Rick Tocchet thinks it's time for his Vancouver Canucks to get a refresher on the defensive fundamentals in the wake of their 6-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Monday night."It's my job (and) the (other) coaches' to make these guys understand stuff," Tocchet said postgame. "We're going to practice (Tuesday), and we're going to have to go back to grade school on how to defend (and) how to stop and start because too many guys are spinning. (This is a) very high-risk team ... some of (our) better players tonight, they were just too risky."The Canucks outshot the Red Wings 30-23 and won 57% of the faceoffs. Vancouver also controlled the share of expected goals (51.2%) and scoring chances (51.11%) despite the lopsided defeat, according to Natural Stat Trick.However, Monday's blowout was the 25th time the Canucks allowed five or more goals in a game this season. They've done it five times in the eight games Tocchet has coached since he replaced Bruce Boudreau on Jan. 22, including a 5-2 loss to the Red Wings on Saturday."You've got to take pride in defending, you've got to take pride in blocking a shot or getting the puck out in a stop-and-start game," Tocchet said. "You have to have pride."Vancouver sits in sixth place in the Pacific Division at 21-29-4. The Canucks will host the New York Rangers on Wednesday and then the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Yesterday, we picked up where we left off Friday, putting together another 2-1 night for our player props.We'll look to replicate that success - or build on it further - with three more plays for Tuesday night.Dougie Hamilton over 3.5 shots (-105)To say Hamilton pops off the page would be an understatement. He's one of the best volume-generating defensemen in the league, having attempted more shots than all but Roman Josi this season.What's crazy is Hamilton is more trigger-happy than usual right now. With Jack Hughes out of the lineup, the New Jersey Devils are even more reliant on Hamilton to help create offense and be a legitimate scoring threat.His 22 attempts and eight scoring chances over three games since Hughes went down both lead the team.Now Hamilton finds himself in a mouthwatering spot against the Columbus Blue Jackets. They've bled shots all season long - especially to defensemen. Only the Anaheim Ducks allowed more shots per game to the position, and the difference (0.34) is rather negligible.Look for Hamilton to shoot from anywhere and everywhere.Noah Dobson over 2.5 shots (+115)Dobson failed us last time out, but we're going right back to the well and targeting him on home soil.The New York Islanders defenseman has rather extreme splits, having found success at a significantly higher clip on home ice (58%) than on the road (42%). That's no coincidence.Dobson averages a whopping seven attempts per game compared to 5.5 on the road. For perspective, Hamilton averages 7.05 for the year, and his shot line is stapled at 3.5.It's important to note that Dobson also has a strong matchup against the Ottawa Senators. They rank 22nd in shots allowed per game for the season, are missing one of their best defensemen in Jake Sanderson, and are playing in the latter half of a back-to-back. There's plenty of reason to believe Dobson can take care of business.Jordan Kyrou over 3.5 shots (-115)Feeding Kyrou pucks is a top priority for the St. Louis Blues' offense right now, especially with Vladimir Tarasenko shipped out of town and many Blues forwards in and out of the lineup with injuries. Kyrou leads the team in shots and attempts by a landslide over the last 10 games.He registered 40 shots on target over that span, with Justin Faulk (21) the only other Blues player with more than 20. Kyrou also attempted 32 more shots than his closest teammate.He should be able to do that once again Tuesday night against a Florida Panthers team that has conceded more shots per game than all but the Ducks, Arizona Coyotes, and Pittsburgh Penguins over the past 10 games.Oh, as an added bonus: The Panthers rank bottom five in shots against versus right-wingers this season. There's a lot to like with Kyrou in this spot.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.

Ryan Reynolds has chosen his co-star in an effort to purchase the Ottawa Senators.The Vancouver-born actor is teaming up with The Remington Group, which recruited the actor to join a consortium that's set to make a bid for the Sens, according to The Ottawa Sun's Bruce Garrioch.Landing Reynolds is a major development for the Toronto-based real estate development corporation in its efforts to buy the club. The NHL reportedly informed potential bidders in December that it wants the actor to be a minority partner.Reynolds was apparently sold on the vision of The Remington Group - one of the largest builders in Ontario - to turn the team into a winning franchise and its determination to build a new arena at LeBreton Flats, according to Garrioch.More than 20 groups had reportedly expressed interest in purchasing the franchise in November.The Senators were valued at $655 million by Sportico this season. It's anticipated that the sale of the team will exceed $800 million after the Pittsburgh Penguins were sold to Fenway Sports Group in 2021 for $900 million.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Time continues to wind down on Jakob Chychrun's days in the desert.Arizona Coyotes head coach Andre Tourigny said the defenseman and top trade chip "will remain out of the lineup until something happens," according to Sportsnet's Adam Vingan.Chychrun was a healthy scratch for Saturday's 6-5 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues due to trade-related reasons.The Coyotes will play eight more games before the March 3 trade deadline, beginning Monday against the Nashville Predators.The 24-year-old's name has been in the rumor mill for over a year. In September, Chychrun said Arizona approached him about a possible trade to a contender prior to last season. He ultimately decided to take the team up on its offer, noting that a move "could be mutually beneficial."A deal never came to fruition. Chychrun played his final game of the 2021-22 season on March 12 - just over one week before the trade deadline - because of an ankle injury.He underwent wrist surgery in the offseason and didn't make his 2022-23 season debut until Nov. 21.Chychrun has seven goals and 28 points in 36 games this campaign while leading the rebuilding Coyotes in average ice time (23:16).He wouldn't be a rental for interested parties, either: Chychrun has two years remaining on his current deal with a cap hit of $4.6 million.Despite previously being linked to Chychrun, the Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs won't pursue the 6-foot-2 rearguard, Sportsnet's Jeff Marek reported Saturday.The Ottawa Senators, Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues, and Columbus Blue Jackets have all previously been reported to have interest in Chychrun.The Kings are building buzz as a potential destination for Chychrun. Sources told ESPN's Greg Wyshynski that Los Angeles and the Coyotes have engaged in trade talks over the past few days.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mic'd-up at the All-Star Game, Bo Horvat and Elias Pettersson told each other they'd get one more goal together, essentially the NHL's version of "for old times' sake." They clicked for one of many goals in the mini-tournament before going their separate ways, with Horvat off to make his debut for the Islanders following his trade from the Canucks.Hockey bettors couldn't care less about the former teammates' last hurrah, though. Our time is better spent trying to figure out how much Horvat - a 30-goal scorer prior to the break - will improve the Islanders' win probability on a game-to-game basis. In turn, how much will the Canucks' win probability change with a largely replacement-level player in Anthony Beauvillier?Looking at closing lines for the Canucks' four games last week, the betting market seems to have decided that they're 5% less probable to win an average game post-Horvat. They were +210 in New Jersey in the first game after the break, which would've been close to a 4% edge for the Canucks if they still had Horvat. Dropping their implied win probability by 5% pushed both the Canucks' and Devils' moneylines into a dead-even no man's land of negligible value.That Canucks downgrade continued over the week, and, ironically, the only game they won was a wild 6-5 game at the Islanders. New York's rating hasn't changed all that much - maybe plus-2% - showing that when it comes to trades involving one key player, the team losing that player is perceived to be hurt worse than his new team is improved.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 BETFeb. 13CGY@OTT-114/+114CGY -109/OTT +134ARI@NSH+216/-216ARI +261/NSH -206FLA@MIN-106/+106FLA +104/MIN +117DET@VAN+104/-104DET +115/VAN +107BUF@LAK+147/-147BUF +174/LAK -141Feb. 14CHI@MTL+132/-132CHI +156/MTL -127CAR@WSH-128/+128CAR -123/WSH +151NJD@CBJ-138/+138NJD -133/CBJ +164OTT@NYI+136/-136OTT +161/NYI -131FLA@STL-154/+154FLA -148/STL +183SEA@WPG+124/-124SEA +146/WPG -119BOS@DAL-104/+104BOS +107/DAL +114TBL@COL-142/+142TBL -137/COL +168PIT@SJS+107/-107PIT +125/SJS -102Feb. 15CHI@TOR+253/-253CHI +311/TOR -241TBL@ARI-185/+185TBL -177/ARI +221DET@EDM+178/-178DET +213/EDM -170COL@MIN+164/-164COL +195/MIN -157NYR@VAN+152/-152NYR -146/VAN +180BUF@ANA-123/+123BUF -118/ANA +145Feb. 16MTL@CAR+323/-323MTL +409/CAR -306WPG@CBJ-129/+129WPG -124/CBJ +152FLA@WSH-105/+105FLA +105/WSH +116BOS@NSH-114/+114BOS -109/NSH +134NJD@STL-124/+124NJD -119/STL +146DET@CGY+225/-225DET +274/CGY -215PHI@SEA+147/-147PHI +174/SEA -141SJS@VGK+145/-145SJS +171/VGK -139Matt 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're coming off a strong weekend of best bets. The Maple Leafs came through on the puck line Friday night, and the Wild followed up with a home win against the red-hot Devils on Saturday.We'll look to pick up where we left off with two more plays for Monday's slate.Flames (-165) @ Senators (+140)This game has fireworks potential written all over it. The Flames have been lights out offensively lately, leading the NHL in goals per minute at five-on-five over the last 10 games.Calgary shifted its lines around in an effort to have a more potent and balanced attack, and the shuffling has paid off. The Flames aren't just riding a shooting percentage bender, as they're top 10 in expected goal generation over those 10 contests.They now draw a mouthwatering matchup against a Senators team in a bad spot. Ottawa has struggled to keep the puck out of its net at the best of times.The Sens will be trying to punch way above their weight to slow down a red-hot offense. And they'll have to do it without their starting goaltender, backup netminder, and one of their top defenders in Jake Sanderson.Calgary will test Mads Sogaard early and often, and there's not much reason to believe he can handle it. Sogaard owns a putrid .898 save percentage across 21 games in the AHL this season. A date with the Flames isn't exactly an ideal spot as he gets his feet wet with his first NHL start of the campaign.I definitely expect Calgary to do the heavy lifting in this spot, but Ottawa should be able to contribute its share to the goal total. The Flames have allowed a hair under three goals per game this season, and Jacob Markstrom (.892 save percentage) has struggled all campaign.The Sens have more than enough talent up front to cause Markstrom problems, and they'll need to do just that to have any chance of getting a positive result.Look for a 4-3 or 5-2 type of contest in the nation's capital.Bet: Over 6.5 (-115)Red Wings (+100) @ Canucks (-120)The Canucks have quietly been playing much better hockey under head coach Rick Tocchet.They own a 3-3-1 record under their new bench boss and have posted remarkably better underlying metrics, particularly on the defensive side.Vancouver has allowed 47.24 shot attempts and 2.20 expected goals per 60 minutes at five-on-five. Both numbers rank the club in the top five, surrounded by teams like the Hurricanes and Golden Knights. Tocchet has the guys buying in, and it shows.On the flip side, the Red Wings have hit a real rut when it comes to creating chances. They rank dead last in five-on-five expected goal generation over the previous 10 games. Detroit also sits near the bottom in shots and high-danger opportunities.The Red Wings are struggling to facilitate scoring opportunities, while the Canucks are doing a fantastic job of limiting them.However, goaltending has been a huge concern for Vancouver. A tandem of Collin Delia and Spencer Martin is very bad and has the potential to undo a lot of the good that's happening.That being said, Delia has conceded only two goals more than expected through 13 games. Martin has allowed 23.5 more than expected across 29 contests and has performed terribly. At least Delia has been somewhat competent on most nights.With Delia expected back between the pipes and a home date against a Red Wings team having issues offensively, I think the Canucks will get back on track and grind out a win.The potential absences of Lucas Raymond and Jake Walman - who's played excellent hockey alongside Moritz Seider on the top pairing - would also provide healthy boosts to Vancouver's chances.Bet: Canucks (-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.

