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Our Covers NHL cheat sheet breaks down the best NHL betting notes so you can handicap the week like a pro, including the one-sided recent history between the rival New York Rangers and New York Islanders.

Season Sweep Bruin for Leafs?

The Toronto Maple Leafs have their eye on a very satisfying season sweep as they tangle with the division-rival Boston Bruins at Air Canada Centre on Monday night. Both teams are jockeying for position in the Eastern Conference playoff race, and a win would carry great significance for the Leafs as they cling to the second wild-card berth entering the week. Toronto has dominated the season set, out scoring the Bruins 14-7 over the first three games. The Leafs haven't won four straight games against Boston since 1967, the year they last captured the Stanley Cup.

Rangers Reeling vs. Rival Isles

One of the most heated geographical rivalries in hockey resumes Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden when the New York Rangers entertain an Islanders team chasing the pack for an Eastern Conference wild card spot. The Isles enter Monday just one point behind the Leafs for the second wild card, and have recent history squarely on their side in Wednesday's tilt. They have victories in nine of the previous 12 games between the teams, with four of the previous five contests playing to the Over. They have also scored three or more goals six straight times vs. the Rangers.

Another Wild Result vs. Canucks?

Take a good hard look at the recent history between the Canucks and Wild before taking a shot at a totals wager when these two teams meet Saturday afternoon in Minnesota. While the Wild have one of the best goal prevention units in the NHL - and the Canucks can't seem to score away from Vancouver - these teams have filled the scoresheet in their last four games, averaging a combined 8.3 goals per contest to hit the Over each time. Don't be surprised to see this game boast a 5.5 or even a 6, despite the Wild's elite D and Vancouver's road struggles.

Injury News

* The loss of defenseman Christian Folin to an arm injury has played a role in the Wild's recent defensive problems. Minnesota has dropped seven of eight games in Folin's absence and has allowed three or more goals seven times in that span.

* Devils winger Michael Cammalleri remains sidelined with an upper-body injury that has limited him to just one game this month. New Jersey has lost seven of eight games without him and has scored two or fewer goals five times over that stretch.

Player Notes

* Sidney Crosby is at it again, potting a natural hat trick to reach the 40-goal plateau in the Penguins' 4-0 triumph over Florida on Sunday. The Pens are a scorching 20-1-2 SU and 16-6-1 O/U in games in which Crosby records multiple points.

* Brad Marchand's magnificent March has had an impact on both the Bruins' playoff push and its totals record. Marchand enters Monday with nine goals and four assists this month, during which Boston has gone 5-3 SU and 5-2-1 O/U.

* Has Devan Dubnyk fallen out of Vezina Trophy contention? The Minnesota goalie is a dismal 2-6-0 with a 2.61 goals-against average so far this month, and is just 9-9-0 with a 2.67 GAA since the All-Star break. The six losses are his most in any month.

Stanley Cup Futures

* Don't look now, but the Columbus Blue Jackets are making a charge for the best record in hockey. The Blue Jackets extended their winning streak to four games with a 4-1 win over New Jersey on Sunday, and enter the week tied with the Washington Capitals at a league-best 100 points. This latest surge has Columbus installed at +950 to win its first Stanley Cup title, according to Sports Interaction.

* A late-season collapse has had an impact on the Wild's odds of winning the league title for the first time. Minnesota finds itself at +600 as of Monday, the second-best odds in the Western Conference and fourth-best in the league. But things might be getting better down the stretch for the Wild, who will play seven of their final 11 regular-season games in the friendly confines of Xcel Energy Center.

* It's a bad time for a rough stretch from the Ottawa Senators (+1,300) who have one of the toughest remaining schedules in the league. The Sens enter the week having lost four straight games, including back-to-back contests to the division-leading Canadiens - and with eight of their final 11 games on the road, and two of their three home games coming against the Pens and Rangers, it could be tough sledding in Ottawa.

