For the Canucks and their fans, it's time to give up.It's time to abandon the only thing that gave a lost season some hope - the chance to draft Connor Bedard or Adam Fantilli - or whomever else we all talk ourselves into believing is the franchise-changer, for that matter.Fourteen points ahead of the Blue Jackets and 11 points clear of the Blackhawks and Sharks, the Canucks getting a top-2 pick would require the type of lottery luck that they historically don't have.The problem all along has been that the Canucks are too good to be bad. Sure, expected goal and high-danger chance shares of around 47% this season are certainly not good, but the team is just not bad enough to lay down against the likes of the Blue Jackets, Blackhawks, Coyotes, Ducks, and Canadiens.Early in the season, the Canucks were good enough to get multi-goal leads, but they would repeatedly and historically blow them due to poor defensive play and goaltending.They had a captain good enough to be sought after in Bo Horvat, and they ultimately got a three-pronged package from the Islanders.Thatcher Demko was considered good before this season, then wasn't, and now has a very good +4.79 goals saved above expectation in just five games following his return. For all the embarrassment brought by their midseason coaching change, the Canucks are now playing, dare I say, well defensively.How do we find a silver lining as the Canucks return to the worst theoretical place in sports - mediocrity? We bet on them to disappoint their fans by winning.The market seemed unaware of the Canucks' 4-1 record in their last five games when they made Vancouver a home underdog to the Senators on Saturday. The Canucks cashed plus-money tickets with ease in a 5-2 win - their fourth straight victory.That's the type of game where you'll find value on the Canucks the rest of the way - priced cheaply against teams with higher playoff hopes. With all 17 of their remaining games against Western Conference teams who are largely better-than-average at best, the Canucks look to be a profitable bet on a nightly basis. So even when they win more than they lose and finish on the brink of a top-10 draft pick, at least that silver lining will come in the form of dollars in your wallet."Ted Lasso" taught us that it's the hope that kills you, but winning bets will make you feel alive.The recipeWe started the season using regular-season point totals as a baseline for rating teams since it's our best measurement. Throughout the campaign, we adjust club ratings using on-ice metrics to remove the cognitive bias of win-loss records, which can be skewed by outliers like special-teams results, poor goaltending performances, and other unreliable events.The cheat sheetThere are no bad bets at the right price, but how do we know what a good price is?The following includes my fair price on the games (true moneyline) and the moneyline price I'd need to bet either side. I only need a 1% edge for a favorite if we're getting better than a fair price on the team more likely to win. For the underdog, I'll need 4% or better to make it a bet. For games I project to be closer to a coin flip, a 2.5% edge is enough for a worthwhile wager. I also have a 5% win probability consideration for a team playing in the second game of a back-to-back with travel and a 3% consideration for a team on the second leg of a back-to-back without travel. When it comes to injured players, I do my best to estimate the impact on their team's win probability.When the betting markets open up the night before, you can compare those prices with our "price to bet" column to see if you're getting any value with either side's moneyline. There's also a possibility that a moneyline moves into a bet-friendly range at some point between market open and puck drop.DATEGAMETRUE MLPRICE TO BETMarch 13COL@MTL-154/+154COL -148/MTL +183BUF@TOR+189/-189BUF +227/TOR -181DAL@SEA-112/+112DAL -108/SEA +132March 14WSH@NYR+112/-112WSH +132/NYR -108VGK@PHI-134/+134VGK -128/PHI +158MTL@PIT+258/-258MTL +318/PIT -246TBL@NJD+126/-126TBL +149/NJD -121WPG@CAR+215/-215WPG +260/CAR -205DET@NSH+136/-136DET +161/NSH -131BOS@CHI-241/+241BOS -230/CHI +295OTT@EDM+141/-141OTT +166/EDM -135CGY@ARI-190/+190CGY -182/ARI +228DAL@VAN+102/-102DAL +113/VAN +109CBJ@SJS+230/-230CBJ +280/SJS -219NYI@LAK+135/-135NYI +160/LAK -130March 15BUF@WSH+123/-123BUF +144/WSH -118COL@TOR+165/-165COL +196/TOR -158MIN@STL-108/+108MIN +102/STL +120NYI@ANA-118/+118NYI -113/ANA +139March 16PIT@NYR+106/-106PIT +117/NYR +105COL@OTT+145/-145COL +172/OTT -139TBL@NJD+126/-126TBL +149/NJD -121MTL@FLA+260/-260MTL +321/FLA -248CHI@NSH+185/-185CHI +222/NSH -177BOS@WPG-135/+135BOS -129/WPG +159DAL@EDM+119/-119DAL +140/EDM -114CGY@VGK+106/-106CGY +117/VGK +104VAN@ARI-114/+114VAN -110/ARI +134CBJ@LAK+255/-255CBJ +314/LAK -243SEA@SJS+131/-131SEA +155/SJS -126Matt 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 © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We have a pint-sized three-game slate to begin the week. Although there isn't much to choose from on the betting board, a couple of plays still pop off the page.Let's take a closer look.Stars (-125) @ Kraken (+105)The Stars bested the Kraken last time out in an airtight affair. Despite the scoreline, neither team was able to generate much offensively, especially Seattle.The Kraken only mustered four high-danger chances in more than 63 minutes of action. With a goaltender like Jake Oettinger between the pipes, the Stars will always be in great shape when they limit teams that much.I expect the Stars to prevail once again in the second leg of a two-game set in Seattle. First and foremost, they're the better team in better form. At five-on-five, Dallas has controlled well over 57% of the expected goals share over the last 10 games. That's a top-five clip in the NHL. Seattle slots far below the Stars in that regard, coming in around 48% (19th) during the same span.With the Stars getting the better chances on a nightly basis, the best way to unseat them is by winning the goaltending battle. I don't love the Kraken's odds of doing that.Philipp Grubauer has slowed down of late, allowing nine goals over the past two games. He has started every game in March, so it's possible fatigue is getting to him a bit. He's likely in for another tough night against Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz, et al.And if Martin Jones gets the nod? That's even better for the Stars' chances. Among 56 netminders to log 400-plus minutes in 2023, Jones ranks 47th with an .892 save percentage. He is really struggling and unlikely to give the Kraken the quality start they'll need - particularly after a couple weeks of idling.Look for the Stars to grab another win and take all four points in their visit to Seattle.Bet: Stars (-125)Mikko Rantanen over 0.5 assists (+110)The Avalanche are slowly starting to look like the team we've grown accustomed to seeing. Although they still show some flaws without the puck, they're as dangerous as ever with it.They've scored an average of 3.85 goals per 60 over the past 10, which is more than all but the Oilers and Stars. They're consistently filling the net.More goals equates to more points opportunities, and there should be plenty on Monday with Colorado taking on a bruised and battered Canadiens team.The Canadiens - missing seemingly half their roster - have conceded at least three goals in six straight games and allowed 33 shots or more five times in that span. They're giving up a lot.With the Avalanche in need of every point they can get, I expect they'll ride the big guns for 20-plus minutes again in this game. The only way they won't is if this turns into a blowout, which probably bodes well for Rantanen's chances of getting in on the action.Rantanen's registered an assist in seven of his last eight games against bottom-10 scoring defenses. I'm happy backing him to do it again at plus money.Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This is the 11th edition of theScore's NHL Power Rankings for the 2022-23 campaign. Check back for updated rankings every other Monday during the regular season.In this edition, with the 95th Academy Awards handed out Sunday night, we look to the movies for inspiration and pick one film that sums up each team's season thus far.1. Boston Bruins (50-10-5)Previous rank: 1st"Catch Me If You Can" (2002). Much like Leonardo DiCaprio's portrayal of Frank Abagnale Jr. in this early aughts romp, the NHL-best Bruins have stayed more than one step ahead of the rest of the league thanks to the skill and smarts of their players, coaches, and executives alike.2. New Jersey Devils (44-16-6)Previous rank: 3rd"John Wick" (2014). Few expected the Devils to be this good and this entertaining, much like the Keanu Reeves-driven cult hit and its sequels. Maybe we should have seen it coming in both cases; New Jersey assembled a talented, young core complemented by some skilled vets, and well, Keanu rules. Much like the John Wick movies, the Devils have been much better and more enjoyable to watch than even optimists predicted.3. Carolina Hurricanes (43-14-8)Previous rank: 2nd"The Perfect Storm" (2000). The Hurricanes have been near-perfect in many aspects of the game this season. Of course, a "perfect storm" like the 1991 one depicted in the film entails a combination of negative circumstances. Yet Carolina has overcome a slew of injuries, including major ones to Frederik Andersen and Max Pacioretty.4. Toronto Maple Leafs (40-17-8)Previous rank: 4th"Groundhog Day" (1993). The Maple Leafs have lived the same campaign six years running: regular-season success, followed by first-round failure in the playoffs. Is this the year Auston Matthews and Co. finally escape Punxsutawney?5. Vegas Golden Knights (41-20-6) Chris Unger / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious rank: 7th"Kill Bill: Volume 1" (2003). Jonathan Quick is playing like someone who's sworn revenge on those who doubted his talents. The 37-year-old is 3-0-0 with a .939 save percentage since joining the Golden Knights after being unceremoniously dumped by the Los Angeles Kings.6. Dallas Stars (36-17-13)Previous rank: 11th"The Wild Bunch" (1969). The synopsis for this classic reads, "An aging group of outlaws look for one last big score as the 'traditional' American West is disappearing around them." While the Stars' best player is 23-year-old Jason Robertson, Dallas has nine players who are at least 30, including 38-year-olds Joe Pavelski and Ryan Suter. Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin are seeking the ultimate prize, too, and this team has a shot at it.7. New York Rangers (37-19-10)Previous rank: 9th"The Expendables" (2010). The Rangers are loaded with older stars, especially after adding a couple at the trade deadline. But can such an impressive collection of marquee names meet expectations while sharing the spotlight? Moviegoers had similar questions about Sylvester Stallone's action hero ensemble extravaganza, and fans in Manhattan are probably hoping the Rangers' script turns out a bit better.8. Tampa Bay Lightning (39-22-6)Previous rank: 5th"Diamonds are Forever" (1971). When general manager Julien BriseBois traded five draft picks for Tanner Jeannot at the deadline, the Lightning's motivation was clear: Diamonds (in Stanley Cup rings) are forever.9. Minnesota Wild (38-21-8)Previous rank: 15th"From Russia with Love" (1963). Kirill Kaprizov has been an offensive force for a Wild team that's struggled to score. This upcoming stretch without him will define their season.10. Colorado Avalanche (36-22-6)Previous rank: 6th"Sleeping Beauty" (1959). No one can dance around the fact the Avalanche have underwhelmed throughout the post-championship regular season, but the whole league is hoping Colorado doesn't awake from its lengthy slumber come playoff time.11. Edmonton Oilers (36-23-8) Claus Andersen / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious rank: 8th"The Fast and the Furious" (2001). Connor McDavid has raced away with the battle for the Art Ross Trophy - and likely the Hart Trophy too.12. Los Angeles Kings (38-20-9)Previous rank: 10th"Star Trek: Generations" (1994). The Kings are still led by franchise icons Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty, but they continued to transition from the old crew to the new one by trading Quick to the Golden Knights. L.A. has remained relevant by injecting youth and new talent into the equation, just like a certain science fiction franchise did when it brought parts of its two crews together on the big screen.13. Seattle Kraken (37-22-7)Previous rank: 13th"Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story" (2004). With only a few weeks left in the regular season, the Kraken find themselves in the thick of the playoff race in the Pacific Division - who saw that coming? Can they make like the Average Joe's crew and go on a run?14. Winnipeg Jets (38-26-3)Previous rank: 12th"Top Gun: Maverick" (2022). The original Jets had many great seasons but were unable to capture a Stanley Cup. Can the current iteration emulate the success of this sequel and find more glory than its 1980s predecessor?15. Pittsburgh Penguins (34-22-10)Previous rank: 18th"The Bourne Identity" (2002). The Penguins appear to have suffered an amnesia-induced identity crisis much like Matt Damon's Jason Bourne. Pittsburgh general manager Ron Hextall either forgot or refused to acknowledge the club's sense of urgency at the deadline given its aging core. Now it may be too late for the Pens to remember who they are, meaning we may not get multiple successful sequels with this team.16. New York Islanders (34-26-8) Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious rank: 19th"No Country For Old Men" (2007). The Islanders own the league's oldest roster by average age and are run by an 80-year-old general manager equally as intimidating as Javier Bardem's performance in the 2008 best picture. That said, we don't expect this New York squad to clean up at any awards shows.17. Florida Panthers (33-27-7)Previous rank: 17th"Cats" (2019). The Panthers haven't been as bad as this ill-fated Andrew Lloyd Webber adaptation - Florida is still in the playoff hunt, after all. But the fact that these Cats have to scratch and claw to try to make the postseason coming off a Presidents' Trophy-winning campaign is a disappointment worthy of CGI-enhanced feline costumes.18. Calgary Flames (30-24-13)Previous rank: 20th"Speed 2: Cruise Control" (1997). The Flames underwent a significant recast for the 2022-23 season, and the result has turned out like most sequels