We ended last week on a high, falling one Vladimir Tarasenko shot short of a 3-0 night on Friday night.Still, a 2-1 effort saw us take home a profit. We'll aim for the same - or more - with three more props for Monday's slate of games.Kirill Kaprizov over 3.5 shots (-130)Kirill Kaprizov has really cooled off lately. He has failed to hit the over in seven of his last 10 overall and three of four on home ice, where he's normally close to automatic.Is this a worrisome trend or simply variance over the course of a long season? The data suggests the latter.Take Kaprizov's recent numbers at home, for example. He missed the net on a whopping 14 attempts over the last three dates in Minnesota despite attempting more than enough shots to continue his home success - it just didn't happen.So long as the attempts are there, I'll continue to back Kaprizov, and that shouldn't be a problem against the Panthers. Florida plays a very high-event style of hockey and has allowed 35.63 shots per game over the last 10, which is more than every team but Anaheim and Arizona.This is a great spot for Kaprizov to get back on track.Dylan Larkin under 3.5 shots (-130)Larkin has stepped up his shooting game of late, going over his shot total in six of the last nine games and seeing the line bumped from 2.5 to 3.5 as a result.Zooming out, I think this is a nice spot to go the other way and back the under. Larkin has averaged 3.2 shots on 5.8 attempts this season, going over a 3.5 shot total just 36% of the time. His success percentage drops to 32% if we isolate road games.In a vacuum, a 3.5 shot total is high for Larkin against pretty much any opponent. The Canucks are not a good team - at all - but their struggles of late have more to do with putrid goaltending than anything else.Vancouver has quietly been quite stout at suppressing shots and chances under its new bench boss. Believe it or not, only the Hurricanes have done a better job at limiting shots since Rick Tocchet took over.The Canucks are playing a more stingy, low-event brand of hockey, and that's sucking the life out of a lot of games.Larkin hit against Vancouver the last time out, but first of all, he was at home, and second off, hit the target on 71% of his attempts - well above his season average of 55%.With the Canucks' ability to match up better and the Red Wings' other top weapons at home, Larkin shouldn't be able to generate shots in bulk.J.T. Miller over 2.5 shots (-130)J.T. Miller - much like many offensive players - fares much better at home. He has gone over his shot total in 63% of games in Vancouver this season, a far cry from his 45% success rate on the road.Miller has been especially efficient lately, coming through in nine of his past 10 home games, including both under Rick Tocchet. Miller combined for 12 shots in those two affairs, soaring past his total with plenty of room to spare.The Red Wings don't take a lot of penalties - they won't spoon-feed Miller power-play opportunities - but they are a bad five-on-five team that allows the opposing side to spend a lot of time on the front foot.Considering Miller will get softer matchups and plenty of offensive zone starts, he'll be ready to take advantage of that.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.

Ottawa Senators goalie Anton Forsberg is expected to miss two-to-three months due to MCL tears in both knees, according to the Ottawa Sun's Bruce Garrioch.Neither tear will require surgery, Garrioch adds.Forsberg was stretchered off the ice during Saturday's 6-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers.Senators defenseman Travis Hamonic pushed Oilers forward Zach Hyman into Forsberg in the lead-up to Edmonton's sixth goal of the contest, which forced one of Forsberg's legs into an awkward position. Mads Sogaard entered the game in relief.Rookie defenseman Jake Sanderson was also injured during Saturday's contest and is expected to miss at least two weeks with an upper-body injury. He exited after taking a hit from Oilers defenseman Vincent Desharnais in the final frame.Forsberg, 30, largely shared the crease with Cam Talbot this season. He put up an 11-11-2 record across 28 appearances to go along with a .902 save percentage and 3.26 goals against average.Talbot hasn't played since Jan. 25 due to a lower-body injury, and with Forsberg also on the shelf, Ottawa recalled goaltender Kevin Mandolese from the AHL.Drafted by the Senators in the sixth round in 2018, Mandolese has recorded a 4-7-2 record and an .879 save percentage in 13 games with the Belleville Senators this season.With 31 games remaining in the Senators' season, Ottawa is in seventh place of the Atlantic Division with a record of 24-24-3, outside of the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This is the ninth 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 Valentine's Day just around the corner, we pick one reason to love each team in the league.1. Boston Bruins (39-8-5)Previous rank: 1Everything! OK, OK, no one's perfect, but how could we pick just one thing to love about the Bruins? They've got it going on right now. However, in the spirit of Valentine's Day, we're going to go with Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman's post-win hugs.2. Carolina Hurricanes (34-10-8)Previous rank: 2Rod the Bod. No team in the NHL - heck, maybe even in professional sports - embodies the mentality of their coach more than the Hurricanes do with Rod Brind'Amour. They work relentlessly hard and refuse to give their opponents an inch - just like Brind'Amour did during his playing days.3. New Jersey Devils (34-13-5)Previous rank: 5The Ceiling. The Devils are already having an excellent campaign, but with defensemen Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec - two top-five picks - waiting in the wings, it's scary to think about how good this team could be in a few years.4. Tampa Bay Lightning (34-16-2)Previous rank: 4Drafting. A major reason for the Lightning's dynasty has been the ability to hit on draft picks outside the first round: Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Anthony Cirelli, Alex Killorn, Ross Colton - the list goes on. Without excellent scouting and player development, the Bolts wouldn't be where they are today.5. New York Rangers (31-14-8) Josh Lavallee / National Hockey League / GettyPrevious rank: 8Vladimir Tarasenko and Artemi Panarin's relationship. Did you see how the two connected on Tarasenko's goal in his Rangers debut? The ex-Blue also called Panarin "one of (his) best friends." Now, the duo gets to gun for a Stanley Cup together, bolstered by the power of friendship.6. Edmonton Oilers (30-19-5)Previous rank: 7Connor McDavid. We tried to be more creative here, we really did, but there's no way we weren't going to give it to the Oilers superstar, who's going to hit the 100-point mark in February.7. Toronto Maple Leafs (32-14-8)Previous rank: 3Ilya Samsonov's smiles. The only thing better than Samsonov's performance in the Maple Leafs' crease this season is his postgame scrums. The affable goaltender has built up a reputation for being a fantastic quote, especially with his catchphrase, "Have some smile."8. Dallas Stars (30-14-10)Previous rank: 6Top-line chemistry. Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz, and Joe Pavelski have been among the league's best lines since they were put together in 2020. The trio works perfectly for the Stars, elevating each other's strengths to terrorize opposing defenses.9. Winnipeg Jets (33-19-1)Previous rank: 12Rick Bowness. A few eyebrows were raised after the Jets hired the 68-year-old as their head coach this offseason, but he's come in and installed a structure that the team so desperately lacked in past years under Paul Maurice. There are a lot of strong candidates for the Jack Adams, but Bowness should be right up there.10. Colorado Avalanche (28-19-4) Andy Cross/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images / Denver Post / GettyPrevious rank: 9Speed. Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon obviously draw the headlines, but even players lower in Colorado's lineup play with incredible pace, and it makes the Avalanche an absolute joy to watch.11. Vegas Golden Knights (32-18-4)Previous rank: 17Chandler Stephenson. Who would've thought Stephenson would go on to represent the Golden Knights at the All-Star Game when he was acquired for a fifth-round pick in 2019? The 28-year-old's breakout campaign over the past two seasons has been a much-needed boost to a Vegas lineup that seems to consistently be missing a major piece due to injury.12. Los Angeles Kings (29-18-7)Previous rank: 14Pheonix Copley. What a story he's been for the Kings. The 31-year-old goalie had 31 games of NHL experience under his belt prior to the 2022-23 campaign. This season in Los Angeles, he owns a sparkling 16-3-1 record between the pipes.13. Seattle Kraken (30-18-5)Previous rank: 10Depth scoring. The Kraken don't have any superstars, which is expected from a team in its second year, but the contributions from up and down the lineup have them in line to make the playoffs for the first time. Seattle has four players - Jared McCann, Daniel Sprong, Ryan Donato, and Eeli Tolvanen - in the top 15 in five-on-five goals per 60 minutes.14. Florida Panthers (26-23-6)Previous rank: 16Matthew Tkachuk. There's no question the Panthers won Year 1 of last summer's blockbuster deal with the Flames that brought the talented agitator to Sunrise. Tkachuk has 23 more points than Jonathan Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar combined.15. Washington Capitals (28-21-6) Scott Taetsch / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious rank: 20Ovi's chase for 892. Ovechkin is turning his pursuit of the all-time goal record into an inevitability. The 37-year-old just won't slow down - he's set to blow past 40 goals for the 13th time in his career. Everything the Capitals do in the near future is in an effort to get their franchise superstar to 892 career goals, and rightfully so.16. Pittsburgh Penguins (26-17-9)Previous rank: 18The gang is still together. There seemed like a legitimate possibility that the Penguins' iconic trio of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang would be split up this past offseason when the latter two were set to become unrestricted free agents. But that just wouldn't have been right, and it'll be great for the hockey world if they all finish their careers together in the Steel City.17. Nashville Predators (25-19-6)Previous rank: 13Juuse Saros. We hope every member of the Predators buys Saros a bouquet of flowers for Valentine's Day. He ranks fifth among all netminders this season in goals saved above average (16.82) and second in goals saved above expected (28.1).18. Buffalo Sabres (26-21-4)Previous rank: 11All-out offense. The Sabres have blossomed into one of the league's most fun up-and-coming teams. Buffalo ranks second in goals per game thanks in large part to human highlight reel Tage Thompson - you just never know what the 6-foot-6 dangler will do next.19. New York Islanders (27-23-6)Previous rank: 22Bo Horvat. Duh. The newcomer has three goals and four points in his first four games with the Islanders. Talk about making an instant impact!20. Minnesota Wild (28-20-4) Bruce Kluckhohn / National Hockey League / GettyPrevious rank: 15Kaprizov and Zuccarello's chemistry. Few duos have clicked the way Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello have over the past two years. Kaprizov has emerged as the most potent player in Wild franchise history, while Zuccarello has enjoyed the best seasons of his career in his mid-30s.21. Calgary Flames (25-18-10)Previous rank: 19Darryl Sutter's press conferences. Things haven't gone exactly as planned for the Flames this season, but we can always count on their head coach's dry humor to give us a laugh whenever he speaks to the media.22. Detroit Red Wings (23-20-8)Previous rank: 23Dylan Larkin. Let's appreciate how cool it is that Larkin, a native of Waterford, Michigan, and an alumni of the University of Michigan, is the captain and star player of the Red Wings as he paces the club with 48 points in 50 games. Those hometown factors have to be considered when the pending UFA decides whether to re-sign or test the open market.23. Ottawa Senators (24-24-3)Previous rank: 21Tim Stutzle. In yet another disappointing campaign for the Senators, Stutzle's breakout as a point-per-game forward has been a much-needed bright spot.24. Philadelphia Flyers (22-23-10)Previous rank: 24Carter Hart. The Philadelphia netminder has bounced back in a big way this season and is one of the main reasons the Flyers aren't far worse than they are.25. St. Louis Blues (24-25-3) Rich Graessle / National Hockey League / GettyPrevious rank: 26Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou. It's the end of an era in St. Louis, with Vladimir Tarasenko getting traded and Ryan O'Reilly possibly next. At least Blues fans can take solace knowing they have their two phenom forwards locked up for the next eight years.26. San Jose Sharks (17-26-11)Previous rank: 25Erik Karlsson's resurgence. It looked like Karlsson's $11.5-million contract was going to be an anchor on the Sharks' cap after three years of declining play and injury troubles. Instead, the 32-year-old has turned back the clock to lead defensemen with 73 points and the entire league in even-strength scoring.27. Montreal Canadiens (22-27-4)Previous rank: 28Arber Xhekaj. Whether it's his improbable rapid rise from an undrafted free agent to an NHL regular, the many nicknames the Canadiens fan base has given him, or his throwback enforcer-esque style, it's hard not to love Xhekaj. Well, unless you're one of his opponents.28. Vancouver Canucks (21-28-4)Previous rank: 27Unpredictability. You just never know what's going to happen during a Canucks game. Blown leads and multi-goal comebacks have been run-of-the-mill occurrences in Vancouver this season. If you love high-event hockey, look no further - the Canucks lead the NHL in combined goals for and against.29. Arizona Coyotes (17-28-8)Previous rank: 30Mullett Arena. Is it strange that the Coyotes are playing in a college rink? Of course. But the sooner you embrace the oddity that is Mullett Arena, the better. There's simply no fan experience quite like it in the NHL.30. Anaheim Ducks (17-31-6) Andy Devlin / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious rank: 29Mason McTavish's texts. According to projected 2023 first overall pick Connor Bedard, the Ducks rookie has been shooting him a message every time Anaheim loses a game. The pair helped Canada win a gold medal at the 2022 World Junior Championship, and the Ducks are well in the race to acquire Bedard's services.31. Chicago Blackhawks (16-30-5)Previous rank: 31Commitment to tanking. There's really not much to love about the Blackhawks, but we have to applaud management's ability to assemble the worst roster possible in hopes of drafting first overall.32. Columbus Blue Jackets (16-33-4)Previous rank: 32That their season is almost, mercifully over. The Blue Jackets only have to suffer through 29 more games before they can turn the page on their injury-riddled campaign. The end of the season will also bring about answers for Columbus: Will it all have been worth it to land Bedard?(Analytics sources: Evolving Hockey, Natural Stat Trick)Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Though Chicago Blackhawks veteran Patrick Kane hasn't yet informed the team if he'll waive his no-movement clause ahead of the trade deadline, some suitors appear to be taking shape.The Carolina Hurricanes, Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild, and Vegas Golden Knights have "confirmed interest" in acquiring the pending unrestricted free agent's services, reports The Athletic's Scott Powers and Mark Lazerus.All four of those teams are currently in a playoff spot.Kane, 34, is in the final season of an eight-year pact with an average annual value of $10.5 million. Though he potted just nine goals and 26 assists in 48 games for the struggling Blackhawks this campaign, the three-time Stanley Cup champion and 2013 Conn Smythe Trophy winner is one of the top names that may be available come March 3.The Hurricanes sit atop the Metropolitan Division with a 34-10-8 record but could bolster their roster with an impact forward after losing Max Pacioretty to another Achilles tear in January.Dallas leads the Western Conference after going 30-14-10. The Stars were in the market for a top-six forward to play with Tyler Seguin and Mason Marchment, according to a report from TSN's Darren Dreger in late November.Minnesota, meanwhile, occupies the second wild-card spot in the West with a record of 28-20-4. The Wild could use more firepower up front, having lost Kevin Fiala last summer because of the pricey contract buyouts of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter. Minnesota has only scored 153 goals this season, tied for the eighth-least in the league.Finally, the Golden Knights have a gaping hole in their lineup after losing captain Mark Stone indefinitely to another back surgery. Vegas holds the top spot in the Pacific Division with a 32-18-4 record, but the Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, and Seattle Kraken are all three points behind.Kane admitted Friday that he was "definitely looking at" the New York Rangers before they acquired Vladimir Tarasenko.New York was reportedly wary about Kane's hip injury, per ESPN's Emily Kaplan, but he said those concerns were overblown.Kane ranks third all time in Blackhawks history with 1,155 games played and 439 goals while ranking second with 1,215 points.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Jakob Chychrun sweepstakes appear to be coming to a dramatic end.The Arizona Coyotes announced they made the defenseman a healthy scratch Saturday against the St. Louis Blues for trade-related reasons.Chychrun, 24, has been on the trade block since at least January 2022, but a deal has yet to come to fruition.Chychrun has registered 28 points in 36 games this season. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound blue-liner is signed through 2024-25 with a $4.6-million cap hit.The Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs won't pursue Chychrun despite having previously been linked to the defenseman, Sportsnet's Jeff Marek reports.The Ottawa Senators, Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues, and Columbus Blue Jackets are among the other teams linked to Chychrun in the past.The Coyotes' next game is against the Nashville Predators on Monday.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After the opening 20 minutes on Saturday night, it seemed like the Toronto Maple Leafs would cruise to a second consecutive victory over the basement-dwelling Columbus Blue Jackets. Then they fell flat in the second period en route to a 4-3 defeat."Just got outworked, outplayed," head coach Sheldon Keefe said postgame about his team's performance in the middle frame, according to TSN's Mark Masters."I can't (explain it)," he added. "You guys talked to the players. I'm sure you asked them the same questions. I can't do the work for them."Keefe added that "effort" and "competitiveness" were the issues rather than execution.The Leafs entered the first intermission with a 2-0 lead after controlling 75.82% of the expected goals, per Natural Stat Trick. However, they only controlled 42.08% of the expected goals the rest of the way.Entering the third period down 3-2, Keefe's messaging was simple."(The players) got to make the decision how important it is to them," he said. "That's really it."Despite sitting fifth in the NHL in points percentage, Toronto tends to play down to lesser opponents, such as the 32nd-ranked Blue Jackets. The Leafs own a 5-4-4 record against the NHL's eight worst teams this season, but they're 27-10-4 against the rest of the league.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ottawa Senators goaltender Anton Forsberg was stretchered off the ice with an apparent leg injury late in the third period of Saturday's 6-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers.Senators defenseman Travis Hamonic pushed Oilers forward Zach Hyman into Forsberg moments before Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored Edmonton's sixth goal.Forsberg looked to be in serious pain after the collision forced his leg into an awkward position.