Over/Under Trends

* Low-scoring games have become the norm for the St. Louis Blues, who enter the week having gone 3-8-2 O/U in their previous 13 games. The Over drought has moved the Blues back to even on the season at 30-30-11 O/U.

* The Tampa Bay Lightning are coming off their longest Under stretch of 2016-17, putting together seven in a row before seeing that streak come to an end in Saturday's 5-3 setback to Washington. Tampa Bay is now 31-33-7 O/U for the season.

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Follow theScore's fantasy feed on Twitter (@theScoreFantasy) for the latest news, features and more. And download Squad Up, theScore's free-to-win-money sports game.

Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Monday, March 20 (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockey and apply to 5v5 situations):

Dynamic Duos

• LW Patrick Maroon (36K) & C Connor McDavid (73K), Oilers (vs. Kings): The Kings are on the second half of a back-to-back and lost Game 1 to the Calgary Flames by a score of 5-2. G Jonathan Quick started but lasted less than 12 minutes with two goals on seven shots. Edmonton's top line with C Leon Draisaitl on the right wing averages 3.22 expected goals for and nearly 12 scoring chances per 60 minutes.

• LW Filip Forsberg (67K) & RW James Neal (59K), Predators (vs. Coyotes): The Predators new-look lines featured the top-two wingers flanking C Calle Jarnkrok. The trio played 13.52 percent of the 5v5 minutes in Saturday's game, but they totaled 10 SOG. Arizona continues ranking near the bottom of the league in every defensive metric, including 10.55 scoring chances against per 60 minutes, since Feb. 20.

• LW Henrik Zetterberg (63K) & RW Gustav Nyquist (56K), Red Wings (vs. Sabres): The Red Wings' offense has rarely been a recommendable target, but Buffalo ranks 29th since Feb. 20 with 10.76 scoring chances allowed per 60 minutes. The goaltending has helped a bit with a more-reasonable 2.88 expected goals allowed per 60. Zetterberg, Nyquist and LW Tomas Tatar own a Corsi For rating of 56.57 percent in 120 minutes.

(Photo courtesy Action Images)

Bargain Plays

• LW Tyler Ennis (28K), Sabres (at Red Wings): Ennis has vastly underperformed this season with no points since Feb. 25. The three-time 40-point player has just nine points and 67 SOG in 41 games played. He was bumped up to the Sabres' top line with Cs Jack Eichel and Ryan O'Reilly in their most recent game. Ennis' 17:17 of TOI was his most since the season opener. He can be paired with either linemate.

• RW Joonas Donskoi (29K), Sharks (at Stars): The Sharks' third line of Donskoi, C Tomas Hertl and RW Mikkel Boedker played 17.11 percent of the 5v5 minutes together in their most recent game. The trio has a Corsi rating of 52.81 percent in just over 40 5v5 minutes. Donskoi has no points but seven SOG over his past five games. The Stars' goaltending is always a target.

• D Jake Muzzin (25K), Kings (at Oilers): Muzzin's minimum salary is undeserved, as he has played over 21 minutes in each of his past five games, totaling three assists and 11 SOG. The Kings lost three of those five games, but Muzzin has remained productive and a key contributor in a large role.

(Photo courtesy Getty Images)

Top Fades

• C Ryan Johansen (66K), Predators (vs. Coyotes): Johansen has developed into a pass-first center with 12 goals and 43 assists on the season. He has been separated from his top two options in Forsberg and Neal. He tallied just two SOG in his first game without them, failing to produce more on his own. It's a quality matchup, but he lacks the ceiling has with the other two stars.

• LW Evander Kane (48K), Sabres (at Red Wings): With Eichel and O'Reilly now playing together, Kane has been placed on a line with C/LW Zemgus Girgensons and RW Brian Gionta. The three have a CF% of just 47.15 together and average just 5.08 scoring chances per 60 minutes. Kane's own scoring chances have lessened in quality despite stable shot counts.

