As for defenseman Bowen Byram, Bednar confirmed he is in concussion protocol and won't start skating until he feels better. Byram has been out since taking an elbow to the face against the Vancouver Canucks on Nov. 11.Colorado has been battling a myriad of injuries all season long and holds a 6-5-1 record to start the year.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We discussed how to evaluate a missing player in a one-game situation last week, and days later, it was announced that Nathan MacKinnon would be sidelined. Naturally, the Avalanche destroyed the Canucks in their next game, but MacKinnon being out the next few weeks will add up for Colorado.I make an 8% adjustment on a player of his caliber (second only to Connor McDavid), which means the Avs are 8% less likely to win any game without him. That adjustment will be put to the test until his return.The recipeWe 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.I've taken the advanced stats I value most from those games, the market rating for regular-season win-total markets, and last season's advanced stats to create a rating for each team. I also make adjustments for injuries to key players.With roughly 17% of the season played, here's how I'm weighing those three factors as of Nov. 15:LAST SEASONMARKET2021-2220%60%20%Last season's advanced metrics act as a baseline so our numbers aren't drastically skewed by clubs overperforming or underperforming. That includes teams having an uncharacteristically good start (e.g. Red Wings) and teams that are struggling early on, but we expect more from going forward (e.g. Golden Knights).Next, we use the regular-season point-total market to account for our assessment of these teams before the campaign. We all had the chance to bet the over on the Hurricanes' season point total, but not enough of us did to move that number higher. So let's not overreact to their good start.All of these teams have played games, though, and that has to mean something. This season's metrics look beyond a team's record to evaluate how that team is playing, so we can see if they might be trending up or down. For example, the Rangers are 9-6 on the moneyline, but the even-strength metrics are concerning going forward. Meanwhile, the Islanders are 5-6, but their five-on-five numbers indicate that they are above average, as usual.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.DATEGAMETRUE MLPRICE TO BETNOV. 15NYI@TB+113/-113NYI +133/TB -109DET@CBJ+113/-113DET +133/CBJ -109NOV. 16BUF@PIT+183/-183BUF +219/PIT -175MTL@NYR+122/-122MTL +144/NYR -117OTT@NJD+128/-128OTT +151/NJD -123CGY@PHI-105/+105CGY -101/PHI +123NYI@FLA+119/-119NYI +141/FLA -114NSH@TOR+158/-158NSH +187/TOR -151ARI@STL+180/-180ARI +216/STL -173SJS@MIN+155/-155SJ +183/MIN -148EDM@WPG+110/-110EDM +129/WPG -105DET@DAL+156/-156DET+185/DAL -150WSH@ANA-142/+142WSH -136/ANA +167CAR@VGK+113/-113CAR +133/VGK -108NOV. 17COL@VAN+102/-102COL +119/VAN +102CHI@SEA+114/-114CHI +134/SEA -110WSH@LAK-121/+121WSH -117/LAK +143NOV. 18TB@PHI-103/+103TB +114/PHI +121NSH@OTT+104/-104NSH +122/OTT +100PIT@MTL+106/-106PIT +125/MTL -102NJD@FLA+177/-177NJD +212/FLA -170NYR@TOR+140/-140NYR +166/TOR -134CGY@BUF-125/+125CGY -120/BUF +147SJS@STL+135/-135SJS +159/STL -129DAL@MIN+123/-123DAL +145/MIN -118CBJ@ARI-112/+112CBJ -108/ARI +132WPG@EDM+120/-120WPG +141/EDM -115CAR@ANA-129/+129CAR -124/ANA +152DET@VGK+155/-155DET +184/VGK -148NOV. 19WPG@VAN+110/-110WPG +130/VAN -106COL@SEA-109/+109COL -104/SEA +128NOV. 20NYR@OTT-108/+108NYR -103/OTT +126NJD@TBL+168/-168NJD +200/TBL -161CAR@LAK-111/+111CAR -107/LAK +130MIN@FLA+110/-110MIN +129/FLA -106NSH@MTL+108/-108NSH +127/MTL -104BOS@PHI-102/+102BOS +107/PHI +119CGY@NYI+123/-123CGY +144/NYI -118PIT@TOR+117/-117PIT +137/TOR -112DET@ARI-111/+111DET -106/ARI +130STL@DAL+129/-129STL +152/DAL -124CBJ@VGK+152/-152CBJ +180/VGK -146CHI@EDM+149/-149CHI +177/EDM -143WSH@SJS-118/+118WSH -113/SJS +139NOV. 21MIN@TBL+109/-109MIN +128/TBL -104BUF@NYR+183/-183BUF +219/NYR -175CGY@BOS+129/-129CGY +152/BOS -124TOR@NYI-122/+122TOR -118/NYI +144CHI@VAN+126/-126CHI +149/VAN -121WSH@SEA-123/+123WSH -118/SEA +145ARI@LAK+154/-154ARI +183/LAK -148If you're looking at betting a game this week, refer to this chart to see whether or not you're truly getting value with one side or the other. New injuries or lineup issues will naturally arise, but this is a good reference point for identifying whether the side you like actually has value.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 © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There are just two games on tonight's slate. Unfortunately, I don't see much value on any side or total because the lines are about where they should be.Thankfully, shot props exist! We're off to a rock-solid 6-1 start with shot totals, falling just one shy of perfect due to our lone loss to date.We'll look to keep the good times going tonight as we comb through our best bets.Victor Hedman over 2.5 shots (+110)The Islanders are conceding a high volume of shots to start the season. In fact, no team is allowing shots at a higher rate during five-on-five play.While New York has suffered through more defensive breakdowns than we generally see from the club, quantity has been more of an