Nashville Predators star Filip Forsberg exited Saturday's contest against the Philadelphia Flyers after taking a hit along the boards from defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen.The incident occurred in the dying seconds of the opening frame. Forsberg struggled to get to his feet and had to be helped off the ice. He didn't return and ended up logging just over five minutes of ice time.

Vegas Golden Knights rookie goaltender Logan Thompson is considered week-to-week with a lower-body injury.Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy said he expects Thompson to return before the end of the regular season but not "any time soon," according to The Athletic's Jesse Granger.Thompson appeared to hurt himself on a non-contact play during Thursday's 5-1 victory against the Minnesota Wild. He didn't put any weight on his left leg as he exited the ice.The Golden Knights recalled goalie Laurent Brossoit from the AHL in a corresponding move. He's posted an 8-11-3 record with a .909 save percentage and a 2.72 goals-against average for the Henderson Silver Knights this season.Thompson has run with the starting job in Vegas while posting a .914 save percentage and 2.66 goals against average across 36 appearances.The 25-year-old is considered one of the top candidates for the Calder Trophy behind Seattle Kraken star Matty Beniers. Thompson, who represented the Golden Knights at the All-Star Game, is one of nine goalies to hit the 20-win mark so far this campaign.Vegas' crease will now belong to Brossoit and Adin Hill, who has a 2.58 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage in 20 showings this season.The Golden Knights have been hit hard by injuries of late. Captain Mark Stone is out indefinitely after undergoing his second back surgery in less than a year.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ken Holland appears to have liked what he saw at the All-Star Game from Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Erik Karlsson.The San Jose Sharks and Edmonton Oilers have re-engaged in trade talks about Karlsson, TSN's Chris Johnston reported Saturday. The teams have already discussed a deal at least once this season, Johnston notes.Karlsson is in the midst of a historic campaign. The 32-year-old is first among NHL blue-liners with 70 points in 53 games and paces all skaters in even-strength scoring.The Norris Trophy front-runner is signed through 2026-27 at an $11.5-million cap hit.Injuries and declining play before this season made Karlsson look like a significant anchor for the Sharks. He hasn't played more than 70 games in a campaign since 2017-18 with the Ottawa Senators, which was also the last time he ranked top 10 in scoring by defensemen.Edmonton would need to create significant cap space to add Karlssson's contract, even if the Sharks retain the maximum 50% of his salary to shrink his cap hit to $5.75 million.The Oilers have just over $1 million in cap space, according to CapFriendly. Edmonton will also need to shed salary to activate Kailer Yamamoto and his $3.1-million cap hit from long-term injured reserve in the coming days.San Jose acquired Karlsson in a blockbuster trade with the Senators on Sep. 13, 2018. The Sharks sent Dylan DeMelo, Chris Tierney, Rudolfs Balcers, and Josh Norris to Ottawa, along with a first-round pick that the team used to select Tim Stutzle.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Kings signed goaltender Pheonix Copley to a one-year, $1.5-million extension Friday, the team announced.Copley has emerged as the Kings' most reliable netminder this season, recording a 15-3-1 record with an .897 save percentage and a 2.92 goals against average.The 31-year-old journeyman has played 51 career NHL games across five seasons, posting an .899 save percentage. In 237 career AHL games, his save percentage is .911.With Jonathan Quick's eight-year, $58-million contract set to expire after this season, Copley and Cal Petersen - who's currently playing in the AHL in the first season of a three-year, $15-million deal - are Los Angeles' only goalies signed for 2023-24.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

