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You may not want to leave your house this weekend.
It'll be an especially mesmerizing few days in the Eastern Conference as both the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens are playing back-to-back games, the two division leaders meet at TD Garden, and the league's hottest team faces a tough test in the City of Brotherly Love.
The Western Conference slate might lack the same fireworks, but there are still some great games during a weekend with something for every kind of hockey fan.
Game betting
Boston Bruins at Toronto Maple Leafs (Friday)
It's tough to say a team is in a must-win situation this early in the season, especially when that club is just a point back of second in its division. But this certainly has the feel of a must-win contest for the Leafs. Toronto has lost three straight, and it seems like everyone in the organization has their finger on the panic button.
Back the Leafs to come out with some real urgency and take care of business on home ice. Wait until close to puck drop to do it, as the line is dropping to nearly even with the public on the Bruins.
Montreal Canadiens at Washington Capitals (Friday)
It seems like every Capitals home game finishes with seven goals. Six of their nine contests at Capital One Arena have finished at that number, making the Caps the second-most profitable over team on home ice this season, one game shy of Vegas.
However, Capitals-Canadiens matchups aren't always high scoring. Just two of the last 16 meetings between these teams in Washington have gone over the total. Look for the Habs to play a tight defensive game while Carey Price stays hot, keeping this contest under 6.5 goals.
Dallas Stars at Edmonton Oilers (Saturday)
It's been an entertaining week to watch the Oilers, with the team producing 25 goals in three games. Captain Connor McDavid has recorded six goals and four assists already this week, but adding to his tally is far from guaranteed against the Stars.
Dallas has established itself as a defensive juggernaut, with the Stars allowing just eight goals in their last five road contests. The Oilers are no stranger to low-scoring games either, as this week's outburst has been more the exception than the norm.
The total here should be inflated due to Edmonton's recent offensive explosion, and this is a spot to ride with the under.
Washington Capitals at Boston Bruins (Saturday)
The Atlantic Division leader hosts the top team in the Metropolitan Division on Saturday night in what could be an Eastern Conference Final preview.
There arguably hasn't been two better teams in the NHL so far this season, and with both clubs also playing on Friday night, this game will likely feature two backup goalies. You should feel confident siding with the Bruins' Jaroslav Halak over Ilya Samsonov, especially on home ice. Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals are still likely experiencing nightmares from Halak stonewalling them in the 2010 playoffs.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Pittsburgh Penguins (Saturday)
The Leafs have been unmistakably awful during the second half of back-to-back games this year, posting an 0-5 record. The Penguins will also be dealing with a back-to-back set including travel in this spot, meaning the contest will likely feature a pair of young goalies.
Kasimir Kaskisuo is in line for his NHL debut after the Leafs waived Michael Hutchinson. Meanwhile, the Penguins' Tristan Jarry has been nothing short of excellent this season, posting a 2.26 goals-against average and .929 save percentage. He'll be the difference on Saturday when the Penguins drop the Leafs to 0-6 in back-to-backs.
New York Islanders at Philadelphia Flyers (Saturday)
This game deserves plenty of attention, too. The Islanders are on a simply remarkable 12-0-1 run, with head coach Barry Trotz working his magic once again. The Flyers have been solid in their own right, and both teams look like strong bets to reach the playoffs and potentially even meet in the first round.
Philadelphia will be at a disadvantage after playing on Friday night, with fatigue a possible issue as the team plays its fifth game in eight days. The first three of those games all went to a shootout.
Back the Isles to stay hot as they start their Pennsylvania trip with two points.
Game props
New York Rangers at Florida Panthers (Saturday)
As much as the over looks like a great play in this spot - it's hit in each of the last nine meetings between these teams, including last weekend - let's focus on the Rangers here because we'll get their team total at a much better price.
They've scored three-plus goals in each of their last nine games against the Panthers, and New York has tallied four-plus markers in seven of those clashes. And it's not like Florida is playing great defense these days.
Anaheim Ducks at St. Louis Blues (Saturday)
These two teams don't allow a ton of goals, play disciplined hockey, and rarely experience defensive breakdowns. Goals will be at a premium in this one, and as much as the overall under looks nice, the first-period under will come at a much better price.
Seven of the last eight meetings between the Ducks and Blues in St. Louis have gone under the first-period total. Of course, John Gibson and Jordan Binnington patrolling the creases here also helps our cause.
Player props
Detroit Red Wings at San Jose Sharks (Saturday)
No team has allowed more goals this season than the Red Wings, and they also own the league's worst penalty kill. Evander Kane leads the Sharks with seven power-play goals, and he's in a good spot to add to that tally on Saturday night.
Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.
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