Warning: Video contains disturbing content.

Nikita Zaitsev's agent Dan Milstein said on Friday there's no truth to the story that the Ottawa Senators defenseman kidnapped his own children in Russia.

Milstein said the children are at Zaitsev's parents' home in Moscow. He added that Zaitsev's ex-wife, Margo Gotovtseva, knows where the children are and that they're safe.

Gotovtseva posted a video on Instagram on Friday which appears to show her children being forcibly taken.

She released an additional statement, which contradicts Milstein's words. She says the children were living with her, and although she allowed weekend visitations for the kids to see Zaitsev's parents, she never approved of the children living with them permanently. Gotovtseva added that she hasn't seen or heard from her kids in 12 days.

The Senators are aware of the situation, as they released the following statement Friday, according to TSN 1200:

The Sens announced on Nov. 22 that Zaitsev had gone back to Russia for personal reasons. He missed just one game before returning to the lineup on Nov. 25.

In his first campaign with Ottawa following an offseason trade from the Toronto Maple Leafs, the 28-year-old has recorded seven points in 28 contests.

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Let's keep the momentum going into the weekend after a week when we went 6-0 with in-game bets, 2-0 on in-game props, and 0-1 in player props - though if you backed Patrik Laine to score Tuesday against the Dallas Stars in Winnipeg instead of Thursday in Dallas, it was a clean sweep.

Christmas is right around the corner, so let's turn money into more money.

Game betting

Montreal Canadiens at New York Rangers (Friday)

Don't look now, but the Rangers are really starting to find their groove. This is the second leg of back-to-back games for both teams, and the Canadiens haven't excelled in that situation lately, losing eight of their last nine.

The scenario here is different though. Carey Price was spared last night, with head coach Claude Julien opting to save him for this conference game. The Rangers, meanwhile, will be rolling with Henrik Lundqvist. They're 3-6 in Hank's last nine starts, compared to 6-2 in Alexandar Georgiev's last eight. That will be the difference on Friday, with the Habs winning as short road favorites.

Toronto Maple Leafs at St. Louis Blues (Saturday)

In one of the least shocking developments of the week, it seems firing Mike Babcock didn't magically solve all the Leafs' problems. There are systematic issues in Toronto's own end, and the Blues are exactly the sort of well-coached team that will take advantage. Back them to extend Toronto's skid on Saturday.

Colorado Avalanche at Boston Bruins (Saturday)

This could be a Stanley Cup Final preview at the Garden. The Avalanche head into Boston on a five-game winning streak, while the Bruins' eight-game winning streak was just snapped on Thursday.

Neither of these teams lack star power up front, but stout defensive play has been at the forefront of recent victories. Anticipate a tight game between a pair of disciplined clubs, and back the under in this spot at anything six or higher.

San Jose Sharks at Tampa Bay Lightning (Saturday)

After closing out November on an 11-2 run, the Sharks have begun this month with successive defeats.

The Lightning, meanwhile, desperately need a winning run right now to pull back into the thick of the playoff race. It feels like success will come eventually, but Tampa still hasn't shown enough to make us believe that's imminent. Yet the Lightning continue to be priced closer to the Stanley Cup favorites everyone thought they were than the playoff bubble team they've been thus far.

We'll likely get the Sharks at a very lucrative price here that you shouldn't pass up.

New York Islanders at Dallas Stars (Saturday)

Both of these teams have lofty ambitions this season and are certainly playing up to those standards. This matchup isn't quite Avalanche-Bruins, so let's call it Avs-Bruins lite.

The Stars have won 10 of their last 12 at home, while the Islanders are beginning to sputter on the road, losing four of their last five away from home following six consecutive victories. Home ice should be the difference here, so back the Stars in this game between a pair of heavyweights that still might not be getting the respect they deserve.

San Jose Sharks at Florida Panthers (Sunday)

Logic states there should be plenty of goals scored when these teams meet on Sunday night in Sunrise, but a closer look suggests that might not be the case.