St. Louis Blues head coach Craig Berube said Friday he expects captain Ryan O'Reilly to return Saturday against the Arizona Coyotes, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Jim Thomas.O'Reilly hasn't played since Dec. 31 against the Minnesota Wild due to a broken foot. He played through the injury after blocking a shot during St. Louis' 5-2 loss and logged just over 19 minutes in the contest.He skated with the team for the first time Thursday."It feels good," O'Reilly said afterward, according to team beat reporter Chris Pinkert. "I've been able to skate the last three days, so it's nice to have that first skate with the boys, but it's a little unknown … we have to talk to some doctors and stuff on where we sit, but as of now, it's good."He added, "If I do force it and rush back, that's what they're concerned about is making the injury bigger. That's why we have to be safe and be cautious as we progress here."A pending unrestricted free agent, O'Reilly has struggled this season, mustering just 10 goals and six assists in 37 games. However, the 2019 Stanley Cup champion and Conn Smythe winner is bound to draw attention and could be on the move ahead of the March 3 trade deadline.O'Reilly said in late January that he hopes to stay in St. Louis.Berube also said Friday he expects Pavel Buchnevich to return to the lineup versus the Coyotes. Buchnevich, who's recorded 38 points in 38 contests this campaign, has missed the Blues' last four games due to an ankle injury.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Sabres head coach Don Granato said star forward Tage Thompson will be ready to play in Saturday's afternoon meeting with the Calgary Flames.Thompson exited the Sabres' 5-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Feb. 1 with an upper-body injury. He was considered day-to-day before that contest.Though it doesn't appear he'll sit out any regular-season games because of the issue, the 25-year-old missed last weekend's All-Star Game. Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin replaced him on the Atlantic Division's roster.Thompson has been integral to Buffalo's success this season, pacing the team with 34 goals and 68 points in 50 contests.He's playing out the final campaign of a three-year contract at a $1.4-million cap hit before his seven-year, $50-million deal kicks in next season.The Sabres sit fifth in the Atlantic Division with a 26-20-4 record and are three points out of the Eastern Conference's second wild-card spot.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Blackhawks veteran Patrick Kane wasn't ecstatic when he found out the St. Louis Blues had sent Vladimir Tarasenko to the New York Rangers."It's not, like, the happiest I've been to hear about a trade," he said Friday, according to NBC Sports Chicago's Charlie Roumeliotis. "I think the Rangers are a team that you definitely pay attention to and definitely are intrigued by, for obvious reasons."He added, "If things were going to happen, that was a team I was definitely looking at. It seems like they kind of filled their void and went ahead and made a deal, so it is what it is."The Blues shipped Tarasenko and defenseman Niko Mikkola to the Big Apple on Thursday in exchange for Sammy Blais, low-level prospect Hunter Skinner, a conditional 2023 first-round pick, and a conditional 2024 fourth-round selection.Kane, 34, is in the final season of an eight-year, $84-million contract and can become an unrestricted free agent in the summer. His deal carries a full no-movement clause, but he has yet to inform general manager Kyle Davidson whether he will waive it."In fairness to Kyle, I haven't went to Kyle and said, 'I wanted to go here' (or) 'I want to (stay),'" Kane said, according to the Chicago Sun-Times' Ben Pope. "I haven't gotten to any of that yet. ... I think within the next 10 days or so, we'll probably get a clearer picture of what's going to happen."The Rangers made their move for Tarasenko once they felt the asking prices for Kane and Timo Meier were too high, sources told ESPN's Emily Kaplan. New York was also reportedly wary of Kane's nagging hip injury. He missed three games in January due to a lower-body ailment.Kane said the concerns about his injury are overblown."I'm not sure what the story is, to be honest with you, but I feel better than I did last year," he explained, per Roumeliotis. "It's just one of those things that maybe the story leaks out and it piles up a little bit."Kane has nine goals and 26 assists in 46 games this season as the Blackhawks toil in the Central Division basement with a 15-29-5 record.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the St. Louis Blues mired in a stagnant 2022-23 season, the team continued closing the door on its 2019 Stanley Cup-winning core with Thursday's trade sending veteran winger Vladimir Tarasenko to the New York Rangers."We had a good season last year, we were trying to wring out another year out of this group," general manager Doug Armstrong said shortly after the deal. "I think when you go back to our successful season of '19, we were a veteran team. We won as a veteran team, and we've been able to hang on to that group for three more years."This year, obviously, was the end of that era."Eight players remain from the Blues' championship roster: Ryan O'Reilly, Robert Thomas, Brayden Schenn, Ivan Barbashev, Sammy Blais (whom the Rangers sent back to the Blues in the Tarasenko trade), Colton Parayko, Robert Bortuzzo, and Jordan Binnington.Tarasenko had been a key piece for St. Louis since making his NHL debut in 2012-13. The six-time 30-goal scorer ranks fifth in franchise history in both tallies (262) and points (553) in 644 games.The 31-year-old added 11 goals and six assists in 26 playoff contests during the Blues' run to their first Stanley Cup.Tarasenko's name had been in the rumor mill for some time. He reportedly requested a trade in July 2021 after losing trust in St. Louis over its handling of two of his three shoulder surgeries.Blues head coach Craig Berube discussed his long-standing relationship with Tarasenko on Thursday."Listen, as a coach and a player, you always have battles and things, but it was never personal. ... I respect (Tarasenko) for that because there was a lot of tough moments and conversations that weren't the best, but listen, he never held a grudge and neither did I."A pending unrestricted free agent, Tarasenko said Friday there was "no chance" he'd remain with St. Louis, according to USA Today Sports' Vince Z. Mercogliano."No deal was offered, so I knew I was going to move somewhere," he said. "I talked with Artemi (Panarin), and they wanted me here. ... One of my best friends plays here, and we have a chance to win a Cup again."Tarasenko skated on a line with Panarin and Mika Zibanejad ahead of his debut in the Big Apple.O'Reilly said he wishes his former teammate all the best with the Rangers."It was weird. It's something that you're never really ready for or expect. ... We've been through so much since I've been on this team," he said of the trade. "He's always been there, such a huge piece for us, and obviously winning together, it's sad to see him go."The Blues are 23-25-3 on the season and sit nine points out of the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference. Tarasenko will get a chance to face his former team on April 6 in St. Louis.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We have a busy weekend of hockey ahead of us, with 18 games over the next couple of days.Let's dive into two that stand out from the pack.Maple Leafs (-250) @ Blue Jackets (+210)

The All-Star break is in the rearview and we've turned it up a notch, going to twice per week for the NHL betting guide so that we can be as accurate as possible in evaluating each team, especially with significant players in and out of the lineup. A quick price comparison from Monday to Thursday would have produced nine bets in total. With 20/20 hindsight, here's how that looked.GAMEPRICE TO BETAVAILABLE BETANA@DALANA +284/DAL -222ANA +310 (L)MIN@ARIMIN -154/ARI +191ARI +200 (W)SJS@TBSJS +184/TBL -149SJS +200 (W)VGK@NSHVGK +130/NSH -106NSH -105 (L)ANA@CHIANA -107/CHI +131ANA +110 (W)EDM@PHIEDM -133/PHI +163PHI +165 (W)COL@TBLCOL +187/TBL -151TBL -145 (W)SEA@NJDSEA +192/NJD -155NJD -135 (W)VGK@MINVGK +102/MIN +120VGK +105 (W)That there was a mix of favorites and underdogs - both short and long - is an even better sign than the small sample size of a 7-2 (+7.7 units) stretch. Finding value at various prices - and in some cases, both for and against teams like the Golden Knights - can indicate we're doing well to not overreact to the ebbs and flows of the betting market.With our new biweekly schedule, we can react to things like injuries to Aleksander Barkov and Cale Makar early in the week, the market's game-to-game adjustment to the Maple Leafs without Auston Matthews against good teams like the Bruins before their break and a home-and-home with the likes of the Blue Jackets after it, and the Canucks' and Islanders' value after the Bo Horvat trade.Much to Devils fans' chagrin, we get our first guess as to how the betting market will react to Jack Hughes' absence. We'll start with an assumption that New Jersey is 5% less likely to win an individual game without Hughes, who sits third in the NHL in goals. Meanwhile, we'll take a wait-and-see approach on any boost the Rangers get after their addition of Vladimir Tarasenko.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 BETFeb. 10SEA@NYR+159/-159SEA +189/NYR -152TOR@CBJ-196/+196TOR -188/CBJ +236ARI@CHI+110/-110ARI +121/CHI +101PIT@ANA-156/+156PIT -150/ANA +185Feb. 11VAN@DET+135/-135VAN +159/DET -129CGY@BUF-118/+118CGY -113/BUF +139EDM@OTT-113/+113EDM -109/OTT +133NSH@PHI-120/+120NSH -115/PHI +141NYI@MTL-129/+129NYI -124/MTL +152TBL@DAL-112/+112TBL -107/DAL +131WSH@BOS+176/-176WSH +211/BOS -169COL@FLA+149/-149COL +177/FLA -143CBJ@TOR+225/-225CBJ +273/TOR -215NYR@CAR+168/-168NYR +200/CAR -161NJD@MIN+116/-116NJD +137/MIN -112ARI@STL+175/-175ARI +209/STL -168CHI@WPG+272/-272CHI +337/WPG -259PIT@LAK+127/-127PIT +149/LAK -122Feb. 12EDM@MTL-148/+148EDM -142/MTL +175SEA@PHI-120/+120SEA -116/PHI +142SJS@WSH+141/-141SJS +167/WSH -135ANA@VGK+227/-227ANA +277/VGK -217Matt 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.

The Montreal Canadiens signed rookie blue-liner Jordan Harris to a two-year pact with an average annual value of $1.4 million, the team announced Friday.Harris, 22, was scheduled to become a restricted free agent once his current deal expired.The Massachusetts native has one goal and 10 assists in 47 games this season while averaging 18:26 minutes per contest, good for the fifth-most ice time among first-year defensemen in 2022-23.The Canadiens selected Harris in the third round of the 2018 draft.Montreal still has some decisions to make regarding other restricted free agents, headlined by injured sniper Cole Caufield.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We're in for a quiet start to the weekend with just four games on Friday night.Thankfully, there still appears to be plenty of value on the board in the prop market. Let's take a closer look at three players to prioritize.William Nylander over 3.5 shots (-130)Nylander is normally a player I prefer to back on home soil, but I'm happy to make an exception on Friday night.The ultra-talented winger has come through in three straight road games and leads the Maple Leafs in shot attempts and scoring chances since Auston Matthews departed the lineup. With No. 34 sidelined, the Leafs don't have as much pop up front, and more weight falls on players like Nylander.More important than anything else, though, is the matchup against the Blue Jackets. Only the Ducks have allowed five-on-five shots at a higher clip this season. With so many players sidelined against a high-class opponent, I don't see things getting any better for the Blue Jackets this time around.Vladimir Tarasenko over 2.5 shots (-120)Tarasenko is expected to make his Rangers debut alongside Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad on the top line. While Tarasenko isn't quite as dynamic as a couple of years ago, he remains a threatening offensive player who won't be shy about shooting the puck when it comes his way.I think playing with Panarin will be especially beneficial. Panarin is a pass-first winger in every sense, has played with Tarasenko plenty on the international stage, and they are good friends off the ice.Panarin will no doubt be looking to find Tarasenko early and often and give him every chance to shine in front of the MSG crowd.Although the Kraken are a strong shot suppression team, I still like Tarasenko in this spot. Seattle is in the latter half of a road back-to-back, and Tarasenko has hit in three of four games versus the Kraken - including three straight - since their inception.Seth Jones over 2.5 shots (-140)Jones is a Coyotes killer. There are a lot of them, I know, but Jones is absolutely among the group.He has faced the Coyotes five times over the last season and a half. He averaged 3.8 shots per game while going over the total in four of those meetings.All the data points toward another successful night for Jones this time around. The Coyotes rank 30th in shots against per game versus defensemen, allowing more than all but the Ducks and Jackets.Jones is also a much more efficient shot-generator on home soil. He has gone over his total 61% of the time in Chicago, a far cry from the 35% hit rate he's managed on the road.With a mouthwatering matchup to look forward to on home ice, there's every reason to believe Jones is in line for a productive evening.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.