issue than quality. That's not surprising given that the Islanders' structure tends to take away looks from the middle of the ice and give opponents free rein from the blue line.That's good news for defensemen willing to pull the trigger, and we have examples of that.New York's last three games came against the Devils, Wild, and Jets. The top defender on each of those teams - Dougie Hamilton, Jared Spurgeon, and Josh Morrissey - all recorded at least four shots on goal during those contests.Minute-munching defenders tend to benefit greatly when playing the Islanders. I expect that trend to continue with Victor Hedman, the Lightning's leader in five-on-five shot attempts.Zach Werenski over 2.5 shots (+110)The Red Wings are an improved team this year, but that stems more from their offensive play than their defense. At five-on-five, Detroit sits 29th in shots on goal allowed per 60 minutes.Nobody should benefit more from this matchup than Zach Werenski. He leads the Blue Jackets in shots on goal and shot attempts. On average, he's hitting the net 3.5 times per game.Despite Werenski averaging a full shot more than the total and playing against a Detroit team that bleeds shots, the odds imply he only has a 47.6% chance of hitting three.There is a big edge to be had here at plus money.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.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby won't face supplementary discipline from the NHL's Department of Player Safety for throwing Washington Capitals defenseman Martin Fehervary against the boards during Sunday's game, reports the Washington Post's Samantha Pell.The incident occurred early in the third period. The Penguins were down 5-1 and Crosby seemed to take his frustrations out on the Capitals youngster. The two players got tangled up before Crosby grabbed Fehervary and tossed him aside. There was no penalty called on the play.

Reinforcements are on the way for the St. Louis Blues' blue line.Defenseman Scott Perunovich has been recalled from the team's AHL affiliate, general manager Doug Armstrong announced Monday.The Blues selected Perunovich in the second round of the 2018 NHL Draft. The 23-year-old is tied for the AHL's scoring lead with 20 points (two goals, 18 assists) in 12 games during his first taste of action with the Springfield Thunderbirds.Perunovich missed all of last season after undergoing shoulder surgery.Prior to the start of his professional career, Perunovich was a force at the collegiate level. He spent three seasons at the University of Minnesota-Duluth and captured back-to-back NCAA titles in 2018 and 2019. He took home the Hobey Baker Award as the top collegiate player in 2020.The Blues have recently run into some trouble on the back end. Defensemen Torey Krug and Niko Mikkola each missed their fifth straight game in COVID-19 protocol Sunday.St. Louis also assigned goaltender Joel Hofer, forward Dakota Joshua, and defenseman Calle Rosen to the Thunderbirds on Monday.The Blues are fourth in the Central Division with an 8-4-2 record. They'll host the Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vancouver Canucks head coach Travis Green can sympathize with disgruntled fans following his team's 5-9-2 start to the season."I can understand that," Green told the media when asked about Canucks fans losing confidence in the team after Sunday's 5-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks. "Things haven't gone the way we wanted them to, but I will say I'm confident our team will turn it around."After the Canucks were decimated by COVID-19 last season en route to a last-place finish in the realigned North Division, they currently sit seventh in the Pacific Division, ahead of just the Seattle Kraken. Vancouver has the league's fifth-worst goal differential (-14) and has been outscored 22-8 during its current four-game losing streak. Additionally, the Canucks gave up seven goals to both the Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights in back-to-back games.Vancouver's special teams also haven't been very dazzling. The team's penalty kill is in the NHL's basement with a 62.3% success rate, while its power play is struggling at a 15.3% clip.Despite all that, and the fact that the Canucks are already six points out of a playoff spot, Green is confident his team will rebound."I think our penalty kill is going to have to help get us going. I think it will come around," he said. "I know our power play will score. I know we have some players that will produce, they've produced before. I know getting some of our defensemen back will also help our game."Green added: "But I do think we have to play better, I'm not saying we don't. We gotta get back to playing a direct, 200-foot game."The Canucks' next chance to right the ship will come Wednesday against the Avalanche.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Penguins got Sidney Crosby back for Sunday's game against the Washington Capitals. Crosby is occupying his usual spot on the Penguins' top line between Jake Guentzel and Bryan Rust.Earlier Sunday, Pittsburgh activated the captain from the NHL's COVID-19 protocol list along with defensemen Brian Dumoulin, Chad Ruhwedel, and Marcus Pettersson.Pittsburgh re-assigned forward Drew O'Connor, defensemen Pierre-Olivier Joseph and Juuso Riikola, and goaltender Louis Domingue to the AHL in corresponding moves.Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan also returned Sunday after entering the protocol Nov. 4.Crosby had appeared in just one previous game this season. The 34-year-old center missed Pittsburgh's first seven contests while recovering from offseason wrist surgery before landing on the COVID-19 list.The shorthanded Penguins lost 6-3 to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ottawa Senators forward Drake Batherson finds himself back in COVID-19 protocol less than 24 hours after tying a career-high with four points in a victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins.The Senators placed the 23-year-old on the list before their game against the Calgary Flames on Sunday. Andrew Agozzino is making his season debut in Batherson's place.Batherson tested positive Saturday but was cleared to play in that evening's contest following further testing. He leads the Senators with seven goals and nine assists over 14 games this season.Senators defenseman Nikita Zaitsev was activated off the list Saturday morning but Ottawa put him back in the protocol before the game. He was the club's ninth player to be given that designation, and Batherson is now the 10th along with associate coach Jack Capuano landing in the protocol, according to Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch.Being in COVID-19 protocol isn't necessarily indicative of a positive test.The severely shorthanded Senators snapped a six-game losing skid Saturday with their victory over the Penguins.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Leo Komarov has left the New York Islanders and signed with the KHL's SKA Saint Petersburg, the veteran forward confirmed on social media.

The Washington Capitals re-signed forward Nic Dowd to a three-year contract carrying an average annual value of $1.3 million, the team announced Sunday.The 31-year-old is in his fourth campaign with the Capitals. Dowd has recorded one goal in nine contests this season while averaging 12:28 of ice time per game. He also leads the club in face-off percentage (56.4).Dowd set a career-high 11 goals last season in 56 contests. He's posted 36 markers and added 43 assists across 316 career games.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Set to be enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday, Calgary Flames legend Jarome Iginla seems to be at peace with how his NHL career played out.Iginla was one of the most dominant players of his generation and amassed an impressive collection of awards and accomplishments. A six-time NHL All-Star, two-time Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy winner, and two-time Olympic gold medalist, he notched 625 goals and 675 assists in 1,554 regular-season games and 68 points in 81 playoff contests.But two of the most coveted trophies in hockey - the Hart Trophy and the Stanley Cup - slipped right through his fingers. Asked if he feels robbed of either, Iginla had a simple answer."No, it's sports," the 44-year-old said, according to Sportsnet's Eric Francis."I wasn't (robbed). With the Hart Trophy, I would have loved to have won it. It's an opinion. When I saw how close it was, that I was tied (with Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jose Theodore), I was still thrilled to be there. What an honor."Theodore and Iginla tied in Hart voting in 2002 with 434 points apiece. Iginla had produced one of the most dominant seasons of his career in 2001-02, leading the NHL with 52 goals and 96 points in the height of the dead puck era. He won the goal-scoring race by 11 tallies, with Bill Guerin, Glen Murray, and Mats Sundin tying for second with 41.Theodore ultimately claimed the award because he received 26 first-place votes to Iginla's 23.Iginla also came within inches of winning the Stanley Cup with the Flames in 2004. Holding a 3-2 series lead against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Calgary appeared to score the go-ahead goal late in Game 6, but the referees deemed that the puck didn't cross the goal line. The Lightning went on to win in double-overtime before taking the series in seven games."The Stanley Cup obviously hurt more," Iginla said. "That was a stinger."Despite coming narrowly close to both accolades, he prefers to reflect on everything he did accomplish during his illustrious 21-year career."To play until I was 39 and play on Team Canada with players like (Steve) Yzerman, (Mario) Lemieux, (Joe) Sakic, (Sidney) Crosby ... it was so cool," Iginla said. "So, I don't feel like I was robbed at all. I never think that way."He added: "I got lots of good bounces in different ways and in games, and we won championships. Memorial Cups and World Juniors. I got to throw my gloves in the air like I was 10 years old again. There are so many things to reflect on and be thankful for, and that is sport."Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vegas Golden Knights have their captain back.Mark Stone returned to the lineup on Saturday against the Vancouver Canucks. He registered an assist and played almost 19 minutes en route to Vegas' 7-4 victory.The 29-year-old had been sidelined with a lower-body injury since Oct. 14. He was seemingly in some discomfort after taking a shot in the offensive zone against the Los Angeles Kings and was helped to the locker room.Though the details surrounding Stone's ailment were unclear, he was able to avoid surgery.Stone took part in line rushes alongside Chandler Stephenson and Evgenii Dadonov earlier Saturday, according to The Athletic's Jesse Granger.The winger's return is welcome news for the battered Golden Knights and their top line, which is also missing Max Pacioretty who is week-to-week with a fractured foot.Stone has put up four assists in three games so far this season. The Golden Knights are now 9-6-0 to start the year.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Andrei Vasilevskiy's spectacular stop allowed Brayden Point to net an impressive overtime winner against the Florida Panthers on Saturday night.Vasilevskiy slid across the crease to absolutely rob Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad about a minute into the extra frame.Then, just over a minute later, Point flew in on a breakaway off a stretch pass from Ondrej Palat and tucked home the winner on the backhand.

The Ottawa Senators returned defenseman Nikita Zaitsev to COVID-19 protocol Saturday night after taking him off the list in the morning.Zaitsev was initially activated two days after landing in the protocol. He was Ottawa's ninth player on the list at the time.Senators forward Drake Batherson tested positive Saturday but was cleared to play in the evening's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins after having more tests, according to Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch.Jacob Bernard-Docker is making his season debut in place of Zaitsev.Forward Shane Pinto and blue-liner Artem Zub are also in the lineup after coming into the contest as game-time decisions due to injuries.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Alex Ovechkin keeps on climbing the ladder.The Washington Capitals captain passed Brett Hull and took sole possession of fourth place on the NHL's all-time goals list after lighting the lamp for the 742nd time of his illustrious career Friday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Carolina Hurricanes might not be a complete bunch of jerks after all.Despite an ongoing feud between Carolina and the Montreal Canadiens, the Hurricanes announced Saturday they have made a donation to the Montreal Canadiens Children's Foundation in honor of World Kindness Day.

Ottawa Senators defenseman Erik Brannstrom will miss six-to-eight weeks with a broken hand, head coach D.J. Smith said Saturday, according to TSN 1200.Brannstrom may need surgery, but a decision hasn't been made yet.The 22-year-old has gone pointless in two contests with the Senators this season. He's managed three points in nine games with the AHL's Belleville Senators.Ottawa has been hit hard by a recent wave of COVID-19 cases as well as injuries. The team removed defenseman Nikita Zaitsev from the COVID-19 protocol list earlier Saturday, but eight players remain on it.Drake Batherson - who leads the Senators with 12 points - missed practice Saturday due to a positive test. Smith added that Batherson hasn't been placed in the protocol yet and that the team is retesting him to make sure it wasn't a false positive.Shane Pinto and Artem Zub are both game-time decisions for Saturday's contest against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Smith confirmed. Pinto hasn't played since Oct. 21, while Zub sustained an injury during Thursday's game against the Los Angeles Kings.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Tucker Poolman has been suspended two games for swinging his stick at the head of Colorado Avalanche forward Kiefer Sherwood on Thursday night, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced Friday.Referees ejected Poolman and handed him a 10-minute match penalty. Sherwood managed to stay in the game.Here's a slowed-down look at the play:

We had a solid night on the ice Thursday. Powered by a 3-0 record on shot props, we finished with a 4-2 record across our best bets.We'll look to build on that with our favorite plays for the weekend ahead.Flames (+145) @ Maple Leafs (-165)

John Tortorella believes Connor McDavid will have to alter his game come playoff time if he's to lead the red-hot Edmonton Oilers to the promised land.The longtime NHL head coach, now working as an analyst on ESPN's "The Point" says that despite McDavid's skill, a commitment to defense is the only thing that will get the league's most dynamic player a Stanley Cup."I do think he has to change his game a bit. Not turn into a checker, obviously," Tortorella said, per ESPN. "He's talked about culture, he's talked about standards, he's talked about winning. You're not just going to fill the net during the playoffs and outscore teams. You have to play on the other side of the puck. You have to have that business-type attitude of, 'Nothing's going to bother me, no matter how you're going to check me.'"Don't talk about it, just play hard, play through it, but the other side of the puck is that important too come playoff time."McDavid and