do in Hollywood: a major disappointment.19. Ottawa Senators (33-29-4)Previous rank: 21st"Deadpool" (2016). Yes, there's an obvious Ryan Reynolds connection here. But that's not the only reason this one fits. The Senators aren't doing a conventional retool, and Deadpool's whole appeal is his atypicality. Then there's the playful attitude of the Sens' fanbase. Also, Brady Tkachuk is ultra-skilled and fun to watch, yet intense. Sound familiar?20. Buffalo Sabres (32-28-5)Previous rank: 14th"Everything Everywhere All At Once" (2022). This Sabres season has certainly been a thrill ride. Buffalo is the ultimate high-event team, ranking near the top of the league in both goals for and against. There may not be any awards in the Sabres' immediate future, but their roller-coaster campaign has resembled the absurdist dramedy that won Best Picture on Sunday.21. Nashville Predators (33-24-7)Previous rank: 22nd"About Time" (2013). It's about time the Predators retool with a new general manager at the helm. Barry Trotz stepping in this summer is a much-needed breath of fresh air for a team that's floundered in the middle tier of the league for too long.22. Washington Capitals (32-28-7) Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPrevious rank: 23rd"I Am Legend" (2007). We're not saying Washington's season has been bad enough to be described an apocalyptic hellscape, but the title here is fitting in relation to Alex Ovechkin and his 800th career goal a few months ago - the lone bright spot of a underwhelming year of hockey in D.C.23. Vancouver Canucks (28-32-5)Previous rank: 27th"Horrible Bosses" (2011). This one's pretty self-explanatory. The Canucks have been mismanaged in numerous ways recently, from their atrocious treatment of ex-head coach Bruce Boudreau to their ill-advised roster construction. Unlike the movie, though, the players may not be able to do much about it.24. Detroit Red Wings (30-27-9)Previous rank: 16th"Daddy's Home 2" (2017). The Red Wings dipped into their pocketbooks to add numerous free agents last summer. The result? Another middling season, not unlike this more expensive and underwhelming sequel.25. St. Louis Blues (29-32-5)Previous rank: 23rd"Forgetting Sarah Marshall" (2008). Blues supporters recently endured harsh breakups with two fan favorites in Ryan O'Reilly and Vladimir Tarasenko, and while it's fun to reminisce on the glory days those relationships brought, it's best for all parties to find a way to move on.26. Arizona Coyotes (24-32-11)Previous rank: 28th"Bad Boys" (1995). The Coyotes own the league's worst penalty differential at -57. That's a group of bad boys right there.27. Montreal Canadiens (26-34-6) Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPrevious rank: 26th"Home Alone" (1990). The Canadiens have been without their "child" (Cole Caufield) since January, as the talented youngster is done for the season due to injury. He wasn't exactly left behind, but Habs fans have undoubtedly been missing the 22-year-old, who could certainly foil burglars given how capable he is of embarrassing opposing defensemen.28. Philadelphia Flyers (24-34-11)Previous rank: 25th"The New Guy" (2002). This version of the movie stars Daniel Briere, the latest executive tabbed with finding a consistent direction for a Flyers franchise stuck in the mud.29. Anaheim Ducks (22-35-10)Previous rank: 31st"D3: The Mighty Ducks" (1996). Trevor Zegras aside, this season has been more like the third "Mighty Ducks" movie than the first two for Anaheim in terms of quality. It may be a while before the players on the NHL team can call themselves true "Game Changers" like the kids in the new streaming series.30. Chicago Blackhawks (22-38-6)Previous rank: 29th"The Replacements" (2000). It's not exactly subtle that the Blackhawks are gunning for the first overall pick with a lineup that features a dozen players that make you say, "who?"31. San Jose Sharks (19-36-12)Previous rank: 30th"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (2008). This is dedicated to Erik Karlsson, who appears to be aging backwards, much like Brad Pitt did in the 2008 drama. Pushing 33, Karlsson has put together his best statistical season to date despite suiting up for the lowly Sharks.32. Columbus Blue Jackets (20-38-7)Previous rank: 32nd"The Room" (2003). So bad, it's good? Sorry Blue Jackets fans, it's been a tough season.(Analytics sources: Evolving Hockey, Natural Stat Trick)Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Steven Stamkos returned to the lineup on Sunday against the Winnipeg Jets after an injury scare the previous night.Stamkos fell after battling with Joey Anderson in the first period of Saturday's win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Upon getting up, he grabbed his left leg and went straight to the bench. He didn't return to the game.

Interim Philadelphia Flyers general manager Daniel Briere sees a long road ahead for the organization to get where it wants to be, but he isn't interested in a complete teardown."We have to be careful. I want to make sure that 'rebuild' doesn't mean fire sale," Briere said at his introductory press conference Sunday, according to ESPN's Greg Wyshynski."There's a big difference between the two. So I want to make that clear. We're not going to get rid of everybody. We have some good players here, some players that are in certain roles that we're going to keep as well."Briere was handed the reins to the front office Friday after the club fired Chuck Fletcher, who held the GM position for four-plus seasons. The Flyers only made the playoffs once under his tenure, and Fletcher drew plenty of criticism over the past two campaigns for a long list of transactions that failed to keep Philadelphia competitive.Fletcher brought Briere aboard as a special assistant in 2022. The former Flyers winger doesn't believe his lack of experience running an NHL team will be an issue."There's no doubt in my mind that I can do the job," he said. "I'm going to have some great people around me as well. It's not something that I'm going to do alone. I'm not gonna lie: It's something that I saw myself doing from early on when I was playing. I always believed that I could be in this position one day."The Flyers have won only two of their past 10 games and sit 26th in the league standings with a 24-31-11 record.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

To the surprise of absolutely no one, the Boston Bruins are the first team to clinch their spot in the playoffs.Boston officially punched its postseason ticket after the New York Islanders' loss to the Washington Capitals on Saturday. It's the Bruins' seventh consecutive playoff appearance, equaling the third-longest run in franchise history.Boston became the fastest team in NHL history to 50 wins earlier Saturday with a comeback victory against the Detroit Red Wings.The Bruins are 50-9-5 on the campaign. With 105 points through 64 games, they're on pace to break the 1977-78 Montreal Canadiens' NHL record of 132 points in a season.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Capitals signed defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk to a three-year contract extension with an average annual value of $3 million, the team announced Saturday.Van Riemsdyk is currently playing out the second season of a two-year pact with a $950,000 AAV.The 6-foot-3 defenseman has produced a career-high 19 points and a team-high 146 blocked shots in 66 games this season while averaging 19 minutes per contest. He's also recorded stellar underlying numbers. Evolving-HockeyThe right side of Washington's blue line will now remain intact for an additional three years. Right-handed defenseman Nick Jensen recently signed a three-year, $12.15-million extension, and John Carlson is locked up through 2025-26 with an $8-million cap hit.Van Riemsdyk, 31, has compiled 108 points in 522 career NHL games across nine seasons between the Chicago Blackhawks, Carolina Hurricanes, and Capitals.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It was deja vu for the Calgary Flames on Friday night as the team outshot the Anaheim Ducks 37-18 but failed to pick up the win."It does feel pretty repetitive," defenseman MacKenzie Weegar said postgame. "We gotta find ways to win. It's another night of outshooting your opponent but coming up short."The 3-1 loss is Calgary's 19th this season when outshooting its opponent by 10 or more shots, breaking the NHL record. The 1995-96 Boston Bruins previously had the most with 18 losses in this fashion."In the third, it's the same old push," Weegar continued. "We have the puck the whole time, but we don't seem to score. It is a bit frustrating for sure."The Flames' playoff odds dropped from 42% to 28% following the defeat, according to The Athletic's Dom Luszczyszyn."I'm so frustrated," defenseman Rasmus Andersson said. "We didn't score, honestly, I think that's the easiest way to say it. We just didn't score today, and we have a lot of looks, especially in the third. We're dominating the game in the third, and we just can't get that tying goal or the leading goal."Calgary falls to 29-24-13 on the campaign and remains four points behind the Winnipeg Jets for the second wild-card position. The Flames are two points up on the Nashville Predators, who have four games in hand.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Flyers fired general manager Chuck Fletcher after four-plus seasons at the helm, the club announced Friday.Daniel Briere will take over the position on an interim basis, but the organization will begin its search immediately for a GM and president of hockey operations."The Philadelphia Flyers organization has always been defined by grit, determination, and a standard of excellence," said Dave Scott, governor of the Flyers. "Over the past several seasons, our team simply has not lived up to that standard, so today, we will begin to chart a new path forward under a new leadership structure for hockey operations."Chuck faced significant challenges during his time as president and general manager, including some that were outside of his control, but we have reached a point at which we must move in a different direction and look to the future under new leadership."The Flyers went 141-145-48 under Fletcher's guidance, making the playoffs once. Philly went to Game 7 of the second round in the postseason bubble in 2020 but followed up by finishing sixth and eighth in the Metropolitan Division over the next two seasons. The down years included three losing streaks of at least 10 games.Fletcher has been under fire lately after an underwhelming trade deadline in which he failed to sell off any assets to help Philadelphia's rebuild. He also drew criticism over the offseason for signing Rasmus Ristolainen to a five-year $25-million deal and bringing in controversial defenseman Tony DeAngelo on a two-year pact.Briere hasn't been an NHL GM before, but was named a special assistant to Fletcher last year. He interviewed for the Montreal Canadiens' position before they hired Kent Hughes, and he ran the ECHL's Maine Mariners for several seasons. As a player, he notched 696 points in 973 career games, including 283 in 364 contests over six seasons as a Flyer.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Oilers won in Boston on Thursday - something few teams have done this season. The Bruins are now 26-6 against the moneyline at TD Garden. Despite the gaudy home record, it wasn't a massive upset for Edmonton, with the Oilers widely available around +150 and eventually closing around +130 on the moneyline.Going into the game with an 83.8% home win percentage would suggest that Boston would be priced at -520 against an average team. That's obviously absurd, which is why it's so impressive the Bruins have won that many home games this season. That they would break even at that kind of price is wild. If you had known the club would garner these kinds of results in Boston, you would've had a great year blindly betting on it each time.However, what's happened in the past record-wise can't be directly applied to the next game. Why? Because what happens on the ice in-between goals matters. Amazingly, the Bruins aren't necessarily the best home team in the NHL this season. There are two clubs with both a better even-strength expected goal share and a high-danger chance share.TEAM XG% HDC%Hurricanes61.762.7Devils58.160.5Bruins57.959.3While no one is stingier on home ice, 13 teams have created more high-danger chances at five-on-five at home this season than the Bruins.How could we have known Boston would be super profitable in its arena this campaign? Obviously, we couldn't.From a betting standpoint, home-ice advantage isn't how much better you are than the rest of the league at home. It's really about how much better you are compared to yourself on the road.The Bruins were 26-15 at home last season and 25-16 on the road. They're 23-8 on the road this campaign, which isn't far off from their home results. Their record in Boston isn't a product of playing in Beantown. It's a product of being good in general.Now that we've given the Bruins the appropriate credit, the Oilers were still just +130 at close Thursday night. If you've been an ardent follower of the guide here, you may have noticed the numbers haven't been begging us to fade Boston much this season. That means we have an adequate rating of them relative to the market.Thankfully, we haven't faded the Bruins, or we'd be getting battered by them in their run for the Presidents' Trophy.The recipeWe started the campaign using regular-season point totals as a baseline for rating teams since it's our best measurement. Throughout the campaign, we adjust club ratings using on-ice metrics to remove the cognitive bias of win-loss records, which can be skewed by outliers like special-teams results, poor goaltending performances, and other unreliable events.The cheat sheetThere are no bad bets at the right price, but how do we know what a good price is?The following includes my fair price on the games (true moneyline) and the moneyline price I'd need to bet either side. I only need a 1% edge for a favorite if we're getting better than a fair price on the team more likely to win. For the underdog, I'll need 4% or better to make it a bet. For games I project to be closer to a coin flip, a 2.5% edge is enough for a worthwhile wager. I also have a 5% win probability consideration for a team playing in the second game of a back-to-back with travel and a 3% consideration for a team on the second leg of a back-to-back without travel. When it comes to injured players, I do my best to estimate the impact on their team's win probability.When the betting markets open up the night before, you can compare those prices with our "price to bet" column to see if you're getting any value with either side's moneyline. There's also a possibility that a moneyline moves into a bet-friendly range at some point between market open and puck drop.DATEGAMETRUE MLPRICE TO BETMarch 10CHI@FLA+308/-308CHI +387/FLA -292ANA@CGY+268/-268ANA +332/CGY -255March 11DET@BOS+241/-241DET +295/BOS -230PHI@PIT+171/-171PHI +204/PIT -164NYR@BUF-105/+105NYR +105/BUF +117ARI@COL+202/-202ARI +243/COL -193WPG@FLA+186/-186WPG +223/FLA -178VGK@CAR+199/-199VGK +240/CAR -190NJD@MTL-199/+199NJD -190/MTL +240EDM@TOR+119/-119EDM +140/TOR -115CHI@TBL+324/-324CHI +411/TBL -307STL@CBJ+105/-105STL +116/CBJ +106WSH@NYI+111/-111WSH +130/NYI -106OTT@VAN+115/-115OTT +136/VAN -111DAL@SEA-114/+114DAL -109/SEA +134MIN@SJS+112/-112MIN +132/SJS -108NSH@LAK+159/-159NSH +189/LAK -153March 12BOS@DET-168/+168BOS -161/DET +200NYR@PIT+130/-130NYR +153/PIT -125CAR@NJD+119/-119CAR +140/NJD -114WPG@TBL+170/-170WPG +203/TBL -163VGK@STL-136/+136VGK -131/STL +161OTT@CGY+182/-182OTT +218/CGY -175MIN@ARI-117/+117MIN -112/ARI +137NSH@ANA-109/+109NSH +101/ANA +121Matt 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 © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We have a disturbing two-game slate ahead of us Friday night, with both contests projected to be lopsided affairs. Thankfully, the NHL makes up for it with a 15-game whopper Saturday.Let's look at a couple of my favorite plays for the next two days.Blackhawks (+360) @ Panthers (-450)