There's no point beating around the bush here. Connor McDavid is the obvious MVP front-runner as we move further into the unofficial second half of this NHL season. That's hardly a controversial statement, but let's be real: Everyone else garnering Hart Trophy consideration is clearly just vying to be a finalist at this point.The four players below him on this list have all been extremely valuable to their clubs and would all have a legitimate shot to win if McDavid wasn't playing like a human video game.Two other stars would be in the mix if the list was a little longer, too. Jason Robertson remains a fringe candidate, but he's been outplayed lately by a new contender, and Tage Thompson's evolution into a game-changer has been the biggest reason the Buffalo Sabres are within striking distance of a playoff spot.Here are our top five Hart Trophy contenders at this point in the campaign:5. Matthew Tkachuk Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPGAATOIxGF%51274420:1760.05Tkachuk has provided the Florida Panthers with significant value in his first season with them. We've been reluctant to include him on these lists until now because the Cats have been so disappointing. But the versatile forward's elite play deserves recognition precisely because he's carried an underachieving club, and he's been on fire lately.The All-Star MVP racked up seven goals and 17 assists in the 15 games since our last edition of these rankings. Tkachuk leads the NHL in both helpers and points in that span. The talented agitator's production relative to that of his teammates has been commendable, too. Tkachuk has 10 more assists and 24 more points than the closest Panthers, all while sitting among the league leaders in both categories.The 25-year-old's underlying numbers have been sublime. He ranks third in the NHL in wins above replacement and is tied for third in goals above replacement. He also sits third in individual expected goals. Tkachuk is 10th in five-on-five expected goals for percentage among forwards with at least 500 minutes played in those situations, having logged more ice time than all but one forward ahead of him. As a result, the gritty American has an outside shot at being voted a Hart finalist.4. Mikko Rantanen Matthew Stockman / Getty Images Sport / GettyGPGAATOIxGF%50342722:5151.65The injury-riddled Colorado Avalanche are getting healthier, so they're no longer relying as heavily on Rantanen. Still, the Finnish forward continues to provide the defending champions with tremendous value.Rantanen leads all NHL forwards - yes, even McDavid - in average ice time and ranks second in the league in even-strength goals. He's racked up eight tallies and five assists in the 13 games since our last edition. His xGF% is the least flattering of anyone in this top five, but he's helping Colorado control a greater share (55.23%) of the scoring chances when he's been on the ice at five-on-five.The Avalanche star is outscoring his closest teammate by 19 goals while outproducing the second-best Avalanche skater by six points. Injuries have factored into that, but those disparities continue to illustrate how critical Rantanen has been in keeping his injury-ravaged team afloat.3. Jack Hughes Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyGPGAATOIxGF%50353220:1059.73Hughes is now considered week-to-week due to injury, but New Jersey Devils head coach Lindy Ruff expects his absence to be on the shorter end. In addition, Hughes deserves to be recognized for how critical he's been to his team's success so far. The club's catalyst leads the league in both WAR and GAR, sits atop the NHL in even-strength goals, and ranks second in even-strength points - all astounding trends for a player who's turning 22 in May.His terrific underlying figures don't end with his WAR and GAR, either. Among forwards with at least 500 minutes logged at five-on-five, Hughes' xGF% ranks 12th, and his SCF% (59.7) slots in at 10th.Hughes has collected 14 more goals and 15 more points than his closest teammates, and he registered 11 goals and 10 assists in the 11 games since our previous edition. The American sits third in shots on goal among all NHL skaters, and he ranks among the league's best in the Maurice "Rocket" Richard and Art Ross Trophy races. Hughes has been exceedingly valuable, and he'd be the clear Hart runner-up at this point if not for the injury that could keep him out for a handful of games or more.2. David Pastrnak Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPGAATOIxGF%51383419:4454.22Pastrnak has been in MVP contention all season long - not just because of how good he's been, but because of how much better he's played than his Boston Bruins teammates. That's a remarkable feat considering those teammates are Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, and Charlie McAvoy, along with Linus Ullmark, the clear Vezina Trophy favorite.Pastrnak racked up 11 goals and nine assists in the 13 games since we last evaluated this race, with a whopping 20 more goals and 26 more points than any other Bruins skater. He was stellar when Marchand and McAvoy missed time due to injuries at the start of the campaign, and he hasn't slowed down since.The Czech playmaker sits second in the NHL in goals and fourth in points. At even strength, Pastrnak is joint fourth in goals and joint eighth in points. He also leads the league in shots on goal. Ullmark's sterling campaign and the Bruins' status as the NHL's best team have hurt Pastrnak's Hart bid to a degree, but his consistently potent play - especially relative to his team - makes him a serious contender.1. Connor McDavid Jim McIsaac / Getty Images Sport / GettyGPGAATOIxGF%52415322:3956.71Everyone knows there's more to hockey than goals, assists, and points. But when a player like McDavid has an 18-point lead while pacing the league in tallies and ranking joint second in helpers, it's important not to overthink when it comes to MVP voting.It's not just his conventional stats that warrant recognition, either. Only two players have more WAR than McDavid this season, and only four have more GAR. His SCF% (56.13) is nearly identical to his xGF%, and he sits fifth in the NHL in individual expected goals.Other contenders have excelled with less support than the Edmonton Oilers captain has had (having Leon Draisaitl helps), but no one's done more, and that can't be ignored. McDavid has simply been too dominant to place him anywhere but in the top spot.(Analytics sources: Natural Stat Trick, Evolving Hockey)Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vegas Golden Knights netminder Logan Thompson departed Thursday's game against the Minnesota Wild after suffering an apparent injury.Thompson appeared to hurt himself on a non-contact play. He didn't put any weight on his left leg as he exited the ice.

The New Jersey Devils and the Carolina Hurricanes are among several teams interested in San Jose Sharks winger Timo Meier, reports TSN's Pierre LeBrun.Meier was previously reported to be the top deadline target of the New York Rangers, but with the Blueshirts landing Vladimir Tarasenko on Thursday, they're likely out of the running for Meier.The 26-year-old power forward has recorded 30 goals, 21 assists, 232 shots, and 109 hits in 52 games with the Sharks this season. He carries a $6-million cap hit this year and is a pending restricted free agent. His qualifying offer will be $10 million this summer, and he could walk to unrestricted free agency in 2024. With San Jose well out of the playoff picture, the team is expected to move Meier.The Canes and Devils rank first and second, respectively, in the Metropolitan Division.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vladi's off to the Big Apple.On Thursday afternoon, the New York Rangers acquired pending unrestricted free-agent forward Vladimir Tarasenko and defenseman Niko Mikkola from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for a conditional 2023 first-round pick, a conditional 2024 fourth-rounder, forward Sammy Blais, and defenseman Hunter Skinner.The conditions: The first-rounder will be the later pick of New York's two 2023 firsts (their own and Dallas'), while the fourth-rounder becomes a third if the Rangers make the playoffs. Also of note: the Blues are retaining 50% of Tarasenko's remaining salary and cap hit. The Russian makes $7.5 million.Let's dig into the two perspectives of the deal and some league-wide takeaways.Rangers' side of the deal Steph Chambers / Getty ImagesNew York just landed its missing puzzle piece up front.Before the trade, the Rangers' top six featured a world-class playmaker in Artemi Panarin, a proven sniper in Mika Zibanejad, two net-front menaces with scoring touch in Vincent Trocheck and Chris Kreider, and a reliable puck hound in Barclay Goodrow. The sixth guy? The replaceable Jimmy Vesey.After the trade, the top six now includes a second high-end finisher in Tarasenko. His arrival takes the pressure off the so-called Kid Line - Filip Chytil between Alexis Lafreniere and Kaapo Kakko - and opens the door for improvement both at five-on-five, where the Rangers rank 15th in the NHL in goals for per 60 minutes, and on the power play, where they rank 24th.More specifically, the Rangers' top players hammer the slot area with passes. (Panarin is fourth among NHLers in passes to the slot per game, while defenseman Adam Fox ranks 15th.) And guess who loves to tee off on slot passes? Tarasenko, who's scored 30 goals six times and has a lightning-quick release. Scott Rovak / Getty ImagesTarasenko scored 182 times in 395 games from 2014-15 through the 2018-19 season. Over that stretch, only Alex Ovechkin and John Tavares racked up more goals. Having undergone multiple shoulder surgeries over the past few years, Tarasenko, 31, is no longer that caliber of game-breaker. Yet the left-shooting right winger did establish a new career high in points last season (82 in 75 games) and pitched in 29 points in 38 contests this season for the Blues.Mikkola, meanwhile, is a 6-foot-4 depth defenseman who'll join Braden Schneider on the Rangers' bottom pairing, bumping Ben Harpur to the press box. Teams tend to need eight or nine capable defensemen over long playoff runs, so Mikkola essentially kills two birds with one stone for New York.The package going to St. Louis is fine. It sucks to depart with a 2023 first, but the Rangers had two. General manager Chris Drury certainly didn't overpay for Tarasenko, a Stanley Cup winner, and Mikkola. And acting this early helped Drury avoid an escalating bidding war in the final days before the deadline.Grade: A-Blues' side of the deal Scott Rovak / Getty ImagesAs a seller, you want to hang your hat on something in the return package.In this instance, assuming nothing weird happens down the stretch and both the Rangers and Stars make the playoffs, Blues GM Doug Armstrong's crown jewel will be a mid-to-late first-rounder. That's a nice asset to hang your hat on if the rest of the package is juicy. That's unfortunately not the case here.In other words, the Blues didn't hit a home run with this deal. It's at best a sliding double, and a single at worst.I get that the market might not have been robust for Tarasenko, given the veteran's injury history and the no-trade protection baked into his contract. But a mid-to-late first, a mid-rounder, a fringe NHL forward (Blais), and a mediocre defense prospect (Skinner) for Tarasenko and the useful Mikkola doesn't deserve heaps of praise. And St. Louis lent a hand by retaining salary.From afar, there are a few reasons why this move, at this time, makes sense for Armstrong. Tarasenko, who wasn't re-signing with the Blues this coming offseason, was exposed in the Seattle expansion draft in 2021 and had seemingly been in the rumor mill for years. Everybody knew he was available; few wanted him. So, it was time to rip the Band-Aid off and wave the white flag for this dreadful season - St. Louis is nine points out of the playoffs - and the 2019 Cup-winning core. Ryan O'Reilly and Ivan Barbashev could be next.Armstrong knows Blais, a former Blue. Familiarity helps. I'm sure the scouting staff sees something in Skinner. Overall, though, the return was nothing special.Grade: C+League-wide takeaways Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesThe deadline is three weeks away, and already Tarasenko and center Bo Horvat have changed addresses. The premium forward market is thinning.There's no guarantee Patrick Kane or Jonathan Toews waive their no-trade clauses, but they very well could hit the trade block at some point before March 3. The Rangers had been linked to Kane, in particular, and opted to pounce on Tarasenko instead. They got ahead of it. How do their rivals react?Do GMs panic and overpay for one of the Chicago Blackhawk forwards? Chase after O'Reilly on the Blues? End up with a second-tier rental forward?Another trickle-down from the Tarasenko deal (and, to a lesser extent, the Horvat move) is that it provides a roadmap for a Timo Meier trade. It's not quite apples to apples: The San Jose Sharks star winger is a pending restricted free agent, not a UFA; he's also five years younger and more productive than Tarasenko. Still, there are enough similarities to compare the two transactions.The Sharks should be able to reel in an equivalent package to what the Blues received for Tarasenko and Mikkola, plus another significant asset, whether it be a second first-rounder or blue-chip prospect. Yep, Meier won't be cheap.Buckle up.John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter (@MatiszJohn) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas is in the final year of his contract but isn't prepared to move significant future pieces for short-term help at the upcoming trade deadline."There are some players and some draft pick capital that we have that are extremely valuable that we'd be hard-pressed to move on from," Dubas said Thursday."I think in regards to rentals, I can't see that happening," Dubas added. "But with regards to other options, I don't think you say no off the hop to anything, but those are very important pieces to us for now and in the future."Dubas said he's interested in upgrading forward and defense ahead of the March 3 deadline."Up front and on D, if there's a way that we can improve the team and give ourselves a chance to make a run at it, then we'll do that," Dubas said.However, the GM tempered expectations for who Toronto could acquire, with stars like Patrick Kane, Ryan O'Reilly, and Timo Meier rumored to be available."The larger focus is always on the bigger names, but we have to look at the people who may improve us overall and not just the big names, per se," Dubas said.The Maple Leafs return from their All-Star break Friday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Toronto ranks second in the Atlantic Division with a 31-13-8 record.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Flyers head coach John Tortorella didn't anticipate how much work defensively the team would need to put in with blue-liner Tony DeAngelo when Philadelphia acquired him from the Carolina Hurricanes this past offseason."Last team he played for - Carolina - I think they could absorb some of that with their roster as far as maybe some of his deficiencies defensively," Tortorella said Thursday, according to The Athletic's Charlie O'Connor. "It kind of sticks out more with us."The Flyers acquired DeAngelo and a seventh-rounder from the Hurricanes in exchange for a second-, third-, and fourth-round pick. Philadelphia then signed DeAngelo to a two-year, $10-million contract.DeAngelo's most frequent partner last season was Jaccob Slavin, who's among the league's best shutdown defenders. This season, DeAngelo has played primarily with Ivan Provorov and Travis Sanheim."I think he's done some great things for us here," Tortorella said. "It's just ... we want to try to help him and we feel he needs to get better defensively without taking away any of that great offensive ability he has."We know what Tony is. I'm a little bit - not disappointed - but the defensive liability is something we need to work at. I didn't think the amount of work that we need to do with him ... I didn't think that at the point in time that we got him. But it is what it is."DeAngelo has recorded a respectable 31 points in 47 games this season. However, his minus-12.3 defensive goals above replacement is the worst among all NHL skaters, according to Evolving-Hockey. The next worst is John Klingberg at minus-8.9.Last season, DeAngelo's defensive goals above replacement was a much more tolerable minus-2.6. The 27-year-old has never posted a positive defensive goals above replacement in a single season during his seven-year career.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The St. Louis Blues traded forward Vladimir Tarasenko and defenseman Niko Mikkola to the New York Rangers in exchange for winger Sammy Blais, prospect Hunter Skinner, a conditional 2023 first-round pick, and a conditional fourth-round selection in 2024, the teams announced Thursday.St. Louis is also retaining 50% of Tarasenko's salary, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman. A pending unrestricted free agent, Tarasenko is playing out the last season of an eight-year pact with a $7.5-million cap hit.The Rangers had two 2023 first-round selections after acquiring the Dallas Stars' pick in the deal for Nils Lundkvist. The Blues will receive whichever of the two picks comes later, while the 2024 fourth-round pick will become a third-rounder if the Rangers make the playoffs this season.New York general manager Chris Drury said Tarasenko and Mikkola will play Friday against the Seattle Kraken, according to The Athletic's Arthur Staple.Tarasenko's 29 points (10 goals, 19 assists) in 38 games this season were the fifth most on the Blues. He was sidelined for 10 games after sustaining a hand injury on Dec. 31.Tarasenko was a longtime target of the Rangers, and the team opted to make a push for him after feeling the costs for Timo Meier and Patrick Kane were too high, reports ESPN's Emily Kaplan.New York sits third in the Metropolitan Division with a 29-14-8 record. The Rangers needed some help up front, ranking 15th in the league with 164 goals this season.Tarasenko reportedly requested a trade out of St. Louis in July 2021, but nothing materialized. Tarasenko supposedly lost trust in the team over how it handled two of his three shoulder surgeries. Team physicians operated on the six-time 30-goal scorer's shoulder in 2018 and 2019. In 2020, doctors from outside the organization performed an additional procedure after the ligament damage from the original injury wasn't fixed during the first two surgeries.The winger was limited to just 34 games across the 2019-20 and 2020-21 campaigns, but he enjoyed a resurgence last season, leading St. Louis with 82 points in 75 games.The 31-year-old was instrumental during the Blues' run to the Stanley Cup in 2019, chipping in with 17 points (11 goals, six assists) in 26 playoff games, including two game-winners.When asked about his uncertain outlook during last weekend’s All-Star festivities, the veteran simply responded, "Even Vladi doesn't know the future of Vladi," according to The Athletic’s Jeremy Rutherford.The Blues are in a state of flux. They own a 23-25-3 record and are currently nine points out of the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference. Captain Ryan O'Reilly can become an unrestricted free agent in a few months and may also be on the move with the trade deadline just a few weeks away.As for the other piece headed to the Rangers in the deal, Mikkola, 26, put up three assists in 50 games with St. Louis this season while averaging 16:39 minutes of ice time per night.Blues fans are already familiar with Blais, who has five helpers in 40 contests this campaign. St. Louis dealt him to New York in July 2021 as part of the trade that sent Pavel Buchnevich to the Blues. Blais, 26, put up 35 points through 119 games during his first St. Louis stint. He was limited to just 14 games last season in the Big Apple after suffering a torn ACL.The Rangers selected Skinner in the fourth round of the 2019 draft. The 6-foot-3 blue-liner has eight points in the ECHL this season, as well as two assists in eight games with the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced a two-year, $2.2-million extension for defenseman Conor Timmins on Thursday.Timmins was scheduled for restricted free agency after this season. His current deal pays him $850,000.The Maple Leafs acquired Timmins in a trade with the Arizona Coyotes in November as they dealt with numerous injuries to their blue line. Toronto sent AHLer Curtis Douglas the other way.Timmins only appeared in two games with the Coyotes before the trade but has carved out a more regular role since arriving in Toronto. The 24-year-old has notched 12 points in 20 appearances with the Leafs while averaging 15:41 per contest.With Timmins signed, Toronto's remaining blue-liners playing on expiring contracts are Justin Holl and Jordie Benn.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar announced superstar defenseman Cale Makar will miss at least two games with a head injury, according to The Athletic's Peter Baugh.Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jeff Carter hit Makar high in Tuesday's overtime loss. He briefly left the contest but ultimately returned.