fellow Oilers superstar Leon Draisaitl are the league's top two scorers again early in the 2021-22 season and have galvanized Edmonton to a scorching 10-2-0 start.Expectations to deliver in the playoffs are sky-high given the form of the Oilers' top two players, both of whom were placed under the microscope after Edmonton was swept by the underdog Winnipeg Jets in the first round of the North Division playoffs this past spring."I think he's learning," Tortorella said. "(Head coach Dave Tippett) is going to have to get that whole group - if they're talking about a Stanley Cup - they're all going to have to play a little bit of a different way, not just try to outscore teams."Tortorella, who won a Stanley Cup as head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004, did go on to admit he's been wrong before."Ovechkin - I didn't think they were ever going to win in Washington, but Ovi changed his game a bit and they ended up winning a Cup," he said.The Oilers have advanced past the first round just once in the McDavid era (2016-17). In 21 career postseason games, McDavid's put up 22 points.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators placed defenseman Nikita Zaitsev in the NHL's COVID-19 protocol prior to their loss to the Los Angeles Kings, the team announced Thursday.Ottawa's COVID-19 list now features nine players from the active roster. The club sidelined goaltender Matt Murray and winger Alex Formenton earlier Thursday morning.Connor Brown, Josh Brown, Dylan Gambrell, Nick Holden, Victor Mete, and Austin Watson, as well as associate coach Jack Capuano, are all in the protocol.Forward Andrew Agozzino and defensemen Dillon Heatherington and Lassi Thomson were recalled in corresponding moves. Thomson made his NHL debut in Zaitsev's absence.

The NHL is looking to take some of its All-Star festivities outdoors when Las Vegas hosts the midseason spectacle in February.The league is talking to city officials about hosting two new skills competition events in the open air on The Strip, reports ESPN's Greg Wyshynski.NHL executives presented a plan to those officials as well as representatives from The Bellagio Hotel and Casino this week, Wyshynski adds.The league reportedly hopes to hold the typical skills events indoors as usual, while adding a pair of outdoor challenges inspired by the city and created specifically for next year's festivities.Vegas will host All-Star Weekend on Feb. 4-5. The skills competition will be held on the Friday, while the three-on-three tournament will take place on the Saturday.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

No. 61 is heading to the Nationwide Arena rafters.The Columbus Blue Jackets will retire Rick Nash's number March 5, the club announced Thursday.Nash will become the first player in franchise history to receive the honor."Rick Nash was the face of our franchise and our best player for a decade and represented our club on and off the ice with excellence, class, and humility," Blue Jackets owner John P. McConnell said. "No one is more deserving of this honor than he, and we are looking forward to celebrating Rick and his family in what will be a historic and memorable night for all of us on March 5."The Blue Jackets drafted Nash with the first overall pick in 2002. A five-time All-Star during his time in Columbus, he's the franchise's all-time leader in games played (674), goals (289), assists (258), and points (547). Nash also served as the team's captain from 2008-2012."This is incredibly exciting, not only for Rick and his family but for our entire organization and our great fans," Blue Jackets president of hockey operations John Davidson said. "Only one player can be the first to have their jersey retired by a franchise, and with everything that Rick has meant to the Blue Jackets, it is fitting that he is the one."Nash shared the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy in 2003-04 as a 19-year-old by tying for the league lead with 41 goals. The 6-foot-4 power forward went on to score at least 30 goals in six of the following seven seasons with the Blue Jackets before they traded him to the New York Rangers in 2012.The 37-year-old currently serves as Columbus' director of player development after he ended his playing career in 2018.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Shot props are back for tonight's busy 11-game slate. We're 3-1 on the season - falling one Craig Smith shot short of 4-0 - and looking to keep the good times going.Let's dive into our best bets.Thomas Chabot over 2.5 shots (-110)Chabot was good to us last week, so we might as well go back to our old friend. These odds may have lost a little bit of their juice already, but value remains on him to go over.The blue-liner is logging more than 27 minutes per contest for the Senators. That's insane usage, which leads to plenty of shot opportunities - even more so on home ice. Chabot is averaging nearly seven attempts and 3.3 shots on target through seven home games, which puts his shot prop in play against anybody at anything close to even money. The above-average matchup works in his favor, too.The Kings are banged up on defense, and it shows. Los Angeles is giving up volume on a nightly basis. Opponents