Although we have only two games on Friday's slate, there are a few props on the board that really stand out. Let's take a closer look.Mikael Backlund over 3.5 shots (+110)Backlund is one of the hottest shooters in the NHL right now. His line recently jumped from 2.5 shots to 3.5 shots and it hasn't seemed to matter; he has cleared it in nine of his past 10 games.The underrated two-way pivot has averaged 6.4 shot attempts per game during this hot streak, which is nearly 1.5 higher than his season average to date.While 6.4 attempts may not seem like high volume for somebody who needs four shots, Backlund is effective at driving the net and getting the puck into high-danger areas. It's easier to hit the target from close range with fewer obstacles in between the puck and the netminder.Getting the puck to the slot shouldn't be a problem against the Anaheim Ducks. No team has given up more shot volume, or quality, on a per game basis this season.With the Winnipeg Jets stumbling over themselves, the door has crept open for the Flames to really push for a playoff spot. This game is imperative for them, and I think we're going to see that urgency in their play.Expect the Flames to put up 40+ shots in this game, and for Backlund to take his fair share of them.Carter Verhaeghe over 3.5 shots (+105)Verhaeghe is another underrated player in the midst of an absolute heater, at least on home ice.He has generated four shots on goal or more in nine of the past 10 games in Florida, averaging a whopping 4.8 in that span. He has put up at least five shots seven times in that span so he's not just squeaking by. Verhaeghe is getting the job done with room to spare.I don't see that changing Friday night against the Chicago Blackhawks. For one, Verhaeghe was recently reunited with Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett. His shot rate is at its highest with those two players.Trying to slow Verhaeghe will be a putrid Blackhawks team that is playing terrible defensive hockey. At five-on-five, only four teams have conceded shots at a higher clip over the past 10 games.With the Blackhawks bleeding volume, and Verhaeghe lights out at home, he should be able to remain red hot.Sam Reinhart over 2.5 shots (-145)Like Verhaeghe, Reinhart is another Panthers player who does his best work on home ice.He has recorded three shots or more in eight of his last 10 home dates, coming just one shy in both of the exceptions (while combining to miss the target five times). We could easily be looking at a 10-for-10 situation.Reinhart's volume has been through the roof in Florida. He has averaged 6.8 attempts over his last 10 home dates, compared to just 4.8 on the road. A massive swing.The Blackhawks are a bad defensive team and paper thin. Playing on the third line, Reinhart should have advantageous matchups against porous depth pieces all night long.Look for him to take advantage.Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery hasn't had to speak to the media after a loss very often this campaign thanks to Boston's 49-9-5 record, but he wasn't about to let his team off the hook following Thursday's 3-2 defeat to the Edmonton Oilers."I thought they outworked us, they outplayed us, and outcoached us," he told reporters after the game, according to Boston Hockey Now's Joe Haggerty. "I thought we were a non-competitive offensive team tonight."The Oilers joined exclusive company with the victory, becoming just the third visiting team to beat the commanding Bruins in regulation in 2022-23. Edmonton also put an end to Boston's 10-game win streak.The significance of the result wasn't lost on Oilers rookie goaltender Stuart Skinner, who made 26 saves in the victory."It felt very, very nice, if I'm gonna be honest. I was very excited after the game," he said. "The guys were smiling coming to the net after the win, and I was doing the same thing back to them. I was pretty excited, so this one feels really good."He added, "They're such a good team. They're a hard-hitting team. You know what Boston's going to bring every single night, especially in their own building, so being able to steal two points is huge."Brad Marchand opened the scoring with his 20th goal of the campaign, and the Bruins carried a 2-0 lead into the second period thanks to a buzzer-beater from David Pastrnak.Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard halved the deficit midway through the middle frame before Ryan McLeod leveled the game early in the third. But Edmonton was in for a challenge - prior to Thursday's contest, Boston hadn't lost a game in regulation when it'd been leading after two periods.Darnell Nurse bucked that trend with just under five minutes remaining in the contest by beating goaltender Jeremy Swayman from distance."We've got confidence in our group," Nurse said. "I was saying this morning, 'We can play with anyone in this league.' But I mean it's one thing to say it, it's another thing to go out there and do it, and we did tonight."Superstar Connor McDavid was shaken up after a knee-on-knee collision with teammate Derek Ryan late in the third period but ultimately returned to the contest.Head coach Jay Woodcroft didn't see what happened but noted that McDavid "felt good enough to finish the game," per The Associated Press' Jimmy Golen.The Oilers hold the top wild-card spot in the Western Conference with a record of 36-22-8. They've won four of their last five games.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If you've been following the Hart Trophy race since early in this season, we don't have to tiptoe around the fact that Connor McDavid is running away with it. While there remains little to no debate about who the clear front-runner is, that doesn't mean we should entirely ignore other stars having commendable campaigns.Numerous players would have strong MVP cases if McDavid wasn't dominating by such a large margin, so being named a finalist at season's end probably won't be as disappointing for the runners-up as it may have been in other years.Jack Hughes was previously in the hunt, but Dawson Mercer has been the one carrying the New Jersey Devils recently with 11 goals and nearly two points per game over his last 11 contests. That hindered Hughes' case this time around, as did the fact that the American was outplayed by our No. 5 candidate.Here are the five most worthy candidates for the NHL's top individual honor as we enter the final stretch in 2022-23:5. Jason Robertson Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPGAATOIxGF%65384518:5560.72%Robertson keeps hanging around, and while he isn't a surefire Hart finalist, the Dallas Stars winger certainly warrants inclusion. He has seven more goals and 23 more points than the next-best teammate while ranking among the NHL's best in goals and points both overall and at even strength this season. He produced five goals and nine assists in the 12 games since we last checked in on the MVP race.While Robertson's wins above replacement and goals above replacement figures don't compare to the others on this list, his expected goals for and scoring chances for percentages at five-on-five are comparable to the very best in the league among forwards with at least 700 minutes played in those situations. He also sits with the NHL's elite in terms of individual expected goals, both at five-on-five and in all situations.The 23-year-old has a better supporting cast than the two players directly in front of him here. A Stars squad that includes a fringe Vezina Trophy contender means "Robo" hasn't quite been as critical to his club's success as Nos. 3 and 4 have to theirs. But Dallas wouldn't be sitting atop the Central Division if not for Robertson, who continues to blossom into a superstar.4. Tage Thompson Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPGAATOIxGF%64424318:4450.14%Thompson has been the primary reason the Buffalo Sabres have been one of the best and most surprising stories in the NHL this season. The 6-foot-6, 200-pound center is leading the team with 14 more goals and 20 more points than his nearest teammates. He's notched eight tallies and nine helpers in 13 games since our last edition, and he ranks third in the league in goals and fifth in points.Thompson is doing a lot of his work on the power play, but the underlying numbers hint at the 25-year-old experiencing a bit of bad luck at five-on-five. He sits eighth in the NHL in ixG in those situations - despite ranking lower on the leaderboards in actual even-strength goals and points - and only McDavid is above him in five-on-five ixG among the players listed here.The imposing forward has been the driving force for a club making an unexpected playoff push, and Buffalo's rise clearly wouldn't be happening without his consistently elite efforts.3. Matthew Tkachuk John McCreary / National Hockey League / GettyGPGAATOIxGF%62285320:3060.13%Tkachuk moved up one spot from last month, and there's ample evidence he belongs here. The Florida Panthers winger will lose some votes because of how uninspired his team has been this season. But he actually deserves credit for being so effective on such an underwhelming club, keeping in mind that one hockey player can't impact his team's success to the extent athletes in other sports can (unless the player's name is Connor McDavid).Imagine where the Cats would be without Tkachuk and consider how much more difficult it is to do what he's doing on a squad that's disappointed like this. The 25-year-old ranks among the league leaders in the three basic offensive categories, but his contributions go far beyond goals, assists and points. Tkachuk's xGF% and SCF% at five-on-five are both in the top 10 in the NHL among the same group we used to evaluate Robertson.Most remarkably, Tkachuk ranks fourth in the league in WAR and GAR. He's been one of the best in both of those departments all season long. The snarl-providing Panther has 13 more assists and 26 more points than his best teammates, and he sits seventh in the NHL in even-strength points. Tkachuk has been extremely valuable and deserves way more recognition than he's received.2. David Pastrnak Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPGAATOIxGF%63454119:4753.57%It's tempting to question Pastrnak's case because of how excellent Linus Ullmark has been in goal for the Boston Bruins and how much of a juggernaut they've been as a team this season. While those factors could hinder players' odds of winning this award, Pastrnak is still providing value rivaled only by McDavid in 2022-23.Pastrnak ranks second in the NHL in goals and fourth in points. He's tied for third in even-strength tallies and sits fifth in even-strength points. But where his nearly unmatched value is most evident is the vast difference in production between the Czech winger and his superstar teammates. Pastrnak has 22 more goals and an astounding 31 more points than the next-best Bruins in those categories (Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand, respectively).So yes, the Bruins have been a force to be reckoned with as a team, and yes, they have plenty of impact players aside from Pastrnak. But the fact that he's been so much better than his talented teammates - and almost everyone else in the NHL, for that matter - makes him a serious Hart Trophy candidate who'd have a good chance of winning if not for a certain alien on the Oilers.1. Connor McDavid Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPGAATOIxGF%66547022:4259.58%McDavid's stranglehold on this award is only getting tighter as the season goes along. The Edmonton Oilers superstar leads the "Rocket" Richard Trophy race by nine and the Art Ross hunt by an incredible margin of 27. He has at least 30 more points than anyone not named Leon Draisaitl, and McDavid clearly deserves partial credit for his teammate's success.The 26-year-old leads all NHL forwards in average ice time, is tied for top spot in even-strength goals, and ranks second in both even-strength points and shots on goal in all situations. McDavid still boasts exemplary underlying numbers, too, and they've improved since our last edition. Most impressively, he now leads the NHL in WAR and GAR. McDavid's SCF% (58%) is nearly identical to his excellent xGF%, as well.The electric center authored five straight multi-goal games from late February to early March and amassed a mind-boggling 30 points in the 14 games since our previous edition. Hart voting normally prioritizes value over counting stats, but McDavid's proving his unparalleled value even while racking up arcade-like numbers.(Analytics sources: Natural Stat Trick, Evolving Hockey)Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Minnesota Wild star Kirill Kaprizov is expected to miss three-to-four weeks with a lower-body injury, the team announced Thursday.Kaprizov exited Wednesday's clash against the Winnipeg Jets after getting tangled up with defenseman Logan Stanley in the third period.