New Jersey Devils head coach Lindy Ruff announced star forward Jack Hughes is week-to-week with an upper-body injury, according to team reporter Amanda Stein.Hughes, 21, is in the midst of a career season with 35 goals and 67 points in 50 contests.He played 21:44 during the Devils' 5-4 overtime win over the Vancouver Canucks on Monday and recorded three points in the victory, including an assist on Jesper Bratt's game-winner.Hughes left Wednesday's practice early after taking Tuesday off due to upper-body soreness.He was the Devils' sole representative during the All-Star Game last weekend, logging just under six minutes of ice time during the Metropolitan Division's defeat at the hands of the Atlantic.Ruff added that he thinks Hughes' recovery timeline will be on the shorter end, given that "he's a young guy."His absence is a major blow to a Devils team that currently holds the second-place spot in the Metropolitan with a 33-13-4 record. Hughes leads the entire league in goals above replacement (20.4) and wins above replacement (3.4), per Evolving-Hockey.Hughes was on a nine-game point streak before the injury.Drafted by New Jersey with the first overall pick in 2019, Hughes has 175 points in 216 career contests.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We have a juicy seven-game slate on the docket for Thursday night. Let's take a closer look at the best way to attack it.Flames (-165) @ Red Wings (+140)Goals, goals, goals. That's what I'm expecting to see early in this game.The Calgary Flames have played consistently high-event first periods all season long, scoring 56 goals in the opening frame this year - only the Tampa Bay Lightning have put up more.It just so happens that the Flames' opponents tonight, the Detroit Red Wings, rank inside the bottom 10 in first-period goals against on a per-game basis. Slow starts have plagued them the whole season.With Ville Husso struggling - he owns a .893 save percentage since the calendar flipped - one would think the Flames will continue to find the back of the net early.However, keeping the puck out figures to be more problematic. Calgary has allowed 52 goals in the first period this season, which is more than all but the Vancouver Canucks, Anaheim Ducks, San Jose Sharks, and Ottawa Senators - not the company you want to be in.That likely has a lot to do with the inconsistent goaltending the Flames have dealt with for the majority of the campaign. Life won't be any easier on the starter in this game - likely Daniel Vladar since Rasmus Andersson will not play. Andersson leads the Flames' blueline in goals above replacement (+6.1), so that absence will be felt.With a total of 6.5, goals are expected here. Given the tendencies of these teams generally lead to early fireworks, backing over 1.5 first-period goals seems like the best way to attack this game.Bet: Over 1.5 1st-period goals (-130)Golden Knights (+105) @ Wild (-125)The Vegas Golden Knights are coming off a strong road win over the Nashville Predators. After falling behind early, the Knights responded by scoring five straight en route to a blowout victory.Perhaps more impressive than the scoreline was Vegas' defensive prowess. The team held the Predators to just six - yes, six - shots on goal through 40 minutes of play and suffocated their attack throughout.While the Golden Knights deserve full credit for that performance, it's important not to let recency bias take over. Vegas has played largely underwhelming hockey for quite some time, especially without captain Mark Stone.The Knights have won just twice in nine tries without Stone in their lineup and have really struggled to put the puck in the net, scoring two goals or less on six different occasions.Even in a back-to-back situation, the Minnesota Wild are hardly an ideal opponent for a team struggling to generate offense: They rank first in high-danger chances against at five-on-five and are top-10 in terms of goals against.If not for a rocky start to the year from Marc-Andre Fleury, who has played much better since mid-December, they might sit inside the top five.Although creating offense probably won't exactly be a walk in the park for Minnesota either - the Golden Knights are really leaning into a low-event style of game - the Wild have been much more productive on home ice this season.I see value in backing Minnesota to grind out a much-needed win in its own building.Bet: Wild (-125)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 have a fun seven-game slate to look forward to on Thursday night. Let's waste no time getting to a few props that stand out from the pack.Evander Kane over 3.5 shots (+115)Coming off a severe wrist injury, I had concerns about Kane's willingness to rip pucks on net every opportunity he gets. He's erased those doubts with his play since rejoining the lineup.Kane has attempted 36 shots over his last five games played, which equates to 7.2 attempts per contest. That's actually more than his season average of 6.7, which was already a strong number.I expect him to continue shooting early and often in a juicy matchup against the Flyers. They rank 29th in shot suppression at five-on-five over the last 10 games. Kane doesn't play on the top power-play unit, so a weak five-on-five side is more beneficial to him than a team that parades to the box or struggles to kill penalties.It's also worth noting the Flyers sit 26th in shots against per game versus left-wingers. That's their worst ranking against any position.There's a lot of value backing Kane at this price.Noah Dobson over 2.5 shots (-105)Dobson is a player I really like backing on home soil. He's averaged 3.3 shots and 7.2 attempts on Long Island this season while going over his shot total an impressive 60% of the time.His numbers have fallen off a cliff on the road. He's averaging only 2.2 shots and 5.3 attempts away from home this season. Unsurprisingly, that has led to a success rate 16% lower than his home outputs.On Thursday night, Dobson finds himself on home soil with an enticing matchup against the Canucks. Although they have tightened up a little bit - in terms of preventing shots, anyway - under new head coach Rick Tocchet, their personnel isn't good, and they're on a road back-to-back against an Islanders team in need of every point it can get.I expect the Islanders to control the run of play in this game and fire a lot of pucks on goal. Dobson should get his fair share.Kirill Kaprizov over 3.5 shots (-115)If you thought Dobson's home/road splits were wild, wait until I get to Kaprizov's. It doesn't much matter who he's facing on a given night; it only matters where the game will take place.Kaprizov has averaged 3.2 shots per game on the road this season and hit the over on his total a putrid 31% of the time. It's a drastically different story in Minnesota, where Kaprizov averages 4.3 shots and has hit the over at an impressive 63% clip.His productivity booms when head coach Dean Evason can keep him away from the opposing team's top defensive players and get him on the ice in more advantageous situations. Kaprizov will benefit from that luxury tonight.With the Wild in the midst of a rut and on the verge of seeing their playoff spot slip away, Kaprizov will no doubt get all the ice he can handle as Minnesota looks to begin its homestand on a positive note.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 Calgary Flames announced defenseman Rasmus Andersson is day-to-day after he was struck by a vehicle Wednesday in Detroit.Andersson was riding a scooter to dinner when the incident occurred. He was taken to a local hospital and underwent a series of tests before being released. He will remain with the team."He's doing well and is in good spirits," general manager Brad Treliving said, according to Sportsnet's Eric Francis. "He's very lucky - it certainly could have been a lot worse. He's a little rattled. ... He won't play tonight and then we'll see. No injuries we are overly concerned about, but we will see."The Flames play the Red Wings on Thursday night in the third leg of a five-game road trip.Andersson is the Flames' top right-side defenseman. The 26-year-old has registered 34 points in 51 games this season while leading the club with 24:41 of ice time per contest.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Welcome to the fifth edition of theScore's 2022-23 Norris Trophy Rankings and the fourth 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.