• D Oscar Klefbom (32K), Oilers (vs. Kings): Klefbom played more than 23 minutes in each of his past two games, and he has a goal and an assist over his past three outings. The Kings are coming off a 5-2 loss, but they've defended the points well all season and limit the fantasy production of opposing defensemen very well. Klefbom's upside is capped.

Contrarian Options

• RW Jordan Eberle (49K), Oilers (vs. Kings): With the McDavid line serving as the most likely target, Eberle's ownership will remain low. The team's second line of Eberle, C Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and LW Milan Lucic was the most used trio at 5v5 in the Oilers' most recent game, playing 25.88 percent of the 5v5 minutes. Eberle has a goal and three assists this month, recording three SOG on four occasions.

• C Tomas Hertl (46K), Sharks (at Stars): Hertl is the third-most expensive Sharks center and the fourth-most popular in the minds of the general population. He has just one assist in March and has gone without a shot on goal in each of his past two games. He has had three SOG in three of nine games this month, but he averages 17.6 minutes per game and has a very favorable matchup for a natural goal scorer.

• LW Tanner Pearson (44K), Kings (at Oilers): Pearson was held without a shot on goal during Sunday's loss to the Flames, but he had tallied at least three in each of his previous six games. He has just one goal and one assist for the month, but his 4.3 shooting percentage is well below his rate of 13.5 for the season. His ice time has dipped slightly, but he remains beside Cs Tyler Toffoli and Jeff Carter.

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Calgary Flames rookie Matthew Tkachuk will have a hearing for elbowing Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty in the head, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced Monday.

Here's the play:

Tkachuk wasn't assessed a penalty on the play, but after the game Doughty was outspoken, calling the 19-year-old a "pretty dirty player."

It's not the first time Tkachuk has ruffled feathers this season, as he avoided supplemental discipline after slew-footing Maple Leafs defenesman Martin Marincin in January.

Tkachuk's antics could begin to outweigh a fine debut season if they persist, as last year's sixth-overall pick has 13 goals and 33 assists in 68 games.

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Get your popcorn ready.

Intrigue abounds with about three weeks left in the NHL's regular season. On both individual and team levels, the final push before the playoffs should feature no shortage of excitement.

Here are three major storylines to pay attention to during the home stretch:

Eastbound traffic jam

The "loser point" has been wreaking havoc in the East all season, and the oft-debated point awarded for overtime and shootout losses could end up deciding who gets in and who doesn't in a crowded race for the final wild-card spot.

(Courtesy: NHL.com)

The Toronto Maple Leafs have benefited most from the single point, and they have the inside track with a game in hand on all potential usurpers except the Carolina Hurricanes, as well as more regulation-or-overtime wins (the first playoff tiebreaker) than all but the New York Islanders among those battling it out for the final playoff positions.

Considering the ROW totals, it's likely a three-horse race between the Leafs, Islanders, and Tampa Bay Lightning.

The schedule doesn't exactly favor the Philadelphia Flyers, while the postseason hopes of the Hurricanes and Florida Panthers have all but faded. Each of these three teams would need a near-perfect finish coupled with disastrous skids by the better-positioned clubs.

But hey, anything is possible. Right, Kevin?

Rocket men

The race for the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy looks like Sidney Crosby's to lose.

Crosby's hat trick Sunday gave him a three-goal cushion over Brad Marchand in the goal-scoring race, but it's not over yet by any means. Vladimir Tarasenko sits three goals behind the Boston Bruins forward, followed by a handful of players tied with one fewer tally than the St. Louis Blues sniper.

Here's how the top Richard contenders' schedules look this week:

Evgeni Malkin also has 33 goals, but his injury will make it tough to catch his top-ranked teammate.

Getting to the point

Barring a surge from one of the other contenders, Crosby really only has to worry about fellow Nova Scotian Marchand in the goal-scoring race, but winning the Art Ross Trophy will be more difficult.