Brad Marchand was highly complimentary toward Connor McDavid ahead of Thursday's matchup between the Boston Bruins and Edmonton Oilers."What McDavid's doing in the league right now, it's truly incredible," Marchand told reporters. "Definitely one of the best players to ever play the game, and it's special to watch firsthand."McDavid has led the NHL in scoring in four of the last six years but has taken his game to new heights this season, pacing the league with 124 points in 65 contests entering Thursday. He's a virtual lock to win his third career Hart Trophy.Furthermore, McDavid is on pace for a staggering 157 points this season, which would be the most since Mario Lemieux racked up 161 - in just 70 games - in 1995-96."We only see him twice a year, but (we're) watching the highlights each night to see what he does," Marchand continued. "We're still fans of the game, and it's a lot of fun to witness history firsthand and be able to say we all played against him, so that's pretty cool."Marchand also offered high praise for teammate David Pastrnak, whose 44 goals are second most in the league, though a distant 10 behind McDavid's 54."Pasta's having an incredible year, same thing, one of the best goal-scorers in the game. Just an incredible talent," he said. "So it's special when the two of them are on the ice."Marchand is having a stellar season of his own. Despite returning early from offseason surgery on both hips, the 34-year-old has tallied 54 points in 54 games.The puck drops at 7:30 ET at Boston's TD Garden, where the league-leading Bruins are seeking their 11th straight win.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Flyers prospect Tyson Foerster will make his NHL debut Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes, the team announced.Foerster was recalled from the AHL's Lehigh Valley Phantoms on an emergency basis due to injuries to forwards Wade Allison and Brendan Lemieux.The Flyers selected Foerster 23rd overall at the 2020 NHL Draft. The 6-foot-2 winger has recorded 18 goals and 20 assists in 56 games with the Phantoms this season.Foerster enjoyed a stellar junior career with the OHL's Barrie Colts, racking up 114 points across 139 contests. He also won a gold medal with Canada at the 2022 World Junior Championship, where he contributed three goals and three helpers in seven games.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We split our player props on Wednesday night. Kyle Connor came through at plus money against the Wild. Unfortunately, Elias Pettersson put up a dud and generated only two shots against the Ducks.We'll set our sights higher with three plays for Thursday night's jam-packed slate.Brayden Point over 2.5 shots (-125)Point has cooled off of late, going over on his shot total in just three of the past 10 games. I like the Lightning center's chances of getting back on track Thursday night against the Golden Knights.The matchup is more enticing than meets the eye. Vegas has been bleeding shots of late, ranking 29th in five-on-five attempts against per 60 over the past 10 games.The center position has caused the Golden Knights more problems than any other during this stretch. They've allowed 13.6 shots per game by centers, which is the third-highest mark in the NHL.Point is also a more efficient shot generator at home. He has gone over at a 59% clip in Tampa Bay, compared to 50% on the road.Look for him to get back on track in an advantageous spot against Vegas.Miro Heiskanen over 2.5 shots (-135)Heiskanen has been shooting the lights out. He has gone over 2.5 shots in seven of the past 10 games, over which span he's accumulated a whopping 72 attempts.Roman Josi (80) and Brandon Montour (74) are the only defenders in the NHL who've attempted more shots during the same period.Now Heiskanen finds himself in a mouthwatering matchup against the Sabres. Not only do the Sabres tend to play high-event games that pull the pace out of opposing teams, they give up a lot of shots to defensemen.Only the Coyotes and Ducks - two teams in the thick of the Connor Bedard sweepstakes - have allowed more shots per game to blue-liners over the past 10.Expect Heiskanen to be ripping pucks early and often in this game.Clayton Keller over 2.5 shots (-120)Keller let us down last time out, but we're going right back to the well with the Coyotes star forward.He has hit in four of his past five home games and his success rate in Arizona sits above 55%. That's a far cry from the 34% clip he's hit at on the road this year.Perhaps more important than the location of the game, though, is the opponent. The Nashville Predators have not defended all that well for quite some time, and things are likely to get worse given the state of their roster post-deadline.Keller generated six shots on eight attempts when these teams met a couple of weeks ago. I don't know that he'll reach those heights again, but with cushy usage and a relatively weak opponent, Keller should be able to get the job done in the desert.Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Jersey Devils and forward Jesper Bratt are engaged in discussions about a contract extension, reports Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Bratt will be a restricted free agent at the end of the campaign and can become unrestricted following the 2023-24 season. He and the Devils settled on a one-year, $5.45-million contract this past offseason.The 24-year-old winger is enjoying another strong season, recording 25 goals and 33 assists in 63 games. Bratt broke out in a big way over the last campaign with 73 points, more than doubling his previous career high.The Devils have plenty of money opening up this summer, as $17.4 million worth of contracts is coming off the books between UFAs Tomas Tatar, Miles Wood, Erik Haula, Damon Severson, and Ryan Graves. But the club has several other RFAs to take care of, including newly acquired Timo Meier, Yegor Sharangovich, and MacKenzie Blackwood. Meier can become a UFA after 2023-24.The Devils selected Bratt in the sixth round of the 2016 NHL Draft. He became a full-time NHLer at 19 years old in 2017-18.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After a quiet Wednesday night, the NHL is back in full force with a juicy 11-gamer on the docket for Thursday.Let's waste no time getting to a couple of the games that stand out the most.Devils (-150) @ Capitals (+130)The Devils are quietly playing some of their best of the season. That's saying something considering they sit third in the NHL in points and goal differential; the bar is high.They have won the expected goal battle at five-on-five in 11 of the last 12 games and have consistently graded remarkably well, even in defeat.For example, the Devils have suffered three losses over the past nine games. The lowest expected goal share they posted in one of those three came last time out against the Maple Leafs, a game in which the Devils controlled 66.89% of the expected goals and won the Grade A chance battle 15-4.If those are the kind of losing efforts the Devils are putting out, they're in really good shape.The one - and perhaps only - concern with them of late is the play of Vitek Vanecek. He has provided stable play for the majority of the year, but he's really fallen into a rut. He has posted a sub-.865 save percentage five games in a row, allowing 20 goals over that span despite facing more than 25 shots just once.The expectation is he'll get a night off in favor of Akira Schmid. The young Swiss netminder has played really well when given the chance, posting a .926 save percentage through 12 NHL appearances this year.He should be able to step in and get the job done against the post-deadline version of the Washington Capitals. Their play of late leaves a lot to be desired; they've managed just a 43% xG share over the last five.Their issues stem mostly from a bruised and battered defense. John Carlson, Nick Jensen, and Martin Fehervary are all injured, which has left their blue line very thin.Look for a Devils team loaded with firepower - Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, and Timo Meier come to mind - to exploit those weaknesses and get the Devils back in the win column inside 60 minutes.Bet: Devils in regulation (+105)Senators (+110) @ Kraken (-130)The Eastern Conference has sort of beat up on the Western Conference this season, which a quick look at the standings would tell you.I expect that trend to continue Thursday night when the Senators take on the Kraken in Seattle.The Senators have largely played quality hockey for several months now. Their underlying metrics are good, they have finished chances at an efficient clip, and they seem to have a real positive aura around them as they push to get into a wild-card spot.The Senators sort of took their foot off the gas against Chicago last time out, expecting a free two points against the Blackhawks. They paid the price; it was their first negative xG performance in six games and they were blown out of the rink, 5-0.Brady Tkachuk and co. are no doubt chomping at the bit to right those wrongs and respond following what can only be considered an embarrassing effort.Although the Kraken - on a 7-3 run - look to be a fierce opponent right now, they are more bark than bite. They have controlled just 46% of the expected goal share at five-on-five (24th) and own a negative goal differential in that gamestate.They have also faced the Red Wings (x2), Ducks, Blue Jackets, Blues, Sharks, and Flyers in that time. Their schedule has been soft and they've still posted underwhelming numbers.With a mediocre five-on-five game, and pedestrian goaltending, I expect the Kraken to take a step back and taste defeat against the Senators.Bet: Senators (+110)Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the trade deadline in the rearview mirror, theScore's John Matisz and Josh Wegman offer their takes on four hot topics captivating the hockey world.Which East team has the best chance of beating the Bruins in a best-of-7 series?Wegman: The Eastern Conference is stacked with five strong teams after the 49-8-5 Boston Bruins, so there are plenty of options. The Carolina Hurricanes are as well-rounded as anyone, the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils really loaded up, and heck, if the Toronto Maple Leafs finally get out of Round 1, would anyone be surprised if they went on a deep run once the dam breaks?But the Tampa Bay Lightning are my choice. Why doubt them? No team in the East has beaten them in a playoff series since the Columbus Blue Jackets pulled off a massive upset in 2019.Andrei Vasilevskiy is the X-factor. Igor Shesterkin might have the same series-stealing ability between the pipes, and Linus Ullmark is enjoying a fantastic season, but we've seen Vasilevskiy step up time and time again in the biggest moments. He authored a ridiculous .928 save percentage and seven shutouts in 71 games over Tampa's last three playoff runs. If he gets in the zone again, look out. Jared C. Tilton / Getty ImagesMatisz: The Bruins are a near perfect squad. Barring injuries to key pieces, Boston will be a massive favorite against anyone in the conference. Luckily, this question asks for the East team with the best (not a good) chance.I'll go with the Rangers, who have yet to find their groove after acquiring four everyday NHLers during a hectic February but boast a very high ceiling.History tells us world-class goaltending can outduel a juggernaut, and Shesterkin fits the description. What's more, the Rangers' forward group is downright scary with a star-studded top six of Mika Zibanejad, Artemi Panarin, Chris Kreider, Patrick Kane, Vladimir Tarasenko, and Vincent Trocheck plus an above-average bottom six. Last but not least, the blue line - led by perennial Norris Trophy contender Adam Fox - is stocked with big and/or physical defensemen, from K'Andre Miller, Jacob Trouba, and Ryan Lindgren, to third-pair guys Niko Mikkola, Braden Schneider, and Ben Harpur.The Rangers' cocktail is made for playoff hockey. They're dangerous.Which deadline seller put itself on the best track to contention?Wegman: The Blue Jackets. They made only one significant move ahead of the deadline, sending Joonas Korpisalo and Vladislav Gavrikov to the Los Angeles Kings for a first-round pick, a third-rounder, and Jonathan Quick. (They then did right by Quick, shipping him to the Vegas Golden Knights.)It's the foundation already laid that has me optimistic that the Blue Jackets can turn this thing around in an efficient time frame. They're already the NHL's second-youngest team, and there's more on the way, as general manager Jarmo Kekalainen has built one of the league's deepest prospect pipelines.The 2022-23 campaign has been an unmitigated disaster, but injuries have played a significant role. Several key players have missed extended time, including cornerstone defenseman Zach Werenski, who suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in November.But the lost season could wind up a blessing in disguise. Sitting last in the NHL standings has them situated as favorites to win the draft lottery and land Connor Bedard. Adding a potential generational player to the mix could make this a quick turnaround. Columbus also has the cap flexibility and trade bait to make big moves this offseason - which we know Kekalainen isn't afraid of doing. Dave Sandford / Getty ImagesMatisz: The Detroit Red Wings - and, in my mind, it's not particularly close.In the lead-up to the deadline, GM Steve Yzerman studied the standings and his NHL roster, circled four players he didn't see as part of Detroit's future, and then flipped them for six draft picks. It was a sensible, decisive approach.Tyler Bertuzzi, Filip Hronek, Oskar Sundqvist, and Jakub Vrana yielded two first-round picks, a second, two fourths, and a seventh. Owning a combined four firsts and four seconds over the next two drafts, Detroit can bolster its fourth-ranked prospect pool (according to The Athletic), switch into buyer mode and trade picks for NHLers, or do a little of both.Yzerman's deadline activity also cleared up future salary-cap space. The club has eight pending UFAs, including forwards Pius Suter and Adam Erne and goalie Alex Nedeljkovic, and most of them won't be back. The Wings dined out during 2022's free-agency frenzy, and with only $51.1 million committed to 13 players next year, they're in a position to shop again this summer.Overall, the Wings being on the periphery of the fight for the East wild-card spots in March suggests the rebuild is trending in the right direction. Playoff berths in 2023-24 and 2024-25, then contending in 2025-26 - I can see it.What's your favorite under-the-radar deadline pickup?Wegman: If we eliminate all players who cost first-round picks, my choice is Nino Niederreiter, whom the Winnipeg Jets grabbed from the Nashville Predators for just a 2024 second-rounder.The 6-foot-2, 218-pound winger is a near lock for at least 20 goals and 100 hits every season, and he's already at 20 and 126 through 61 games so far this campaign. What team wouldn't want a combination of goal-scoring and physicality as the postseason nears? Niederreiter also routinely posts strong underlying numbers, making him a favorite of both old-school fans and modern-day analytics junkies.Niederreiter is playing on Winnipeg's top line and No. 1 power-play unit, and he's already contributing, with four points in five games for his new club. Plus, the 30-year-old is signed for an additional year at a fair $4-million cap hit. What's not to like about this move? Andy Devlin / Getty ImagesMatisz: Jesse Puljujarvi.Unfortunately, the so-called "Bison King" hasn't made his Hurricanes debut due to visa issues. Once he does, it's likely we see a seamless fit between Puljujarvi, a 6-foot-4, 201-pound power winger, and his new team. Puljujarvi is similar to most forwards deployed by Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour - he's relentless on the forecheck, unafraid of crashing the net, and a plus defender.Puljujarvi needed a ticket out of Edmonton (he was one of our eight change-of-scenery candidates prior to the deadline), and Carolina provides a soft landing. Sebastian Aho, Teuvo Teravainen, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, and Antti Raanta are fellow Finns in a dressing room filled with well-respected and welcoming veterans, including Jordan Staal, Jaccob Slavin, and Brent Burns.Also of note: The Hurricanes bought low on Puljujarvi, a pending RFA, because the Oilers craved cap relief. Patrik Puistola, a 22-year-old forward playing in Finland's top pro league, was the return. Puljujarvi's scored just five times on 88 shots on goal this season for a career-low shooting rate of 5.7%. Carolina is banking on his puck luck turning around down the stretch.There's no guarantee this works out for the Hurricanes. But it was a savvy bet.Who's your pick for the Jack Adams Award?Wegman: Jim Montgomery. He's the betting favorite for good reason. His Bruins are enjoying a historic campaign in his first year at the helm, as they recently became the fastest team ever to 100 points. Sure, the roster is as deep and talented as it gets, but Montgomery is pushing all the right buttons.