have generated more than 61 attempts per 60 at five-on-five over the last five games, placing the Kings 26th in the NHL.Since Chabot is a willing shooter and logs an absurd amount of minutes, he stands to benefit the most from this matchup. And on top of that, this is expected to be a close contest - it's a low-game total with the money line odds priced nearly evenly.If this one does turn out to be neck and neck, Chabot is not going to leave the ice. Back him to go over the number once again.Sam Bennett over 2.5 shots on goal (+100)Bennett averages six shot attempts per game. Bennett averages nearly 3.5 shots on goal per game. Bennett has gone over the number in six of eight games this campaign for the Panthers (including against the Penguins), falling just one shot shy in each of the other two.Despite all of those fun facts, you can get plus money backing him to go over the number.Pittsburgh is a good defensive team, but - as pointed out - when successfully picking Patrick Kane to go over his total, the team gives up shots. The Penguins are more focused on preventing quality than quantity.With the implied odds of a coin flip, I like Bennett to get there tonight.Bonus round: If you're hungry for more, Aaron Ekblad over 2.5 shots (-125) also stands out. He leads Florida in total attempts this season and registered six shots the last time these two sides met. Pittsburgh generally keeps shots to the outside, which is not something that will hurt Ekblad.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.

Wednesday served us up yet another split. The Maple Leafs blanked the Flyers, but the Stars lost for the sixth time in seven games to put us back to square one.We'll aim for more with our best bets on this busy Thursday.Oilers (+125) @ Bruins (-145)Stepping in front of Connor McDavid is always a scary thought, but we're going to try our luck.The Oilers aren't as good as their record indicates. Nobody's doubting their star power, but the team remains too top-heavy. That's why, despite owning a remarkable 9-2-0 mark, they've been outchanced and are only +1 at five-on-five.Edmonton is relying on the power play to do the heavy lifting, which it's clearly capable of. But being so reliant on the man advantage could be problematic against a team like the Bruins.Led by Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, and Charlie McAvoy, Boston is once again a strong penalty-killing side. The Bruins rank sixth in chances against per 60 and seventh in suppressing expected goals. They don't give up much in the way of quality looks.They're also not one to spoon-feed opponents opportunities with the extra man. Only seven teams have spent fewer minutes killing penalties this season.A lot of this game should be played at five-on-five, where the Bruins look to have a big edge. They rank third in expected goals share at 56%, while the Oilers sit 19th at 49%.Expect Boston's five-on-five edge to shine through in this one.Bet: Bruins (-145)Wild (-105) @ Golden Knights (-115)It's a day that ends with "y," and you know what that means: We're fading the Golden Knights.Mark Stone and Nolan Patrick are starting to practice and could return in the near future, providing some much-needed skill and depth to the Golden Knights' forward group. Assuming they're out Thursday, though, the value remains on their opponents.The Wild are off to a strong 9-3-0 start, and they're full value for it. They've steamrolled their opponents, controlling a league-leading 58% of the expected goals share at five-on-five.Vegas, as undermanned as the team is, has unsurprisingly struggled in that game state. Its xG share at five-on-five sits at 45%, good for 29th in the NHL.Yes, the Golden Knights are rested and at home. But a healthy Minnesota side is far superior to this version of Vegas' team, and the Wild have saved their best goaltender - Cam Talbot - for Thursday's game.Bet: Wild -105.Kings (-110) @ Senators (-110)This game screams under to me. The Kings are a defensive-minded team playing its third game in four nights. Los Angeles will undoubtedly try to bottle things up, which it's well-equipped to do with Anze Kopitar and Phillip Danault centering the top two lines.On the flip side, the Senators are dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak. They're missing a handful of regulars, including speedsters Connor Brown and Alex Formenton. Ottawa's forward depth isn't impressive at the best of times, so losing them is problematic.I expect the Senators to play a simple, north-south-style game. They don't have much in the way of quick-strike attackers, and the quality they do have should see a lot of Kopitar and/or Danault.The goaltending matchup is also much better than it seems on paper. Jonathan Quick has been surprisingly good thus far, saving 4.9 goals above expectation through seven starts. He's in the same ballpark as Jacob Markstrom, Robin Lehner, and Andrei Vasilevskiy on a per-game basis.Meanwhile, Filip Gustavsson has outperformed Ottawa's regular tandem of Matt Murray and Anton Forsberg. Gustavsson's not just some random recall; he's an NHL goaltender.Don't expect much action in this one.Bet: Under 5.5 goals (+100)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.