The Sharks have allowed only 12 goals in their last six road games, while the Panthers' offense has been drying up a bit. Both backup goalies should start with these teams on the second half of back-to-back games too, which could also contribute to the under. Netminders Aaron Dell and Chris Driedger have been more effective than Martin Jones and Sergei Bobrovsky.

Florida is 2-0 to the under with Driedger in net, while three of the Sharks' last four games with Dell in goal have gone under. The under is the play here.

Game props

Los Angeles Kings at Edmonton Oilers (Friday)

The last seven meetings between the Kings and Oilers have gone over 1.5 goals in the first period, and that's the play again here. You can also play the over 2.5 goals at +240, which has hit in each of the last five clashes between these teams.

Seriously, there have been 21 first-period goals in the last five Kings-Oilers games. Keep riding this train until it hits the station.

San Jose Sharks at Tampa Bay Lightning (Saturday)

Let's stick with the first-period over here, too.

These teams possess plenty of firepower and should be able to put on quite the show Saturday night. The Sharks are 9-5 to the first-period over on the road this season and tend to hit it against the league's higher-scoring teams. Meanwhile, the opening-frame over has cashed in seven of the Lightning's last eight at home.

Player props

Los Angeles Kings at Calgary Flames (Saturday)

The latest installment of the Drew Doughty vs. Matthew Tkachuk rivalry graces the Saddledome on Saturday.

Tkachuk is a fiery enough player that he doesn't need added motivation, but he'll get it in spades here. He scored twice in the first contest between these two clubs in Calgary earlier this season, so let's back him to do that again in this spot for the Flames.

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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Near the end of the 2017-18 NHL season with the Buffalo Sabres, Robin Lehner crashed.

The addiction and mental health issues the goaltender had battled throughout his career became overwhelming, and he nearly took his own life.

But he reached out and got help instead. He went on to lead the New York Islanders to a surprise playoff berth last season, and he is now starring for the Chicago Blackhawks.

He recounted that harrowing chapter of his Sabres tenure in a first-person article for The Athletic published prior to last season. After finding the courage to seek treatment, he knew that going public with his story could help lead others to safety.

"It was definitely not an easy decision," Lehner said in a telephone interview before this season about revealing his story. "I worked on the actual article for a little bit. There was a lot of emotions because a big majority of all the people around me didn't want me to do it, which was understandable. I wanted to do it, and I thought it was the right thing to do for my rehabilitation. Also, it was the right thing to do for other people - it could help a lot of other people."

Lehner spent nearly three months in rehab during the 2018 offseason to treat his addiction to alcohol and sleeping pills, as well as his depression. During treatment, he was diagnosed with bipolar I disorder - a condition in which people experience extreme mood swings, including manic episodes. Exaggerated self-esteem, excessive energy, a reduced need for sleep, and poor judgment are some of the potential symptoms of mania. Like Lehner, most people with bipolar I disorder also experience depressive episodes. The illness is chronic, but treatable.

Lehner, who was later also diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, is now a trailblazer of sorts. He's the most prominent NHLer to go public about having a mental illness while still playing in the league. Many players have spoken out after their pro careers, but doing so as a 26-year-old about to hit unrestricted free agency created plenty of risk for Lehner; that's why his lawyer, family, and others advised against it.

The pressure placed on Lehner to keep quiet about his experiences helps illustrate why it's impossible to know how many other professional athletes have endured something similar. The NHL/NHLPA's assistance program is confidential.

"You couldn't tell when you played with him. He's a very intense guy. He's a competitive person. But you wouldn't necessarily know he's struggling," said Cory Conacher, who played with Lehner for two seasons with the Ottawa Senators.

"I'm sure there's a lot more people out there who haven't spoken out about it. Hopefully what he did will help others come out and help make this thing fade away and make it less and less of a problem to athletes."

People who suffer from mental illnesses often do so in silence before getting help. Lehner's status as a high-profile professional athlete means his openness can make a significant impact.

"One of the biggest problems that we have nationally is a stigma," said Dr. Anita Everett. She's the director of mental health services for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a U.S. government program based in Rockville, Maryland. "That goes to mental health conditions as well as addiction. So we know that's the big reason that a lot of people don’t seek treatment.