Welcome to the sixth edition of theScore's 2022-23 Norris Trophy Rankings, and the fifth in-season version. New rankings are published once a month throughout the campaign.These rankings focus on analytics and the all-around ability of defensemen rather than just points or reputation.

Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Tony DeAngelo has been suspended two games for spearing Tampa Bay Lightning forward Corey Perry on Tuesday, the Department of Player Safety announced.DeAngelo received a five-minute major and a game misconduct for spearing Perry below the equator.

Ottawa Senators goaltender Cam Talbot will miss three weeks due to a mid-body injury, head coach D.J. Smith announced Wednesday, according to TSN.Talbot missed Ottawa's game against the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday. The club recalled Kevin Mandolese from the AHL for the contest, while Mads Sogaard earned the start in the 5-0 loss.The Senators are amid a five-game road trip, and Talbot is returning to Ottawa for treatment, per TSN. The club is pushing for a playoff berth this season but sits five points back of a wild-card spot with 19 games remaining.Ottawa brought in Talbot via trade from the Minnesota Wild last offseason. The 35-year-old has appeared in 32 contests with the Senators, posting a 15-14-1 record with a .905 save percentage.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We have a pint-sized three-game slate ahead of us Wednesday night. Luckily, there's still plenty of value on the board, so let's dive into it with three best bets.Wild (+110) @ Jets (-130)The Wild have gotten a ton of positive results lately, picking up at least a point in 10 consecutive games.While Minnesota might extend that streak to 11 in Winnipeg, I don't see it leaving with two points.Despite their recent success, the Wild are still really laboring offensively. They've generated high-danger chances at a below-average rate and rank dead last in goals per game during this stretch.Facing Connor Hellebuyck won't be the elixir to their offensive woes. Despite his recent struggles, he ranks fourth in the NHL in goals saved above expected (plus-22.8).It generally doesn't take long for Hellebuyck to get back on track, and a game against Minnesota - in a back-to-back situation for it, no less - could be just the spot to do it.Conversely, the Jets' offense should benefit greatly from Marc-Andre Fleury drawing the start instead of Filip Gustavsson, who played Tuesday and has been one of the league's best netminders this season.Fleury's numbers lag significantly behind Gustavsson's in every sense. He also has a poor recent history against Winnipeg, conceding at least four goals in four of his last five games against them.Look for the Jets to take advantage of a strong scheduling spot and get back in the win column following a dud of an effort against the Sharks last time out.Bet: Jets (-115)Kyle Connor over 3.5 shots (+105)Connor has hit another gear lately. He's attempted 70 shots over the past 10 games, leading the Jets in that category, scoring chances, and expected goals over the stretch. He's been Winnipeg's biggest offensive threat.I expect that to be the case again versus the Wild on Wednesday. For one, Connor is significantly more efficient on home ice. His hit rate in Winnipeg is 52%, while he's come through just 29% of the time on the road.Connor also has a pretty strong history against Minnesota, hitting in three straight games against the club and four of the last six.The Wild are generally a stout team at suppressing shots. However, they rank middle of the pack over the last 10 contests and played 65-plus minutes of hockey last night. That, coupled with travel, could lead to some fatigue Wednesday.Look for Connor to take advantage.Elias Pettersson over 3.5 shots (-130)If it ain't broke, don't fix it. That certainly applies to backing top shot generators when going up against the Ducks.Anaheim has bled shots, chances, and goals all season and continues to show no signs of improvement. Over the past 10 games, the Ducks have conceded an average of 41 shots while giving up high-danger looks and expected goals at a higher clip than every other team.Pettersson is the player primed to benefit most from such an advantageous matchup. He leads the Canucks in attempts (by 17) over the past 10 contests, taking just under seven per game.He should have a field day at five-on-five, while his one-timer will be heavily featured on each power play.Pettersson had eight shots on goal the last time these two teams met. I don't expect him to reach those heights again, but he should cruise past four.Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Welcome to the fifth in-season edition of theScore's 2022-23 Vezina Trophy rankings. On this month's list, we have a pair of fringe contenders who have struggled of late, one newcomer, and a familiar favorite who can seemingly cruise to the finish line at this point.GSAA = Goals saved above average

Erik Karlsson doesn't resort to projectiles very often, so he was clearly bothered by a missed call during Tuesday night's game between his San Jose Sharks and the Colorado Avalanche.The officials handed the bleeding Sharks defenseman a 10-minute misconduct for tossing his headgear in frustration after Avalanche forward Alex Newhook's high stick to Karlsson's face went unpenalized early in the third period of Colorado's 6-0 win.

Patrick Kane is making the most of a four-day break between games after a whirlwind buildup to last week's trade led to a slow start with the New York Rangers."It's definitely nice to get out there and practice today," Kane told Vince Mercogliano of USA Today Sports. "I haven't even had a morning skate with the team yet. It's been a little bit of time. My last practice in Chicago was two weeks ago. You need to get back into it."Kane went 10 days between his final game with the Chicago Blackhawks and first with the Rangers. His former club kept him sidelined for precautionary reasons leading up to the Feb. 28 blockbuster.Despite lofty expectations on Broadway, Kane's brief tenure in New York is off to a slow start. The 34-year-old is pointless while averaging over 20 minutes per contest, and is a minus-4 in two losses. The Rangers' power play also hasn't clicked since bringing the former MVP aboard, going 1-for-7.The futility with the man advantage prompted head coach Gerard Gallant to drop star center Mika Zibanejad on the second unit, while Kane and Artemi Panarin headline the first group.Kane's relationship with Panarin was thought to be the big reason he waived his no-move clause to join the Rangers, but the pair haven't rekindled the magic from their days as Blackhawks linemates just yet.Gallant will give the stars a few more chances to get going at five-on-five before reconsidering."I like our lines, (but) it’s up to them," he said. "If they want to play together, go do it."The Rangers' next game comes Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We have a packed 10-game slate on the docket Tuesday night. Let's waste no time in getting to our best bets.Maple Leafs (+105) @ Devils (-125)The Devils are a well-oiled machine right now. They own a 7-2-1 record over the last 10 games and have posted very strong underlying numbers in the process.Even in defeat, they are routinely out-performing their opponents. Over the last two defeats, for example, they generated 90 shots while conceding only 44.They've been a tough out every single night, and the floor, and ceiling, of the team should only rise with the addition of Timo Meier.He looked a little out of sync with new linemates Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt in his debut last time out, yet he still found the back of the net and generated a few shots. The sky is the limit as he becomes more comfortable.New Jersey's top six is a problem for anyone, and there is real depth behind them as well. The play of its bottom six has been a big separator of late. Ondrej Palat, Erik Haula, and Jesper Boqvist have posted a 76% expected goal share since being assembled a few games ago. Meanwhile, the fourth line has netted five goals over the last 10.I think New Jersey's forward depth is going to cause the Maple Leafs problems in this game. With John Tavares and Ryan O'Reilly out of the lineup, the Leafs don't seem to have the punch to match up with a team like the Devils from top to bottom.The lack of dynamic ability outside of the big guns, coupled with a shallowness down the middle as a byproduct of injuries, is likely going to be the difference.Look for the Devils to claim another two points as they continue to push the Hurricanes for top spot in the Metro Division.Bet: Devils (-125)Flames (+120) @ Wild (-140)Death, taxes, and Minnesota Wild unders. Their games have featured five goals or fewer 11 times over the past 12 contests. That is absurd in a modern NHL where goal scoring is rising substantially.When you take to the numbers, it is easy to see why the Wild have played in so many low-scoring games. They have not generated high-danger chances at an efficient clip, and they lack firepower in their lineup beyond the big dogs up front.With Grade A looks coming few and far between, and a lack of finishers taking the chances that do come, it's understandable that they've struggled to convert.The Wild have won a lot of games anyway on the back of strong defense and Filip Gustavsson. We'll start with the former. Over the past 12 games, the Wild rank third in high-danger chance suppression at five-on-five. They're not giving up much.When they do, the Wild have one of the league's best netminders this season there to bail them out. Gustavsson owns a remarkable .933 save percentage - league average is .900 - and ranks second in Goals Saved Above Expected per start, only slotting behind Linus Ullmark.He is at the peak of his powers right now, having conceded two goals or fewer in eight of his last nine games.The Flames are a poor finishing team, they are very good at limiting high-danger chances, and they're in a back-to-back situation.With every point crucial, I think they'll be happy to play this game tight to the vest and keep it within striking distance from start to finish.Don't expect much offense in Minnesota.Bet: Under 5.5 (+100)Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We posted a disappointing 1-2 record with our props on Monday night. Leon Draisaitl took only two of 37 shots for the Oilers. Meanwhile, Brady Tkachuk hit the net on three of six attempts, and took 17 penalty minutes, in a great matchup against the Blackhawks.We'll look to get back in the win column with three more plays for a busy Tuesday slate.Martin Necas over 2.5 shots (-130)Necas is as consistent as they come on the road. The emerging star winger has averaged 3.2 shots per game away from home this season, which has helped him to an impressive 73% hit rate on his shot total.Tonight, Necas finds himself in a mouth-watering matchup against a bad Canadiens team missing an abundance of players.The Canadiens have allowed 66.45 shot attempts per 60 minutes of five-on-five player over the last eight games. That's a worse mark than all but the Blue Jackets and Ducks.Their numbers aren't great on the penalty kill, either, where Necas finds himself skating on the top unit.As a cherry on top, the Canadiens' league-wide ranking in shots against is lower against right wingers than any other position. The stars are all aligning for an active offensive game from Necas.Clayton Keller over 2.5 shots (-130)Keller is heating up. He has registered at least three shots in four straight games at home, where he's enjoyed fairly consistent success all season long.He has gone over his total 57% of the time in Arizona, compared to just 34% away from home. That's a big swing.The attempt data suggests that is no coincidence. Keller has averaged five attempts per game in Arizona and only 3.7 on the road.He should be able to stay hot at home on Tuesday against the Blues. They are among the worst shot-suppression teams in the league right now and they're giving up a lot of volume to left wingers.With cushy usage at home, and a juicy matchup against a team bleeding shots, Keller should be able to hit the over for the fifth straight time in Arizona.Nathan MacKinnon over 4.5 shots (-115)MacKinnon has hit a new level of late. He's not just getting the job done in the shot department; he's routinely soaring past the number with room to spare.He has gone over his total in seven of the last 10 games. In every single one of those scenarios, he recorded no fewer than six shots on target.The three failures came against strong defensive teams in the Kraken, Flames, and Jets. I wouldn't put the Sharks in the same group, especially in their current state.They try and play a tight brand of hockey under David Quinn, but they just don't have the horses to hold up. I don't see that changing in the latter half of a road back-to-back at high altitude.Look for MacKinnon, who has hit in nearly 60% of home games this season, to put together another big performance.Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Ryan O'Reilly will miss four weeks after undergoing surgery to stabilize his broken finger, head coach Sheldon Keefe said Tuesday, according to TSN's Mark Masters.That timeline puts O'Reilly on track to return April 6 against the Boston Bruins, giving him a five-game runway before the start of the playoffs.O'Reilly, who will be placed on long-term injured reserve, took a puck off the hand during Saturday's loss to the Vancouver Canucks.

It appears Victor Hedman has avoided any serious injuries.Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said Tuesday that the stalwart is considered day-to-day after leaving Sunday's game against the Carolina Hurricanes, according to NHL.com's Chris Krenn.Hedman crashed hard into the boards after taking a hit from Andrei Svechnikov.