Kevin Fiala pulled something special out of his bag of tricks Wednesday night.The Minnesota Wild forward batted the puck out of mid-air on his backhand for a terrific goal early in the second period against the Arizona Coyotes.

Anaheim Ducks general manager Bob Murray resigned from his position and will enter an alcohol abuse program, the team announced Wednesday.The Ducks placed Murray on leave Tuesday amid an investigation into his professional conduct. Jeff Solomon will serve as Anaheim's interim GM."First and foremost, we apologize on behalf of the organization to anyone affected by misconduct from Bob. We expect every member of our organization to be treated with respect and will not stand for abuse of any kind," Ducks owners Henry and Susan Samueli said in a statement.They added: "Bob tendered his resignation this morning, while also informing us of his decision to enter an alcohol abuse program. While we do not condone his conduct, we fully support his efforts to improve his physical and mental health by asking for help."Henry Samueli will pay for Murray's rehab, a source told ESPN's Emily Kaplan.Murray also released a statement."I want to apologize to anyone adversely affected by my behavior. I vow to make changes to my life, starting with enrolling in a treatment program. I want to thank Henry and Susan Samueli, and Michael Schulman, as working for them has been one of the highlights of my career," he said. "As I step away from the Ducks, I will focus my attention on where it should be: improving my life for the betterment of my family and friends."Murray allegedly created a toxic work culture through repeated verbal abuse of Ducks players, staff, and personnel, as well as temper tantrums and intimidation tactics, sources told Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli.That behavior was reported via the NHL Hotline, the league's public relations said in a statement. The league sent a memo to all 32 teams in October amid the Chicago Blackhawks scandal to remind any individual within a team to report behavior that's "clearly inappropriate, unlawful, or demonstrably abusive."Murray joined the Ducks as senior vice president of hockey operations in 2005 and took over as GM in 2008.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Colorado Avalanche superstar Nathan MacKinnon will miss "give or take three weeks" due to a lower-body injury, head coach Jared Bednar said Wednesday.MacKinnon was hurt in Saturday's game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. It remains unclear how exactly he suffered the ailment.The 26-year-old has recorded a goal and nine assists in eight contests this season. He missed the opening two games of the campaign due to COVID-19.J.T. Compher is projected to take MacKinnon's place on the top line between Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen. Here was the rest of the team's lineup at Wednesday's practice:

It was a tough night for us on the ice Tuesday. The Bruins were unable to convert on several empty-net opportunities to seal a multi-goal victory. Meanwhile, the Kraken disappointed us once again due to poor goaltending, with Chris Driedger conceding four goals on just 23 shots (.826 save percentage) in a 4-2 loss.We'll aim to bounce back with our best bets for tonight's three-game slate.Predators (+120) @ Stars (-140)The Stars enter this game having dropped five of their last six contests, but they're playing significantly better than the results would indicate.At five-on-five, Dallas has out-chanced its opposition by 31 during this losing skid. The team has controlled 55.6% of the chances and 54.9% of the expected goals. Those are encouraging signs for their underlying process, but they just haven't been able to score.Despite getting John Klingberg and Jason Robertson back healthy, the Stars have been unable to finish anything, scoring on just 4.5% of their five-on-five shots over the last six games.Put another way, opposing goaltenders posted a .955 save percentage against Dallas. Even if they're a subpar finishing team, that's simply not going to last.At some point, the chances will start to go. What's important is they continue to create more than they give up.I like their chances of doing just that against the Predators. Their share of the xG is trending downward and things aren't going to get any easier with forwards Filip Forsberg and Nick Cousins now out with injuries.This seems like a good get-right spot for the Stars at home, especially if Juuse Saros doesn't get the nod for Nashville. He's been one of the best goaltenders since the beginning of last season, while David Rittich's a mediocre backup who appears to have peaked in 2018-19. Rittich hasn't started a game this year, so this seems like a probable spot for his debut.Bet: Stars (-140)Maple Leafs (-130) @ Flyers (+110)The Maple Leafs are annoyingly inconsistent at times, but this is a good matchup for them to bounce back after laying an egg on Monday night.For all of its faults, Toronto is still an elite offensive team. The Leafs are among the very best at generating shots and scoring chances in bulk.They rank second in shot attempts at five-on-five per 60 and first in high-danger chances per 60. The quantity and quality are there.The Flyers are off to a strong start, but there's reason to believe it's just smoke and mirrors. They rank fifth in shooting percentage and third in save percentage, which has masked a lot of their problems, particularly on defense.Life without Ryan Ellis hasn't been pleasant, and