Crosby is tied with Connor McDavid atop the points leaderboard, with a trio of stars in close pursuit. Here's how their respective weeks break down:

McDavid gets the league-worst Colorado Avalanche twice, while Patrick Kane faces three non-playoff teams with no back-to-backs.

Buckle up, because it should be an entertaining ride.

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It's safe to say Drew Doughty isn't a huge fan of Calgary Flames rookie Matthew Tkachuk.

After being on the receiving end of a dirty and dangerous elbow to the head from Tkachuk on Sunday night in Calgary, the Los Angeles Kings defender was honest when talking about the 19-year-old and the play after the game.

"He's a pretty dirty player, that kid," Doughty said, according to LA Kings Insider's Jon Rosen. "To be a rookie and play like that is a little surprising. I don't know exactly what happened because I got hit in the head, but I thought he elbowed me. ... Whatever it was, it hurt pretty bad, and it's going to hurt for a bit."

Doughty was helped off the ice after the incident, which occurred late in the first period, but was back on the bench to start the second period. He ended up playing a Doughty-like 28:14.

It's not the first time Doughty and Tkachuk have battled this season.

"It's just that every game I've played against him basically, me and him get after it a little bit," Doughty added. "Obviously, partially that's my fault, too, because I like to get under peoples' skin, too. He's a young guy in the league, and I don't think he necessarily meant to hurt me or anything like that, but he did."

While Tkachuk wasn't penalized on the play Sunday, it's highly possible he'll be hearing from the NHL's Department of Player Safety in the coming days.

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Through the remainder of the regular season, we'll take a look at how the night's action impacts the playoff race, highlighting which teams' postseason odds went up or down significantly.

The Los Angeles Kings are in serious jeopardy of missing the playoffs for the second time in three years.

Darryl Sutter and company's postseason aspirations took a huge hit Sunday, while the Kings' 5-2 loss was a welcome result for the Nashville Predators - the team L.A. is chasing.

Here's a look at the playoff races' most significant swings after Sunday's action:

Western Conference

Eastern Conference

To see percentages for the entire NHL, visit Sports Club Stats.

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Remember when Brian Elliott couldn't win a game? Times have changed.

The Calgary Flames goaltender added another victory to his 2016-17 resume Sunday night, a 5-2 decision over the Los Angeles Kings. Elliott also tied a Flames franchise record set by Mike Vernon almost 30 years ago by winning his 11th straight game.

Elliott made 19 saves Sunday and is a huge reason why Calgary improved to 13-1-1 over its last 15 games.

After recording only three wins through November (all came in October), he's making up for lost time. Elliott is 16-4-2 with a .925 save percentage since Jan. 1, and is an obscene 7-0 in March with a dazzling .952 save percentage.

With the Flames in Washington on Tuesday, Elliott's now got work to do in order to claim the club record for himself. Right now, though, betting against Calgary - and Elliott - is a fool's errand, regardless of the opposition.

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This is a recording: The Chicago Blackhawks are headed to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Chicago's 6-3 comeback win - combined with the Los Angeles Kings' 5-2 loss to the Calgary Flames - meant the Blackhawks officially clinched their postseason berth late Sunday night.

It's the ninth straight season that Chicago will compete for the Stanley Cup, all with Joel Quenneville behind the bench - the man can coach. And if recent odd-year history is any indication, the Blackhawks could be due for their fourth Cup in the Quenneville era this year, having won in 2015 and 2013. And, yes, we're just about into dynasty territory here.

Chicago's the top seed in the Western Conference, seven points up on Minnesota, thanks to a 24-9 run since Jan. 1.

For L.A., the loss was a massive one. Calgary's now 11 points clear of the Kings in the Pacific, and back into third place in the division. Los Angeles is 10 points back of Edmonton for the first wild-card spot, and remains six points back of Nashville for the second. Each team has played 71 games.

The Kings are running out of time, in other words.

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