There aren't a whole lot of games left for this season's rookie class to cement a case for the Calder Trophy.To be real, the award pretty much already has Matty Beniers' name on it. But have no fear: We've tried to keep our rankings fair yet fresh by bringing back Jake Sanderson and replacing the injured Logan Thompson with Stuart Skinner.Let's get into it.5. Stuart Skinner, Oilers Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPRecordSV%GAASO3718-13-4.9132.860We've been beating the Thompson drum as our Calder-eligible goaltender, but he's been out since Feb. 9 due to injury. So, we'll use this opportunity to give Skinner his time in the sun.In terms of rookies who've provided the most value to their respective teams, Skinner is right up there with the best of them. Jack Campbell basically gave the starting job away thanks to his .882 save percentage across 32 appearances, but luckily for the Edmonton Oilers, Skinner has been up to the task.Thompson has a slight edge over Skinner when it comes to save percentage and goals against average, but Skinner leads all rookie goalies in goals saved above expected (12.61), goals above replacement (16.1), and wins above replacement (2.7). In addition, out of all netminders who've made at least 10 starts this season, Skinner is tied for seventh with a .925 save percentage at even strength.An important caveat: This doesn't mean that we no longer think Thompson should be in the running. It's difficult to give a spot on these rankings to someone who isn't playing. However, the Vegas Golden Knights goalie will likely be named a Calder finalist given his dominance during the first couple months of the campaign - unless the No. 4 player on this list takes over. We just figured it was time we acknowledged Skinner for the work he's put in this season.4. Mason McTavish, Ducks Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPGPATOI62143715:20Of course we had to give some flowers to the only player with a realistic chance to challenge Beniers for the rookie points lead. McTavish has some ground to cover - he's currently nine points away from taking the crown - but it makes sense that the Ducks forward is in the mix for the hardware.After a quiet start to the season, McTavish has picked it up during the winter. The 20-year-old has rattled off eight goals and nine assists in 25 games since the calendar flipped to 2023, producing at a 0.68 point-per-game clip. Prior to that, he was puttering away at a 0.54 rate.McTavish has even enjoyed some time as Anaheim's top-line center. Yes, all of his key possession stats at five-on-five are below 50%. But the Ducks are horrendous. They're toiling in the league's basement with a shocking minus-96 goal differential and are far more interested in the Connor Bedard sweepstakes than being competitive - no matter what NHL commissioner Gary Bettman says.Expecting McTavish to have dazzling results under those conditions as a rookie would be unfair, to say the least.3. Jake Sanderson, Senators Andre Ringuette / National Hockey League / GettyGPGPATOI5842421:05It's been a minute since Sanderson has made an appearance on these rankings, but he's been just as steady as ever.He's the second-busiest defenseman on the Senators behind only - you guessed it - Thomas Chabot. Sanderson is one of three rookies averaging over 20 minutes of ice time per contest, and he also sees the most amount of shorthanded playing time among all first-year players by almost one full minute (3:14 TOI/GP).The 20-year-old has rewarded that trust from his coaching staff. The team controls the majority of the shot attempts (52.4%), expected goals (51.3%), scoring chances (54%), and high-danger chances (55.4%) with him on the ice at five-on-five. What's more, Sanderson ranks fifth among Senators skaters in both WAR (1.1) and GAR (6.8), trailing only Tim Stutzle, Brady Tkachuk, Claude Giroux, and Chabot.Sanderson tops all rookies with a whopping 98 blocks, and he ranks second among first-year rearguards in points while starting just 44.9% of his shifts in the offensive zone. In comparison, Owen Power, the only other defenseman on this list, has started 57.3% of his shifts in the offensive zone.Expectations were high for Sanderson heading into this season, but the 2020 fifth overall pick has shouldered that hype admirably, which is a welcome sight for a team that has a tendency to ride its top defensemen.2. Owen Power, Sabres China Wong / National Hockey League / GettyGPGPATOI5942323:45Power is continuing his workhorse ways.The Sabres blue-liner currently ranks third in points by a rookie defenseman, 11 of which (including all four of his goals) have come over his 28 games in 2023. He also leads all rookies in offensive goals above replacement (9.7). On the back end, he still paces all first-year players in average ice time by almost three full minutes.Behind Rasmus Dahlin, Power has arguably been Buffalo's most valuable defenseman this season, and he's only 20 years old. He sees the second-most ice time on the team, and he's posted some respectable underlying metrics at five-on-five. Power's shot attempts for percentage (53.2%), goals for percentage (57.5%), and scoring chances for percentage (52.6%) are all the second highest among all Sabres defensemen to log at least 200 minutes, trailing only Dahlin.Also, when Dahlin missed three games due to injury in late February, Power saw his average ice time jump to 27 minutes. Though the Sabres went 1-2-0 in the star's absence, Power showed promise while shouldering the larger workload: Buffalo owned 54.6% of the shot attempts, 56.9% of the scoring chances, and 51.4% of the shots with Power on the ice at five-on-five during that Dahlin-less span.The Sabres' future on the blue line is bright, indeed.1. Matty Beniers, Kraken Dave Reginek / National Hockey League / GettyGPGPATOI61194517:00It appears that Beniers all but has the Calder Trophy locked up, and for good reason.He still tops all rookies in goals and points and is just one tally away from reaching the 20-goal mark. Beniers also has 36 even-strength points, 11 clear of Winnipeg Jets youngster Cole Perfetti in second place. He's well on his way to eclipsing 50 points, which is promising for his case: The last seven winners of the award hit that marker in their rookie year. The Massachusetts product also has a knack for scoring in key moments. He ranks second among all first-year players with three game-winning goals this season.Beniers has earned the confidence of the Kraken coaches as a solid 200-foot player already in his budding career. The 20-year-old has started 90 shifts in the defensive zone, the fifth most among all Kraken forwards this campaign, and he's allowed fewer expected goals against per 60 than all but four of his teammates. Speaking of his teammates, Beniers ranks third on the squad in GAR (11.6) and WAR (1.9) while sitting fourth in defensive goals above replacement (2.5).The 2021 second overall pick is a huge reason Seattle is on its way to making the playoffs one year after finishing dead last by a 16-point margin in the Pacific Division during its inaugural season.Like we said before, Beniers pretty much has this one in the bag, but we'd love to see a dominant run down the stretch from him to really drive the point home.Honorable mentions: Matias Maccelli (ARI), Jack Quinn (BUF), Kent Johnson (CBJ), Wyatt Johnston (DAL), Jonatan Berggren (DET), Calen Addison (MIN), Noah Cates (PHI), Cole Perfetti (WPG), Logan Thompson (VGK)(Analytics sources: Natural Stat Trick, Evolving-Hockey)Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We have six games on the docket, which is pretty good for a Monday night slate.Let's take a look at the best ways to attack it with three props that stand out.Leon Draisaitl over 2.5 shots (-132)Many star players do their best work on home ice. Draisaitl is not one of them. The German superstar has averaged 3.5 shots per game on the road this season, leading to an absurd 73% success rate. That's 14% higher than what Draisaitl has managed at home (59%), which is a strong output in itself.Draisaitl finds himself in a good spot to stay hot Monday night against the Buffalo Sabres. At five-on-five, they rank bottom 10 in shot suppression over the last 10 games. The Sabres grade out even worse when killing penalties, allowing shots at a higher rate than all but the Coyotes.While the Sabres have admittedly done a good job of limiting the penalties taken, Draisaitl and the Oilers' lethal power play don't need many opportunities to make noise.Draisaitl currently finds himself riding shotgun with Connor McDavid on the top line and playing upwards of 22 minutes per night. That should be more than enough to get the job done in what is also an above-average matchup for generating shots.Brady Tkachuk over 3.5 shots (-120)Tkachuk is one of the best, and most consistent, shot generators in the NHL. He ranks 14th in total shot attempts while only five players have found the target more often.It doesn't matter if Tkachuk is playing at home (67% hit rate) or on the road (62% hit rate); he consistently gets the job done.I expect that will be the case once again on Monday night against the Blackhawks. They've been a priority target for shots all season long. With management completely gutting what was left on the roster leading up to the deadline, things figure to get even worse for Chicago.Led by their outstanding top line of Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, and Claude Giroux, the Senators should dominate the puck in this game. They're going to spend a ton of time in the offensive zone, and Tkachuk should be the one taking the majority of the shots.With the Senators in desperate need of every point they can get, there's potential Tkachuk's usage could go up in the event this game stays close. Either way, I think this is a more than fair price for a high-end shooter in a fantastic matchup.Seth Jones over 2.5 shots (-120)Jones has some of the most extreme home/road shooting splits you'll see. He's in Kirill Kaprizov and Jason Robertson territory.On the road, Jones has averaged exactly 2.0 shots per game and gone over his total a putrid 28% of the time. His success rate jumps to a ridiculous 64% when playing on home ice. That's a 26% swing!With Jones averaging an extra 1.4 shot attempts per game at home, it is no coincidence we have seen such a drastic difference in success rate.The Senators are not a high-end team to target for shots, except with opposing defensemen. Just five sides have conceded more shots per game to the position over the last 10 games.The matchup is solid, Jones is at home, and he's an even larger focal point of the offense now with Patrick Kane, Max Domi, and seemingly every gifted Blackhawks player having been shipped out of town.Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If we're being honest, it's always kind of a guessing game: NHL oddsmakers and bettors alike, trying to figure out how to price a hockey team with this player out or that backup goaltender in.We use the information that oddsmakers give us in the form of previous odds, and with some high school math prowess, we turn them into team ratings. Then, 60-some-odd games get played, and around the time the calendar turns to March, it gets entirely jumbled, shifted, and twisted all around. That's the effect of the trade deadline.Already a below-average team (-13%), the Red Wings traded Filip Hronek, Tyler Bertuzzi, and Jakub Vrana at the deadline. Each player is interesting enough to be traded for, but none move the needle on a nightly basis when it comes to pricing a team. While Vrana hasn't contributed this season, do the collective deals mean the Red Wings need a further downgrade post-deadline?What about the Predators? A purely average team (+1%) - which had already seen Filip Forsberg and Ryan Johansen go out with injuries - traded away its fourth- and fifth-highest scorers in Mikael Granlund and Nino Niederreiter, along with its second-best defenseman, Mattias Ekholm, all after Tanner Jeannot was deemed valuable enough to garner a decent package from the Lightning. How much below average are the Predators now that they're left with Roman Josi, Matt Duchene, and little else?On the positive side of things, the Kings - a team I have rated 5% above average - somehow found themselves in a playoff spot despite getting goaltending of the same low quality as teams that have long given up on the postseason. Presumably desperate to stop playing 6-5 games, they added Joonas Korpisalo. Under the radar with the Blue Jackets, Korpisalo has actually been a top-10 goaltender, with a plus-10.18 Goals Saved Above Expected over fewer than 30 games played.When Korpisalo starts for the Kings, how much of a boost should they get with the assumption of even average goaltending for that game? What if we assume above-average goaltending, as Korpisalo provided when he stopped 24 of 26 shots as part of a 4-2 win over the Blues on Saturday? What if his presence translates to even better play from Pheonix Copley if/when he starts on a more limited basis? The Kings can't be judged through a lens of 41 games started by Jonathan Quick and Cal Petersen, but with a 20-6 record in games not started by those two, Los Angeles might be on the come up, particularly dangerous in a wide-open Western Conference playoffs.The recipeWe started the campaign using regular-season point totals as a baseline for rating teams since it's our best measurement. Throughout the campaign, we adjust club ratings using on-ice metrics to remove the cognitive bias of win-loss records, which can be skewed by outliers like special-teams results, poor goaltending performances, and other unreliable events.The cheat sheetThere are no bad bets at the right price, but how do we know what a good price is?The following includes my fair price on the games (true moneyline) and the moneyline price I'd need to bet either side. I only need a 1% edge for a favorite if we're getting better than a fair price on the team more likely to win. For the underdog, I'll need 4% or better to make it a bet. For games I project to be closer to a coin flip, a 2.5% edge is enough for a worthwhile wager. I also have a 5% win probability consideration for a team playing in the second game of a back-to-back with travel and a 3% consideration for a team on the second leg of a back-to-back without travel. When it comes to injured players, I do my best to estimate the impact on their team's win probability.When the betting markets open up the night before, you can compare those prices with our "price to bet" column to see if you're getting any value with either side's moneyline. There's also a possibility that a moneyline moves into a bet-friendly range at some point between market open and puck drop.DATEGAMETRUE MLPRICE TO BETMarch 6SJS@WPG+145/-145SJS +172/WPG -139EDM@BUF-124/+124EDM -119/BUF +146CGY@DAL+110/-110CGY +122/DAL +101OTT@CHI-198/+198OTT -189/CHI +238NSH@VAN-101/+101NSH +109/VAN +112WSH@LAK+145/-145WSH +172/LAK -139March 7CAR@MTL-256/+256CAR -244/MTL +315PHI@TBL+222/-222PHI +269/TBL -212VGK@FLA+144/-144VGK +170/FLA -138CBJ@PIT+310/-310CBJ +391/PIT -294TOR@NJD+115/-115TOR +135/NJD -111BUF@NYI+167/167BUF +198/NYI -160CGY@MIN+125/-125CGY +147/MIN -120STL@ARI-118/+118STL -113/ARI +138SJS@COL+230/-230SJS +281/COL -220ANA@SEA+188/-188ANA +225/SEA -180March 8CHI@DET+158/-158CHI +187/DET -151MIN@WPG+130/-130MIN +153/WPG -125ANA@VAN+224/-224ANA +272/VAN -213March 9NYI@PIT+129/-129NYI +152/PIT -124NJD@WSH-114/+114NJD -110/WSH +135NYR@MTL-160/+160NYR -153/MTL +190VGK@TBL+147/-147VGK +174/TBL -141PHI@CAR+309/-309PHI +389/CAR -293DAL@BUF-116/+116DAL -111/BUF +136EDM@BOS+147/-147EDM +174/BOS -141SJS@STL+105/-105SJS +116/STL +105LAK@COL+101/-101LAK +112/COL +109NSH@ARI-115/+115NSH -111/ARI +136OTT@SEA-106/+106OTT +104/SEA +117Matt 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 © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Our weekend best bets resulted in a disappointing split. The Senators came through for us on the puckline, but the Devils were unable to convert a 50-27 shot advantage against the Golden Knights into a victory.We'll set our sights higher with a couple plays for Monday night's six-game slate.Predators (-110) @ Canucks (-110)The Predators recently pulled the plug on their season, selling off a handful of meaningful contributors in Mattias Ekholm, Nino Niederreiter, Mikael Granlund, and Tanner Jeannot. Factor in the absences of Ryan Johansen and Filip Forsberg due to injury and there simply isn't much meat left on the bone.That has shown in the team's underlying process of late. Over the last seven games, the Predators rank 22nd in expected goals share - and 27th in shot share - at five-on-five.Those are extremely uninspiring numbers, especially considering they've faced bottom-feeders like the Blackhawks, Coyotes, and Sharks during that stretch.Although the Predators' numbers are not good at either end of the ice, their five-on-five issues stem largely from an inability to defend. That checks out given some of their recent departures; Ekholm is a very sound minute-munching defenseman and Niederreiter has long been an underrated two-way winger.The Canucks are not world-beaters at five-on-five, but they definitely look to have some advantages. Their metrics have been better than Nashville's of late and they have two of the best even-strength weapons in the league on their roster.Elias Pettersson begins the day tied for fourth in five-on-five points while Quinn Hughes is tied with Shea Theodore for ninth among blue-liners.I expect the Canucks will have the puck a lot. Given Nashville's recent struggles and Vancouver's star power, the Canucks should be able to make real noise with it.So long as Juuse Saros doesn't steal the show, I see Vancouver leaving the ice with another two points.Bet: Canucks (-110)Senators (-280) @ Blackhawks (+230)The Senators have been playing very good hockey for quite some time now. Since Dec. 1, they sit tied for fourth in the NHL in wins while slotting eighth in terms of points percentage.Their offense is firing on all cylinders, Jakob Chychrun drastically improves them at both ends of the ice, and the goaltending appears to have stabilized. Put it all together and it makes sense the Senators are enjoying such success recently.The Senators have won five straight games, each of them by at least two goals. Now they get to look forward to a game with the Blackhawks as they continue their ascension up the Eastern Conference standings.Chicago currently possesses one of the worst rosters I've seen in the modern era. This year's team was paper-thin at the best of times. With Jonathan Toews sidelined and Patrick Kane, Jake McCabe, and Max Domi traded, next to nothing remains.The Blackhawks are devoid of almost any real talent at every position. They struggle at five-on-five, their power play is toothless, and they can't get a save with any frequency. I think the red-hot Senators will skate circles around them in what is another crucial game.Look for the Blackhawks, whose last seven losses were by at least two goals, to be defeated rather convincingly in this spot.Bet: Senators -1.5 (-120)Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Calgary Flames head coach Darryl Sutter has no qualms with the fans who voiced their displeasure during the club's listless 3-0 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Saturday."I'd boo, too," Sutter said, per Sportsnet's Eric Francis.Veteran enforcer Milan Lucic understands the fans' restlessness as well."They probably felt the same energy - or lack of energy - that we played with," he said.He added: "At this point of the year, especially, you should be excited and have a lot of energy to play every single night. That's on us as individuals and us as a team."The loss was Calgary's fifth in a row and eighth in 10 games. The Flames' playoff odds now sit at a meager 33.7%, according to MoneyPuck. During the current skid, the club has been held to one or fewer goals three times.Expectations were high in Calgary entering the season after the Jonathan Huberdeau-MacKenzie Weegar blockbuster and the addition of Nazem Kadri in free agency. The Flames cruised to the Pacific Division title in 2021-22 but haven't won more than three consecutive games this season and have a minus-two goal differential.The Flames' next chance to salvage a playoff push comes Monday against the Central-leading Dallas Stars.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It was a barnburner in Winnipeg on Saturday night as the Jets prevailed over the Edmonton Oilers 7-5."Just disappointed to let them down," Oilers netminder Jack Campbell said following the contest. "A couple I want back, and that would've been the difference."The 31-year-old allowed six goals on 38 shots against the Jets. He's lost five consecutive starts, allowing 23 goals with a .846 save percentage over this stretch."I just know I can be so much better for this group," Campbell continued. "I'm definitely gonna keep working to get there."Campbell signed a five-year, $25-million contract with Edmonton last summer."I think both coaching staffs look at that game as a lot of sloppy mistakes and in the end, they found that extra goal, found the extra save, and they found the two points and we didn't get that tonight," Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft said.Leon Draisaitl recorded his eighth career hat trick to eclipse the 40-goal plateau for the fourth time in the losing effort."That's not really the game we want to play," Draisaitl said of the high-scoring affair. "It's obvious we can play that way but that's not the style we want to play."The Oilers fall to 34-22-8 on the campaign with the loss. Edmonton is fourth in the Pacific Division and is in the Western Conference's top wild-card position.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Saturday's 4-1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks was an ugly defeat for the Toronto Maple Leafs in more ways than one.Ryan O'Reilly, Toronto's top trade deadline acquisition, was unable to return to the game after taking a shot off of his hand in the Canucks' zone late in the second period.

Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper benched superstar forwards Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, and Steven Stamkos in the third period of Saturday's 5-3 loss against the Buffalo Sabres."As coaches, you've got to put your team in the best position to win, and 99.9% of the time, those guys give us the best chance to win when they're on the ice," Cooper said following the game, per Bally Sports Florida. "It just felt, in the third period, they weren't giving us the best chance to win."Kucherov, Point, and Stamkos are Tampa Bay's top three scorers this season. The trio didn't play a single shift in the third period."We have a set of standards here that everybody adheres to, and it's not pick-and-choose; it's everybody," Cooper continued. "It's how it was for today. Like I said, those guys are an extremely important part of our team, but for 20 minutes tonight, I thought the other guys could get it done, and, you know what, they almost did."The Lightning were losing 4-1 at the start of the final frame and being outshot 30-21. Tampa Bay turned the tide without Kucherov, Point, and Stamkos, outshooting the Sabres 15-4 in the third, but ultimately came up short in the comeback bid."Those guys are the reason we have a standard that high. It's because of those guys. Just for a period tonight, that was it," Cooper concluded.The Lighting have lost four straight games and fallen five points back of the Toronto Maple Leafs for second in the Atlantic Division.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cale Makar was back in the Colorado Avalanche lineup for Saturday's road game against the Dallas Stars.Makar had spent the last five games in concussion protocol after experiencing delayed symptoms for a second time following a hit to the head last month.Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jeff Carter caught him up high during a win over the Avalanche on Feb. 7. Makar left the game but cleared protocol and returned. However, he then had delayed symptoms and missed the next four contests before returning for a victory over the Blues on Feb. 18.Makar exited that contest after colliding with Blues forward Alexey Toropchenko, returned to the game, but then landed back in concussion protocol.The reigning Norris and Conn Smythe Trophy winner leads the NHL in average ice time at 26:57. Though he's been limited to 46 games this season, Makar ranks among the top blue-liners in points per game with 0.98 by virtue of his 13 goals and 32 assists.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Despite drawing some criticism for his deadline moves, Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Ron Hextall believes he found the pieces to help his club compete for a championship."I think there's a lot of teams that are capable of winning the Cup," Hextall said, according to NHL.com's Wes Crosby. "Yes, I'd say we're one of them."Hextall brought in Mikael Granlund, Nick Bonino, and Dmitry Kulikov in separate trades to supplement Pittsburgh's core while moving out Brock McGinn and a collection of draft picks.Many expected Pittsburgh to be in the market for some of the bigger names available ahead of the deadline due to the team's precarious position in the Eastern Conference playoff race. The Penguins are currently clinging to the first wild-card spot, but five chasers are within four points.The franchise has made the playoffs in 16 consecutive seasons under the leadership of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang, but it hasn't won a series since 2017-18."We've got a proven group. We've got a hungry group. We've got a group of guys that we all think of as winners," Hextall said. You've got to make the playoffs first. Right now, that's our objective. We'll see where we go from there. I feel good about this team."Hextall took over as GM in 2021 after previously serving in the Philadelphia Flyers' and Los Angeles Kings' front offices.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Some things get easier with age, but for Sam Gagner, trade deadlines aren't one of them. At 33 years old, he's a 16-season NHL veteran with more than 1,000 games played. But just three years ago he navigated one of his biggest surprises yet.After two stints and 542 regular-season appearances with the Oilers, he was on the brink of making the playoffs with the team for the first time. Instead - boom - he was traded at the deadline to the Detroit Red Wings, the worst team in the league that season by a considerable margin. Edmonton cleared cap space by trading Gagner and 2020 and 2021 second-round picks for two players who’d dressed for a total of 13 NHL games, including playoffs."It was really difficult," Gagner said. "I was in and out of the lineup at that point but still felt like I could work my way into things come playoff time and we were a team that was going to make the playoffs. I had never played a playoff game as an Oiler. It was something I was really excited for. Then you get the call on deadline day and you're getting sent to a non-playoff team, away from your family. It was a difficult thing to process." Andy Devlin / NHL / Getty ImagesDifficult, maybe, but for Gagner it was nothing new. The trade deadline, which closed Friday, has played a part in Gagner's life since childhood. His father, Dave Gagner, played 15 seasons in the NHL for seven teams. He still remembers when his dad was traded from Toronto to Calgary in the summer of 1996. Gagner was 7 years old and his mom had one rule: He couldn't tell the kids at school his dad played for the Flames."She wanted me to make friends without using that - even if it took longer," he said.After returning home from school each day, Gagner's mom would ask if he was making new friends."Sort of," he’d reply noncommittally, because breaking into elementary school friend groups wasn't an easy feat.Then one day, Gagner arrived home flanked by a throng of buddies adorned in Flames gear.He made eye contact with his mom."You told them, didn't you?" she asked.He was forced to admit he played his ace.Despite the challenges moving around the NHL might have dealt him as a youngster, Gagner remembers one upside: it bonded his family.Dave Gagner with the Flames in 1997. Nevin Reid / Getty Images"My sisters and I and my parents are really close because that's your entire unit, that's who you move around with." It's a closeness he's experiencing again as a husband and father. "I feel the same thing with my wife and my kids now, moving around to all these different places. You just become really close to your immediate family."Gagner and his wife got their first test of that days before their 2014 wedding when he was traded twice in one day - first to Tampa Bay and then to Phoenix."Obviously there's the wedding you're preparing for - that's a major event in your life. There's a lot of excitement around that. Then, the trade comes and you're trying to figure out the logistics of your move and say goodbye to teammates."Even though Gagner knew from experience that getting traded was part of the gig, he wasn't ready for it when it happened to him."You know what you're getting into and you can wrap your head around it, but I still feel like I wasn't fully prepared for it. It's a tough business that way and you don't have control over so many things in your life. I think that's what you learn as you go: You kind of have to let go of control."Gagner said Edmonton felt like home, but despite the tough goodbyes he's always been able to find the positives in getting traded."There's excitement in moving to a new city," he said. Even his surprise move to Detroit in 2020 was put to good use by the right winger, whose superpower has turned out to be his ability to adjust his game as the league changes around him."I was able to add different elements to my game. I became a pretty good part of our penalty killing there, which I didn't previously have an opportunity to do in the NHL." Jonathan Kozub / NHL / Getty ImagesThat approach has given Gagner the longevity to break into the top 10% on the NHL's career games-played list after signing with Winnipeg this season. But fatherhood changed things yet again. Gagner is now dad to three children - his oldest son is about the same age Gagner was at the time he used his dad's day job as a flex to make friends in Calgary. With each move, he considers the impact on the family he's building."It's gotten harder. My oldest son is now in Grade 2 and has friends at school and has become a part of the community, so it's always more difficult," he said.Knowing what he now does about a lifetime in the NHL, if he could tell his younger self one thing, it'd be to welcome the adversity."I think as my career has gone on, I've started to understand that the adversity I've gone through has always led to greater things. As you're going through that it's hard to think of it that way but adversity's a great teacher. It teaches you a lot about yourself. If you're able to find a solution it's a great feeling and it helps you become a better person. Some of the trades that are unexpected - you just have to learn to adapt. As you go through life, those experiences are only going to help you become better."Jolene Latimer is a feature writer and video producer at theScore.