Edmonton Oilers general manager Ken Holland said the salary cap is the biggest hurdle to making moves prior to the March 3 trade deadline."Whether it's forwards or defense, it's my job to be aware of who is available and eventually what the price might be," Holland said on TSN's "Got Yer Back" podcast Wednesday."(Regardless) of names, we're dollar in, dollar out, so (if) we start bringing in people with big cap numbers, we're going to have to do some real gymnastics here to move people out. When you're in a (long-term injury) situation like we are, it's much more difficult at the trade deadline. I would like to do something. Am I convinced I will do something? I don't know."The Oilers have $1.125 million in wiggle room, according to Cap Friendly, but they face an impending roster move as Kailer Yamamoto's $3.1-million cap hit can be activated off long-term injured reserve as early as Saturday."Once Yamamoto comes off LTI and no one else goes on, I've got some real difficult decisions to make," said Holland. "All of our bottom-of-the-roster players are going to be involved in that decision to decide. They all can't stay."The Oilers positioned themselves to be buyers at the deadline with an 8-1-1 run ahead of the All-Star break. Edmonton holds the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference but is only two points off the Pacific Division lead with games in hand on two of three teams ahead of it.At last year's deadline, the Oilers made a pair of depth acquisitions in Derick Brassard and Brett Kulak. It's unclear which direction Holland will go this time around, but Edmonton has recently been linked to Chicago Blackhawks blue-liners Jake McCabe and Connor Murphy.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tuesday night was another split for our best bets. The Edmonton Oilers picked up a relatively sweat-free regulation win over the Detroit Red Wings, but the Colorado Avalanche blew their lead late in Pittsburgh and could not get the job done in overtime.Let's take a closer look at three plays that stand out for Wednesday's pint-sized slate.Wild (+115) @ Stars (-135)Going with the under on a low total (5.5) is a scary proposition when snipers like Kirill Kaprizov and Jason Robertson are featured in a game ... but that's just what we're going to do!These teams are all about defense. No side has been better at limiting high-danger chances at five-on-five this season than the Minnesota Wild. That's right - not even the Boston Bruins or Carolina Hurricanes have prevented quality scoring opportunities more efficiently.Meanwhile, the Dallas Stars have flipped the switch lately, ranking first in high-danger chances against per 60 over the last 10 games. The Stars are giving up nothing right now.Strong chance suppression alone isn't enough to get me on the under when guys like Kaprizov and Robertson can simply take advantage of any opportunities that come their way. I also need goaltending, which this game should have in spadesFilip Gustavsson has been one of the league's biggest surprises between the pipes, owning a .922 save percentage in a season where the league average sits at .901.As good as those numbers are, his goals saved above expected mark looks even better. Only Linus Ullmark, Ilya Sorokin, and Juuse Saros rank ahead of Gustavsson on a per-game basis.Gustavsson's expected counterpart Jake Oettinger is sitting right there with him. Oettinger's save percentage ranks a little higher at .925, but he lags just behind in GSAE.But both goaltenders have been extremely good, no matter the metric you look at. With Gustavsson playing behind one of the NHL's best five-on-five defenses this season and Oettinger backing one of the league's best five-on-five defenses of late, goals should come at a premium in this one.Bet: Under 5.5 (+100)Jason Robertson over 3.5 shots (-120)Robertson is about as good as it gets on home soil. He has piled up 115 shots in Dallas this season, which is more than all but David Pastrnak and Timo Meier have amassed in their own buildings.Robertson has averaged 4.6 shots per game in Dallas and hit the over on his shot total a whopping 68% of the time. That's a big step up from his numbers on the road, where he finds success only 44% of the time.While the Wild are a strong defensive team, they have a couple weaknesses that play into Robertson's hands.Chief among them is their inability to stay out of the box. Only six teams have spent more time shorthanded on a per-game basis. If we isolate the last 10 games for a better idea of the current picture, that list shrinks to three.Minnesota tends to take more than its fair share of penalties, and Robertson will benefit from that the most - his bread and butter is hammering pucks on the power play.It's also worth noting Robertson has generated at least five shots on goal and eight attempts in four straight meetings against the Wild.Miro Heiskanen over 2.5 shots (-120)We're double dipping with the Stars and backing Miro Heiskanen as well. Heiskanen is a favorite go-to defender because he often doesn't even need to be efficient to get the job done - he logs more than 25 minutes per night.Like Robertson, Heiskanen has been a completely different animal on home ice. The smooth-skating rearguard has generated three shots or more 70% of the time at the American Airlines Center.The Wild's defensive prowess hasn't slowed Heiskanen down in recent games, as he's gone over his shot total in four of the last five against Minnesota.In a clash between the No. 1 and No. 3 seeds in the Central Division, Heiskanen should get all the ice he can handle in a game of such importance - especially considering he has only had to suit up once since January 27th. He should be well-rested and ready to go.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.

Patrick Kane isn't quite ready to end his time with the Chicago Blackhawks, but he's planning on soaking in every remaining moment at the United Center before the March 3 deadline, just in case."You’ll probably cherish these five games a little more before the deadline just not knowing what’s going to happen," Kane said before Tuesday's contest, according to The Athletic's Scott Powers."It’s always exciting playing at home, always love playing at the United Center in front of the crowd here. Yeah, kind of wish you had a little bit more time here this month, but it is what it is, and cherish all these games."Kane has been linked to trade discussions all season as he plays out the final year of his contract with the rebuilding Blackhawks. He has a full no-movement clause, so whether he departs is up to him. That said, he's yet to decide - but the deadline is around the corner."It’s tough to decide if we’re getting to that point yet, so I think there’s definitely opportunities out there that are intriguing and could be exciting," Kane said recently. "We'll see."Kane is amid the least productive season of his career, with 35 points in 46 games. Still, he's expected to garner plenty of interest from contenders due to his impeccable playoff resume. In 136 career postseason games, Kane's registered 132 points, including 11 game-winning goals, along with three Stanley Cups and a Conn Smythe.Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews, who has a matching contract with Kane, is also rumored to be on the move but hasn't decided on his future yet, either.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sidney Crosby settled into his chair last Friday, gazed at a group of eager reporters, and flashed his patented aw-shucks grin. His plain outfit - white T-shirt, black jeans, comfortable sneakers - matched his tidy mop of hair and scruffy yet short beard. He very much looked like Sid the Kid, only a little older now.In a stately, unimpeachable kind of way, Crosby is still the NHL's lead ambassador. His play remains elite. His words continue to carry weight. He just happens to be 35 years old and in the middle of his 18th pro season. Joel Auerbach / Getty ImagesAt All-Star Weekend in Sunrise, Florida, the Pittsburgh Penguins captain was asked about playoff races, the postseason format, and sharing the ice and a dressing room with longtime frenemy Alex Ovechkin. The conversation eventually turned to 26-year-old Connor McDavid - who surpassed Crosby as the consensus best player on the planet a few seasons ago - then to 17-year-old Connor Bedard."I had a chance to skate with him last summer and, yeah, just no weaknesses," Crosby said of Bedard, the next hockey phenom out of Canada. "It's pretty cool to see someone at that age be as dominant as he is."Survey NHL stars about late-career Crosby and similar responses flow in: It's pretty cool to see someone at that age be as dominant as he is."The longevity," Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar said."One of the most complete players in the game," said Nathan MacKinnon, Makar's teammate and one of Crosby's closest pals."He has that presence when he steps on the ice. You just know he's out there, and there's only three or four guys like that in the entire league," Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin said. "He still has that aura."Added Vegas Golden Knights forward Chandler Stephenson: "He's the captain and the guy you'd want on your team - 10 times out of 10." Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesBorn on Aug. 7, 1987, Crosby is the 42nd-oldest player among the 945 to appear in at least one NHL game this season. Overall, he's tied with Mikko Rantanen for 10th in points (61 in 50 games) and is on pace to record his seventh 100-point season. The only players aged 35 and older enjoying campaigns on par with Crosby's? Ovechkin and Patrice Bergeron.Crosby has evolved as the sport's skill level and pace of play have ratcheted up during the salary-cap era. As McDavid put it, Crosby has made a habit of introducing "little tweaks" to delay any meaningful decline, seemingly always adjusting before the opposition can key in on a flaw. "Little different things here and there to keep opponents guessing," McDavid said. "He's done that time and time again. It's amazing to see."In 2023, Crosby is slightly less dynamic and physical than his younger self. Yet the foundation and spirit of his game have barely changed. The two-way center with three Stanley Cup rings, a pair of Olympic gold medals, and a trophy case full of individual awards is still one of the NHL's smartest, most efficient players and a feared, below-the-hash-marks grinder."He's like a little bull," Edmonton Oilers superstar Leon Draisaitl said of the 5-foot-11, 200-pound Crosby's low center of gravity. "He's so strong on his skates. You can't knock him over. He's just so balanced.""He can kill you in so many different areas, whether it's puck protection in the corner or net-front battles tipping pucks," said the 24-year-old Makar, who grew up idolizing No. 87 for his hockey IQ. "You always have to be aware of where he is.""You could hit him as hard as you want, and he's not getting off that puck," said Adam Fox, a defenseman for the Metropolitan Division rival New York Rangers. Fox later added: "His brain isn't slowing down, either. He's one of the toughest guys to defend in the league." Jeff Bottari / Getty ImagesConcussions disrupted the first half of Crosby's career, forcing him to consider retirement for a stretch in his mid-20s. A decade later, there don't appear to be any red flags surrounding his health. The passion to compete still burns bright, and the motivation to chase a fourth Cup remains alive. He'll be a month shy of 38 when his 12-year, $104.4-million contract expires in 2025."The second half of his career, he's stayed really healthy. I don't know when he's going to stop playing," MacKinnon said of Crosby, adding that the fellow Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, native is "a little bit more chill" as a veteran star.Which part of Crosby's repertoire does MacKinnon nerd out on?"The way he thinks the game. And that's in his own brain, so you can't really copy that," MacKinnon said. "But he plays at his own pace out there. He really controls the tempo of the game when he's on the ice, which is hard to do. It's not always with his speed or his power, just the way he's always in the right spots."The relaxed setting of All-Star Weekend offered a rare in-season opportunity to mingle with rivals. Crosby's hockey stick was an item of curiosity for several players. The shaft is short and stiff, and the blade sports hardly any curve. The tool used to pot 1,470 points in 1,158 career games, not to mention the 2010 Olympic golden goal for Canada, is both iconic and an anachronism."Anything that had the Crosby name on it, I wanted in my hands," Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner, 25, said of using Reebok sticks as a kid. "It's cool now to be in the locker room with him and be kind of shooting the crap." Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesAsked if he'd ever use Crosby's stick in a game, Larkin laughed and said "no chance." It simply doesn't have enough whip or flex. Larkin would rather marvel from afar, as would Elias Pettersson."When I was like 16, 17," said the 24-year-old Vancouver Canucks forward, "I switched to a more straighter blade. I played my worst hockey. I could barely shoot. I learned my lesson."Along with Draisaitl and Patrick Kane, Crosby is on the shortlist for best backhand in the NHL. "His backhand and forehand, it's almost the same thing," said David Pastrnak of the Boston Bruins. Crosby often combines quick footwork and extreme leg power - his thighs, for one, are legendarily large - to befuddle defenders and then deliver a nifty backhand pass or shot."He's competitive as hell," Marner said.New York Islanders forward Brock Nelson notes Crosby couldn't have maintained a world-class standard for nearly two decades if he didn't obsess over his craft on a daily basis, honing in on the smallest of details. "The fact that Sid is having another big year doesn't surprise me," he said. Joe Sargent / Getty ImagesMcDavid and local favorites Matthew Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov attracted plenty of attention last week in South Florida. However, Crosby and Ovechkin, faces of the league for so long, were the true rock stars behind the scenes. They remain untouchables, hockey celebrities to many of their peers."You say hi, but at the same time, they are big names. You don't want to bother them too much, right?" said Pastrnak, who's in his ninth NHL season and is fourth in league scoring."Anytime you get to talk to and be in the presence of somebody like that, that's such a legend, it's pretty awesome," Makar said."One day they won't be here, and it won't feel like an All-Star Game," MacKinnon said.Jack Hughes has lost count of the number of times his New Jersey Devils have faced off against Crosby and the Penguins. The teams played each other on eight occasions in the 2020-21 pandemic-shortened season alone. Yet the shine of lining up across from Crosby hasn't worn off."He's still got it," the 21-year-old said. "You walk into Pittsburgh, and you're playing Sid. He was the best when I was growing up."It's pretty cool he's still doing it at this age."John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter (@MatiszJohn) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Welcome to the fourth in-season edition of theScore's 2022-23 Vezina Trophy rankings. We have one surging newcomer on this list, while four positions remain unchanged from last month. The All-Star break left us with a smaller sample size than usual, making it difficult for our candidates to separate themselves from their peers.GSAA = Goals saved above average

Bo Horvat expressed his gratitude to New York Islanders supporters after they chanted the trade acquisition's name during his home debut with the club Tuesday night."It was pretty amazing," Horvat said postgame. "I haven't had a chant like that in a building that loud in, I don't think ever."The fans at UBS Arena gave Horvat a standing ovation after he scored his first goal for the Islanders in his second game with the squad.