"Having a (person) of celebrity status can be extremely helpful. We've seen a lot of that in the entertainment space. It's fabulous when it happens to professional athletes. They can be tremendous role models. It can be very inspiring for people ... quietly suffering and not seeking treatment."

Lehner's mental illness and addiction almost killed him, but treatment helped get his life back on track, and he went on to put together the best season of his career in his lone campaign with the Islanders.

Lehner was the finalist for the Vezina Trophy awarded to the league's top goalie, and he's maintained his excellent form in Chicago. He is among the league leaders in save percentage (.929) and goals saved above average (9.96).

He'll be the first to tell you that a number of factors - including his improved mental health - contributed to his performance between the pipes. But before he hit rock bottom in 2017-18, he was one of the league's more underrated netminders, compiling a .921 save percentage in his first two seasons with the Sabres.

"People like to forget about that," Lehner said. "My last four years of statistics is pretty good. ... I still feel like I don't get enough credit for the numbers I put up in difficult situations."

None of those situations were as difficult for Lehner as early 2018. He was severely depressed and would drink a case of beer a day, according to his piece for The Athletic. This often meant practicing hungover. He stayed away from liquor the night before games, but still needed beer or sleeping pills - often both - in order to fall asleep.

"That was my medicine," he said, "the beer."

Even if Lehner, who won last season's Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for perseverance, had played like an average goalie after speaking out about his mental illness, he would still be a success story.

"What's really interesting ... is that he did better after treatment and was able to resume with his career," Everett said. "There's a lot of concern that people at that level when they step out, they won't come back. It sounds like his story really demonstrates the value of treatment."

Mental health initiatives are still relatively new. World Mental Health Day and Mental Health Awareness Week have been around since the 1990s, but have gathered steam in recent years. Other campaigns, such as Bell Let's Talk Day in Canada, have dominated social media discussions this decade. Celebrities sharing their stories on these occasions can help fight the stigma that's still attached to mental illness.

"When people are known, they can make a difference," said Dr. Katy Kamkar, a clinical psychologist with the Center for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto. "We do know that, for example, whenever we have seen celebrities coming forward … someone that other people can associate with, whether it's mental health or physical health, it does make a difference."

Lehner doesn't see himself as any sort of trailblazer or role model; he just hopes the stigma can be erased.

"If we can change the culture and society's views of these (things) and start cutting down all the bullshit, just change the perception a bit, that's gonna make the most change for everyone," Lehner said.

With files from John Matisz

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The Toronto Maple Leafs placed forward Andreas Johnsson on long-term injured reserve with a leg injury and recalled Nic Petan, Pontus Aberg, and Martin Marincin from the AHL's Toronto Marlies, the team announced Friday.

Johnsson suffered a leg injury after blocking a shot Wednesday night against the Colorado Avalanche. He'll be reassessed following the Christmas break.

The 25-year-old has lined up alongside Auston Matthews and William Nylander for the majority of the year, recording 16 points in 30 games.

Petan and Marincin have bounced between the Leafs and the Marlies throughout the season, combining for 20 games played with the big club.

Aberg signed with Toronto in the offseason but hasn't been given a shot with the Maple Leafs yet. He leads the Marlies in scoring with 24 points in 22 contests.

Toronto returns to action Saturday night in St. Louis, having collected just four wins in its last 13 games.

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Montreal Canadiens forward Jesperi Kotkaniemi suffered a concussion on the hit that forced him to exit Thursday's game versus the Colorado Avalanche, reports The Athletic's Arpon Basu.

Avs defender Nikita Zadorov drove Kotkaniemi hard into the boards in the first period, and the center was flipped upside down while falling to the ice.

Kotkaniemi remained on the ice until the Canadiens' medical staff helped him to the dressing room. There was no penalty called on the play.

There's no update yet on a recovery timeline, but Habs head coach Claude Julien confirmed the sophomore won't travel with the team to New York for Friday's game versus the Rangers.

Julien also said Zadorov should be suspended for what he thought was a dirty hit.

Kotkaniemi previously missed seven games this season with a groin injury. The Finnish forward has struggled in his second NHL campaign, producing just five points in 22 contests.

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