he remains out for tonight's game. Philadelphia ranks 27th in expected goals against per 60 and 28th in high-danger chances against.So, a Flyers team that bleeds dangerous looks is going up against the league's best at generating high-danger chances. That's not a recipe for success for Philadelphia.John Tavares' status is in question following an injury Monday night. If you want to wait for an update before pulling the trigger, by all means, do so.But I think the Flyers have punched above their weight and expect them to come back to earth - at least to an extent - sooner rather than later.Bet: Maple Leafs -130Todd 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 St. Louis Blues have re-assigned forward Jake Neighbours to the WHL's Edmonton Oil Kings, the team announced Wednesday.The club won't have the option to call Neighbours up for the remainder of the regular season."I think there's been games that I really liked him. He's done some real good things," head coach Craig Berube said. "You have to look at a lot of the games and the score and the time of the game and just a lot of things played into how much ice time he got. It's not easy."But overall, I think he did really well. He's a smart player like I've always said, he's killed penalties for us in these games, done a great job, he's scored a goal, he's around the puck all the time, has a nose for the puck. (This is all) going to be a learning process for him, a kid that young coming into the league."St. Louis selected the 19-year-old with the 26th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft. He skated in nine games with the Blues this campaign, recording one goal and one assist while averaging 9:21 minutes per game.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price released a statement Tuesday after rejoining the team following his voluntary participation in the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program."Over the last few years I have let myself get to a very dark place and I didn't have the tools to cope with that struggle. Last month I made the decision to enter a residential treatment facility for substance use," he said in an Instagram post. "Things had reached a point that I realized I needed to prioritize my health for both myself and for my family. Asking for help when you need it is what we encourage our kids to do, and it was what I needed to do."I am working through years of neglecting my own mental health which will take some time to repair; all I can do is take it day by day. With that comes some uncertainty with when I will return to play."I appreciate all of the overwhelming support and well wishes. I please ask that the media and our hockey community continue to respect our privacy at this time. Your support and respect of this so far has been a critical piece to my recovery."Price missed all of training camp while recovering from offseason knee surgery and entered the player assistance program on Oct. 7.Head coach Dominique Ducharme laid out the conditioning steps for Price's potential return earlier on Tuesday, according to TSN's John Lu.After the Canadiens' 3-2 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday night, Ducharme emphasized the importance of patience when it comes to Price's recovery."We cannot rush anything on the personal side," he said. "We will monitor the mental side and the physical side so when (Price) comes back, he's 100%."Some of Price's teammates also addressed the 34-year-old's statement after the game."We talked to (Price) this morning," Montreal winger Tyler Toffoli said. "It's extremely powerful and there's a reason why he attracts people around him. He's a quality human being."Habs defenseman Ben Chiarot added that Price's family is most important."To be honest, the hockey part you don't even care," he said. "(He's) a brave man to come out and face his fears. It's not easy for guys to do that. I'm proud to call him a friend."Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Anaheim Ducks placed executive vice president and general manager Bob Murray on administrative leave pending an ongoing investigation related to professional conduct, the team announced Tuesday."We recently became aware of accusations of improper professional conduct against Bob Murray," the team said in a statement."After internal review, we enlisted Shephard Mullin to perform an independent investigation. Upon recommendation from their initial findings, we have decided to place Bob on administrative leave pending final results. In the interim, vice president of hockey operations and assistant general manager Jeff Solomon will assume the role of interim general manager. We will have no further comment until the investigation is complete."Murray is under investigation for allegations of creating a toxic workplace culture by repeatedly verbally abusing team players, personnel, and coaches, along with intimidation tactics and temper tantrums, sources confirmed to Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli."Working for Bob Murray was pure daily mental warfare," one source told Seravalli. "The abuse was endless. Crazy text messages to players and staff berating them for their performance and threats of job security happened with regularity. These weren’t one-time slip-ups or mistakes. These were regular explosions and eruptions."Murray joined the Ducks in 2005 as senior vice president of hockey operations. He took over as GM in 2008 and has held the position since.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.