Cale Makar was none too pleased that a dangerous-looking collision with Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jeff Carter went without a penalty in the Colorado Avalanche's overtime loss Tuesday."Pretty blindside," the defenseman said, according to The Athletic's Peter Baugh. "The ref said apparently we ran into each other, but I don't know how that's possible. He was coming down the ice."Avalanche coach Jared Bednar was similarly upset with the non-call."(Carter) skated right through his head," Bednar said, via Baugh. "That's what I saw."Carter's shoulder caught Makar high midway through the third period. The officials ruled the collision incidental contact, and Carter wasn't assessed a penalty on the play. Makar was forced to the locker room but returned prior to the end of regulation.

The 2022-23 NHL campaign is past its halfway point, and the Calder Trophy race keeps chugging along.Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov made some noise in the last edition of these rankings, but the return of Frederik Andersen sabotaged his playing time - the rookie hasn't played since Jan. 15. Edmonton Oilers All-Star Stuart Skinner has been on the fringes of this list all season, but he only got into five games in January - and only earned one win - thanks in part to the reemergence of Jack Campbell. It's difficult to justify giving spots to rookies who aren't playing much.In this edition, two forwards make their debuts on the list.5. Mason McTavish, Ducks Debora Robinson / National Hockey League / GettyGPGPATOI50102815:17Welcome to rankings, McTavish.The Ducks forward's 17 points in 27 games are the most among rookies since Dec. 1. Thanks to his wintery push, McTavish now ranks third in rookie scoring and is one point behind Winnipeg Jets forward Cole Perfetti for second place. He's also tied with Columbus Blue Jackets youngster Kent Johnson for the fifth-most goals in the class.What's more, after bouncing around as a winger and a bottom-six pivot throughout the first few months of the season, McTavish earned his first spin as Anaheim's No. 1 center on Jan. 4 against the Dallas Stars. He rewarded his coaching staff's faith with a goal and an assist in a 2-0 victory.McTavish kept rolling two days later against the San Jose Sharks in his second straight game on the top line, becoming the first rookie to have a four-point game this season. Though he cooled off with two points in his last nine contests to close out January, McTavish stayed put as the Ducks' first-line center for the remainder of the month.A window of opportunity has officially opened for the 2022 World Junior Championship MVP, and he's been a bright spot for the struggling Ducks. Time will tell if he can build a compelling Calder case in the second half of the campaign.4. Kirill Marchenko, Blue Jackets Ben Jackson / National Hockey League / GettyGPGPATOI28131313:33We're not sure if Marchenko will garner much Calder Trophy love from the people who determine the winner - the members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association - but we're giving him a spot here.One thing's for certain: Marchenko can fill the back of the net. He's currently tied for the second-most goals in the rookie class alongside Stars youngster Wyatt Johnston despite playing in 24 fewer games. Marchenko's 2.06 goals per 60 minutes at all strengths constitute the fifth-highest mark in the league among players to suit up for at least 20 games, trailing the likes of David Pastrnak, Connor McDavid, Tage Thompson, and Jason Robertson. That's decent company to be in.It's pretty weird that Marchenko, 22, has yet to register an assist. The Russian winger is one of three players in NHL history to have his first 13 career points come as goals, joining John McKinnon (13 in 1926-27) and Joe Malone (16 in 1917-18). He also tops all rookies with six power-play goals, was the first rookie to score a hat trick this season, and averages the least ice time of any first-year player to reach the 10-goal mark so far this campaign.Marchenko spent the first few months of the season in the AHL and didn't make his NHL debut until Dec. 6. Who knows what his numbers would look like over a full campaign? We assume world domination.3. Logan Thompson, Golden Knights Rich Graessle / National Hockey League / GettyGPSV%GAASO35.9132.692Thompson and the Golden Knights aren't the dominant forces they were for the first few months of the season, but an extended rough stretch isn't enough to completely eradicate the 25-year-old netminder's Calder Trophy case.Thompson's save percentage and goals-against average are both still top 20 among goaltenders with at least 15 starts this season. He's also one of 12 goalies - and the only rookie - to face over 1,000 shots. He's still seeking his 20th win of the campaign, but he's tied with Nashville Predators stud Juuse Saros for the ninth-most victories in the league. Simply speaking, Thompson earned his spot at the All-Star Game.Though Vegas has dropped out of first place in the Pacific Division, Thompson has put up a couple of big performances in recent defeats, including a 36-save effort during a shootout loss to the New York Islanders on Jan. 28.The Calder chase no longer seems like a two-horse race between Thompson and Matty Beniers given the former's recent slide. But Thompson might be able to angle his way back into second place on this list if he and the Golden Knights can regain their early-season mojo. That task just became even harder, though, with captain Mark Stone sidelined indefinitely after undergoing back surgery.2. Owen Power, Sabres Glenn James / National Hockey League / GettyGPGPATOI4731923:38Power finally lit the lamp for the first time this season on Jan. 23 - then promptly went on a three-game goal streak. The power is on, so to speak.His red-hot run set a franchise record for the longest goal streak by a Sabres rookie defenseman and made him the third-youngest NHL rearguard to post a goal streak of three-plus games over the past 35 years. Not too shabby for a 20-year-old.His point totals aren't staggering, but that isn't what makes Power so impressive, anyways; he just remains a steady presence for the Sabres night in and night out. He leads all rookies in average ice time and logs the second-most minutes for Buffalo, trailing only Norris Trophy candidate Rasmus Dahlin. There's also something to be said about the fact that those minutes aren't disastrous for the young Sabres: Buffalo has outscored its opponents 55-40 with Power on the ice at five-on-five while controlling over 50% of the shot attempts, expected goals, and scoring chances.Despite his workload, Power is a plus-12 on the season, the highest in the rookie class. He also ranks top five among first-year players in wins above replacement (1.2) and goals above replacement (6.9). Having discovered his scoring touch during his first full NHL season, can the 2021 first overall pick keep putting it all together?1. Matty Beniers, Kraken Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPGPATOI47173616:59We told you Beniers would start scoring again. After the publication of the last edition of these rankings on Jan. 3, the Kraken center went on a five-game goal streak, setting a franchise record in the process. That kind of production is exactly what the Kraken want from their first-ever draft pick and budding star.That kind of production also earned Beniers a selection to the initial Pacific Division All-Star roster. Unfortunately, the 20-year-old has missed Seattle's past two games due to an injury, and that ailment kept him out of the All-Star Game, which is a shame. Who wouldn't want to see the Calder Trophy front-runner strut his stuff against some of the best and brightest in the league?Beniers holds the rookie lead in points - he's seven clear of runner-up Perfetti - and goals. He's cruising along with 2.71 points per 60 minutes at all strengths while proving extremely valuable to Seattle's playoff aspirations: Beniers averages the third-most ice time among all Kraken forwards, is tied with Vince Dunn for the third-most points on the team, and ranks second in even-strength goals.Beniers was held pointless in his last five contests before his stint on the sidelines. Hopefully, the break gave him a chance to recover and return to help Seattle remain atop the division.Honorable mentions: Matias Maccelli (ARI), Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (BUF), Jack Quinn (BUF), Kent Johnson (CBJ), Wyatt Johnston (DAL), Stuart Skinner (EDM), Calen Addison (MIN), Kaiden Guhle (MTL), Jake Sanderson (OTT), Cole Perfetti (WPG)(Analytics sources: Natural Stat Trick, Evolving-Hockey)Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Marty Walsh, the current U.S. Secretary of Labor, is set to be named executive director of the NHL Players' Association, reports Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff.He succeeds Donald Fehr, who's departing the position after 12 years. A formal announcement on Walsh's appointment is expected at some point following President Joe Biden's State of the Union address on Tuesday, according to ESPN's Greg Wyshynski.The NHLPA has been searching for a new leader for roughly 10 months. Walsh emerged as a leading candidate over recent weeks and introduced himself to the executive board in a virtual meeting before All-Star Weekend. A formal vote requiring 18 approvals among the 32 team representatives still needs to take place, but Walsh is expected to be elected unanimously, Seravalli adds.Walsh was mayor of Boston from 2014-21 until he joined Biden's cabinet. He made himself available for the NHLPA job after he wasn't selected as Biden's next chief of staff.Former player agent and Vancouver Canucks general manager Mike Gillis was also a finalist for the job.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Sabres have locked up another key piece of their core, signing Dylan Cozens to a seven-year, $49.7-million extension on Tuesday.Cozens was scheduled for restricted free agency this summer following the expiration of his entry-level contract. His new cap hit is nearly identical to Tage Thompson's, who signed a seven-year, $50-million extension in August.Buffalo now has its top two centers under contract through 2029-30 for a combined cap hit of just over $14 million.The Sabres drafted Cozens seventh overall in 2019 after a prolific junior career with the WHL's Lethbridge Hurricanes. The Yukon native also represented Canada twice at the world juniors before joining Buffalo as a semi-regular fixture in 2020-21.Cozens has racked up 94 points in 169 games but is having a career year in 2022-23, ranking fifth on the high-flying Sabres with 43 points through 49 games.Buffalo's remaining RFAs after the Cozens deal are Tyson Jost, Rasmus Asplund, and Kale Clague. The club is projected to have over $24 million in available money this offseason, according to CapFriendly.The Sabres could theoretically use the financial flexibility to add to a promising roster already on the upswing. Buffalo hasn't made the playoffs since 2011 but is currently in the hunt for a wild-card spot with 56 points and owns the league's third-most-prolific offense with 185 goals for.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We started the week in strong fashion, going 2-1 with player props. Although Nikita Kucherov missed the net five times and fell one shot shy as a result, Jack Hughes and Jason Robertson took care of business to ensure it was a profitable night.Let's take a look at three skaters that stand out on Tuesday.Nathan MacKinnon over 4.5 shots (-110)This year's Penguins aren't nearly as tight defensively as we've grown accustomed to seeing under Mike Sullivan. They give up quite a bit of shot volume on a nightly basis, especially to centers. Believe it or not, only the Ducks have conceded more shots per game to the position this season.That has to be music to the ears of MacKinnon, one of the NHL's best at generating shots in bulk, as does the fact that Valeri Nichushkin will return to the lineup on Tuesday night. MacKinnon has generated more shots per minute with Nichushkin on his line than anybody else he's skated with regularly this season.Nichushkin's two-way prowess should allow for the Avalanche to control more of the puck, and it's always on MacKinnon's stick when they're in possession. Likely heading for 22-plus minutes in an advantageous matchup, MacKinnon is a worthwhile target on Tuesday night.Zach Hyman over 3.5 shots (+120)Hyman has quietly been piling up the shots of late. He has registered 68 attempts over the last 10 games, which puts him only five back of Connor McDavid for the Oilers' team lead. If we focus on five-on-five, Hyman is actually level with McDavid atop the team.That's important because the Red Wings are a very disciplined team. For all their faults, they don't take many penalties. That means Hyman will likely need to do a lot of the heavy lifting at full strength - something he has shown the ability to do.What I also like about Hyman, a Michigan alum, is that the Red Wings bleed shots to right-wingers. Of all positions, that's where they rank lowest when it comes to shot suppression.Averaging nearly 21 minutes per game while riding shotgun on the top line and top power play, Hyman should get all the opportunity in the world to capitalize on a strong matchup.Alex Pietrangelo over 2.5 shots (-132)The Predators are really struggling defensively. In fact, only the Ducks, Blackhawks, and Coyotes - three teams in the Connor Bedard sweepstakes - have let rubber get to their goaltender more frequently over the last 10 games.These struggles are nothing new as, on the season, the Predators rank bottom six in limiting shots to every single position. That's right: They're giving up volume from anywhere and everywhere.Pietrangelo plays big minutes at even strength, quarterbacks the top power play (even with Shea Theodore healthy again), and isn't impacted by home and road splits. His volume is steady.He has feasted on the Predators of late, too, generating 29 attempts (nearly 10 per game) across three meetings in 2022.I expect another productive night from Pietrangelo coming out of the All-Star break.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.