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Shea Theodore scored in the fourth round of a shootout to give the Vegas Golden Knights a 4-3 win over the New Jersey Devils on Friday night.Jonathan Marchessault had two goals and an assist, and Jack Eichel also scored for Western Conference-leading Vegas, which won for the eighth time in 11 games (8-1-2). Adin Hill had a career-high 46 saves.“Tonight was kind of a playoff-type game,” Hill said. “I’m glad we got the win. They have some good players and a lot of skill in their lineup. They’re a fast team.”Coach Bill Cassidy said the Golden Knights weren’t initially ready to handle the Devils’ speed, which showed as they were outshot 16-4 in the first period as Vegas fell behind 2-1.“Tonight we weren’t prepared to play, but Adin sure was,” Cassidy said. “It was a great performance. Good for Adin, he was really on tonight.”Dawson Mercer, Jesper Bratt and Miles Wood scored goals for New Jersey, which is 9-2-2 in its last 13 games. Akira Schmid had 25 saves.After an overtime period in which New Jersey outshot Vegas 8-0, the first seven shooters in the tiebreaker were stopped before Theodore beat Schmid for the win.Wood tied the score 3-3 with 7:07 left in the third as he converted the rebound of his own shot in front after a centering pass from Jesper Boqvist.Eichel had given the Golden Knights the lead 3:47 into the third as beat Schmid through the five-hole after a pass from Marchessault on a 2-on-1 rush.Marchessault got Vegas on the scoreboard first 7:48 into the game as he got his 400th career point (178 goals, 222 assists).Bratt tied it 1-1 on a power play as he got his 25th of the season with 4:44 left in the first and Mercer put the Devils ahead with 28 seconds left in the opening period as he scored for the eighth straight game.“I liked the way we started the game,” Devils coach Lindy Ruff said. “But their goalie made a couple of big saves.”Marchessault tied it 2-2 with his 19th of the season with 7:10 remaining in the second.NOTESMercer’s eight-game goal streak is the longest in the league this year. ... The Golden Knights have won eight straight games at home, with their last loss coming Jan. 19, a 3-2 defeat to Detroit. ... Knights forward William Carrier left the game near the end of the first period with what Cassidy called a “lower body injury.” Cassidy he’d have a better idea of Carrier’s status on Saturday. ... It was the Knights’ fourth overtime in their last six games. ... The Devils remained one of only two teams — along with Toronto — that hasn’t been shut out this season.UP NEXTDevils: At Arizona on Sunday to finish a three-game trip.Golden Knights: Host Montreal on Sunday to finish a three-game homestand.___AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://www.twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pencils down.The 2023 NHL trade deadline is behind us, so it's time to decide who won and who lost. We're factoring in moves made in the weeks leading up to Friday's 3 p.m. deadline.WinnersSenators and Chychrun Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Ottawa Senators seemingly came out of nowhere to land Jakob Chychrun - arguably the biggest fish available. Sure, the Sens were always rumored to be one of the many interested parties, but for Chychrun to actually end up in Canada's capital is a surprise. So is the cost.The Arizona Coyotes were reportedly seeking a Jack Eichel-like package, or multiple first-round picks, but all the Sens surrendered was a top-five protected 2023 first-rounder and second-round picks in 2024 and 2026.That's a steal for Ottawa, which desperately needed another top-four caliber defenseman to round out a quality quartet featuring Thomas Chabot, Jake Sanderson, and Artem Zub. Chychrun - a big, mobile, two-way defender - is exactly that.The Senators' chances of making the playoffs this year sit at 36.1%, per MoneyPuck, but the Chychrun addition sends a strong message to the dressing room. The 24-year-old is also signed for two more years with a $4.6-million cap hit, so he'll help Ottawa as it tries to make the leap.Chychrun is also a winner here. While he doesn't join an immediate contender, he'll be a key part in a team on the rise. He also has plenty of family from the Ottawa area, so it's a homecoming of sorts.Eastern Conference powerhouses Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyThe Eastern Conference playoffs are going to be an absolute dogfight.The top five teams in the league by points percentage entering Friday's games all play in the East. The New York Rangers are tied for seventh overall. All of these teams made impactful additions to increase their chances of winning the Stanley Cup.In the Atlantic Division, the Boston Bruins, who are on an historic run, added Dmitry Orlov, Tyler Bertuzzi, and Garnet Hathaway. The Toronto Maple Leafs, who are still looking to win a playoff round for the first time since 2004, brought in plenty of pedigree, grit, and tenacity with Ryan O'Reilly, Jake McCabe, Luke Schenn, Noel Acciari, and Sam Lafferty.It's fair to argue that the Tampa Bay Lightning overpaid for power forward Tanner Jeannot, but who are we to question the team that's won the conference three years running?Over in the Metro, the Carolina Hurricanes didn't have any major needs but still made savvy moves by adding Jesse Puljujarvi and Shayne Gostisbehere. The upstart New Jersey Devils landed the best forward available in Timo Meier - a move that'll also help them in years to come if they agree to an extension. And the Rangers made multiple splashes, rounding out their dangerous top-six forward group with Vladimir Tarasenko and Patrick Kane.The NHL's cream of the crop improved greatly.Oilers and Kings Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyThe West, in comparison, was much quieter. But two teams - the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings - stand out above the rest in the conference.Edmonton added a much-needed shutdown defender in Mattias Ekholm. The Oilers have no issue scoring goals, but preventing them has been an issue. Ekholm, a human eraser, will help greatly in that regard. He's signed for three more years, too, so they'll get multiple playoff runs out of him.The Kings had two key needs entering the deadline - left-shot defenseman and goaltender - and they addressed both by bringing in Vladislav Gavrikov and Joonas Korpisalo from the Columbus Blue Jackets.Goaltending has been the Kings' Achilles heel all season. Heck, journeyman Pheonix Copley beat out Jonathan Quick and Cal Petersen for the starting job because he was the only one who could make the routine saves. Korpisalo, who ranks 15th among NHL netminders with 10.18 goals saved above expected, has been sneaky good this season.Gavrikov, meanwhile, is a big, physical defender who will complement the rest of L.A.'s blue line nicely.The Dallas Stars, Vegas Golden Knights, Colorado Avalanche, Winnipeg Jets, and Minnesota Wild made some decent moves around the edges, but the Oilers and Kings stood out from the pack.Hockey fans Dave Sandford / National Hockey League / GettyThe NHL's hard salary cap makes it highly difficult to wheel and deal, but overall, this trade season was a doozy. Deadline day itself wasn't all that exciting since most moves were completed in advance, but a whopping 62 trades were made in the 15 days leading up to the deadline - 22 more than the average over the past decade, per CapFriendly.So we have to tip our cap to the aggressive general managers who pulled off big deals, providing quality entertainment for die-hard fans of the game. Now imagine how exciting trade season would be if there was a luxury-tax system in place instead of a hard cap?LosersPenguins Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyWe already explained how the top six teams in the Eastern Conference further separated themselves from the pack. The Pittsburgh Penguins headline those left in the dust.The Pens made an effort to close the gap but failed. Their big addition was Mikael Granlund, who's frankly not the player he used to be. Evolving-HockeyTo make matters worse, Granlund is signed for two more seasons at a $5-million cap hit. It cost them a second-round pick - and they gained a third by flipping Teddy Blueger - but Granlund isn't the answer to Pittsburgh's bottom-six woes. And he only hurts their cap flexibility.The Penguins also added veterans Nick Bonino and Dmitry Kulikov, who are fine players and all, but they simply don't move the needle.With Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang still in the fold and playing at a high level, management should've been willing to spend first-round picks with an all-in mentality. Time is winding down for this core to win again.Coyotes NHL Images / National Hockey League / GettyGeneral manager Bill Armstrong would never admit it, but he vastly overplayed his hand with Chychrun.The Coyotes had the defenseman on the trade block for over a year and held him out of the lineup for nearly a month before the deadline. And in the end, the return from the Senators - a top-five protected 2023 first-rounder and second-round picks in 2024 and 2026 - was underwhelming and far less than Armstrong's original asking price.For a 24-year-old top-four defenseman with term on a team-friendly cap hit, Armstrong should've received way more for his prized trade chip.Flyers NHL Images / National Hockey League / GettyThe Philadelphia Flyers, who were obvious sellers, lost out on a free asset.GM Chuck Fletcher was unable to find a buyer for pending unrestricted free agent James van Riemsdyk, which is pretty hard to believe considering JVR is a seven-time 20-goal scorer and is playing at an 18-goal pace.Sure, the $7-million cap hit was an obstacle - even at 50% retainment - but failing to even get a mid-round pick for the veteran winger is poor asset management from Fletcher. It may not seem like much, but you never know what that mid-round pick could turn into. More darts to throw at the dartboard never hurts.Ring-chasing veterans Len Redkoles / National Hockey League / GettySpeaking of JVR, he's one of a handful of veterans who are surely disappointed to not move to a playoff team and chase a first Stanley Cup. Some still have a lot to offer a contender in the right role.This includes Flyers teammate Justin Braun, an 831-game veteran who still has some value as a sixth or seventh defenseman, and goaltenders Thomas Greiss and James Reimer - both of whom have sterling postseason resumes but no Cups.To be clear, we're not calling these players losers. We're just disappointed they weren't able to go ring-chasing after spending so many years in the league without winning a championship.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said goaltender Matt Murray will start Saturday's contest versus the Vancouver Canucks after missing 17 games with an ankle injury, according to TSN's Mark Masters.Murray hasn't played since Jan. 17 against the Florida Panthers. He will need to be activated off long-term injured reserve before returning to the crease.The 28-year-old was initially ruled out for two games. Murray also missed significant time earlier this season with an adductor injury.Toronto managed an 11-5-1 record during Murray's latest absence, relying on Ilya Samsonov and Joseph Woll between the pipes.Murray has been reliable when healthy during his first season with the Leafs, posting 11 wins in 19 appearances with a .911 save percentage and 2.73 goals against average.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Calgary Flames acquired forward Nick Ritchie and defenseman Troy Stecher from the Arizona Coyotes for forward Brett Ritchie and defenseman Connor Mackey, the teams announced Friday.This is the first trade in the league database in which brothers were traded for each other.Nick Ritchie has nine goals and 21 points in 58 contests. The 27-year-old, who has a $2.5-million cap hit, is an impending unrestricted free agent.Stecher has zero goals and seven points in 61 games. The 28-year-old is also an impending UFA.The right-shot blue-liner was acquired by the Los Angeles Kings at last year's trade deadline. He tallied two goals and four points in four playoff games with the Kings.Brett Ritchie has six goals and eight points in 34 games. The older Ritchie is on a league-minimum contract that expires after this season.Mackey has two goals and three points in 10 NHL contests this season. The 26-year-old is an impending restricted free agent.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Quick-hit analysis of big-league moves completed Friday, March 3.Wild scoop up KlingbergMinnesota acquires: D John Klingberg

General manager Steve Yzerman poured cold water on the idea of the Detroit Red Wings having an aggressive trade deadline to supplement their chances in a crowded Eastern Conference wild-card race."I was not going to be a buyer under any circumstance," Yzerman said, per WZYZ Detroit's Brad Galli. "Not this year."A hot stretch in February made it seem as though Detroit could push to end its six-year playoff drought, but recent back-to-back losses to the Ottawa Senators, who are also fighting for a spot, cemented Yzerman's stance.He traded Filip Hronek, Tyler Bertuzzi, Jakub Vrana, and Oskar Sundqvist leading up to Friday's deadline, and worked out a new eight-year extension with captain Dylan Larkin along the way."If I really thought that this group had a chance to make the playoffs, and ultimately, not just make them, but really go on a run, then maybe you keep your team together," Yzerman said.He added: "Do I think we're a Stanley Cup contender this year? No. Did I think we had a chance to make the playoffs? Yes. And if I thought we were a Stanley Cup contender I would not have traded our unrestricted free agents."Yzerman's recent trades recouped a bevy of assets for Detroit, who now own five picks in the opening two rounds of the 2023 draft and two first-rounders in 2024.The Red Wings have banked 65 points on the season, and are five back of the New York Islanders for a wild-card spot with three fewer games played. However, four teams in the East currently sit between Detroit and New York at 66 points.Yzerman took over as Red Wings GM in 2019 after eight seasons in charge of the Tampa Bay Lightning.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Anaheim Ducks dealt defenseman John Klingberg to the Minnesota Wild for blue-liner Andrej Sustr, a 2025 fourth-round pick, and the rights to college forward Nikita Nesterenko, the clubs announced.The Ducks are retaining 50% of Klingberg's $7-million cap hit.Klingberg was one of the more prominent rearguards on the market. The 30-year-old is a pending unrestricted free agent who bet on himself by signing a one-year pact with Anaheim in July. He had a modified no-trade clause that allowed him to list 10 teams to which he was willing to be traded, according to CapFriendly.The Swede produced eight goals and 16 assists while averaging a career-worst 20:52 of average ice time in 50 games with the Ducks this season. Klingberg also posted subpar underlying numbers in that span, but Anaheim is among the worst teams in the NHL.Klingberg has a track record of success on a better squad, having topped 40 points in six of his eight campaigns with the Dallas Stars - including a 67-point effort in 2017-18 and 58 in 2015-16. The Stars drafted him 131st overall in 2010.Sustr has spent his entire 2022-23 season in the AHL, collecting two goals and 10 assists in 39 games with the Iowa Wild. The 32-year-old defenseman is rejoining the Ducks organization after playing 23 games for Anaheim last season. Minnesota signed him as a free agent in July.Nesterenko has 11 goals and 19 assists in 32 contests in his junior season at Boston College. The Wild selected the 21-year-old center 172nd overall in 2019.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.