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We were unable to build Wednesday's 4-0 card, going 1-2 with our best bets Thursday night.

Victor Hedman came through with an assist, but Bo Horvat fell a shot short versus the Hurricanes while Brayden Point missed the net on all nine of his attempts. The volume was there, but the results weren't.

Let's dive into the best ways to attack Friday's four-game slate as we look to get back in the profit zone.

Mika Zibanejad: Over 0.5 assists

Zibanejad is one of the NHL's hottest playmakers. He's picked up an assist in eight consecutive games and nine of the past 10 overall.

He has an elite finisher (Chris Kreider) on his line at even strength and plenty of weapons surrounding him on the power play. While you may think of Zibanejad hammering one-timers as the go-to guy on the man advantage, Artemi Panarin recorded nine more shot attempts and five more scoring chances than Zibanejad over the final 10 games of the regular season.

Zibanejad is more than happy to defer to Panarin or Kreider if the shooting lanes aren't there, which is leading to plenty of assist opportunities.

He's likely to see a lot of the Alex Ovechkin line at five-on-five. That unit is not great defensively, especially when centered by Connor McMichael.

I think Zibanejad's line will control the run of play at full strength. Also, again, he touches the puck a ton while on the man advantage. Heck, he's even proven to be dangerous on the penalty kill.

Win or lose, the Rangers should be able to score their share of goals in this game. Expect one to be created by Zibanejad's stick.

Odds: -110 (playable to -125)

Kevin Fiala: Over 2.5 shots

Adrian Kempe is the ultimate Oilers killer, but Fiala isn't far behind. Fiala has gone over his shot total in 10 of the past 14 games against Edmonton. He's been especially dominant at home, soaring over the number in five of six games while averaging 3.7 shots on target per contest.

Fiala was all over the ice in the first two games of the series. He recorded eight-plus shot attempts in both games on the road, and that translated to back-to-back three-plus shot performances.

Fiala should play almost exclusively against Edmonton's depth lines in L.A. He also skates on the top power-play unit, where he's tied with Kempe for the team lead in attempts in this series.

Odds: -122 (playable to -140)

Evan Bouchard: Over 0.5 assists

Bouchard is most productive when playing in Edmonton, but he's worth backing in any building. He's piled up 30 assists over his past 30 games, which isn't all that surprising given he's an ultra-gifted puck-mover who usually shares the ice with Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, or both.

Bouchard has a very strong history against the Kings, averaging 1.2 assists per game over the past three seasons. He hasn't been remotely hampered when playing on the road.

Bouchard has recorded at least one assist in five of the past six games in Los Angeles and averaged 1.5 in that span.

The Oilers have shown the ability to score goals in bunches versus the Kings. I think they're the much better team and expect them to regain the series lead Friday. If that's the case, Bouchard will likely get in on the action.

Odds: -115 (playable to -140)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X at @ToddCordell.

Copyright © 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

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We started the playoffs slower than I would've liked but broke out in a big way Wednesday night, going a perfect 4-0 with player props.

Let's examine a few that stand out for Thursday's two-game slate as we look to keep moving in the right direction.

Brayden Point: Over 2.5 shots

Point let us down in Game 2, but we're going right back to the well. It's hard to argue with his track record, whether it's his recent performance or his remarkably strong history against the Panthers.

Point has hit in nine of his past 12 head-to-head meetings with Florida, averaging 3.2 shots per game in that span.

He's also hit in eight of his last 10 games overall dating back to the regular season. As frequent readers in this space know, he does his best work on home ice.

Point has recorded three-plus shots in 22 of his last 30 games in Tampa Bay for an absurd 73% hit rate.

The Lightning are essentially playing for their season. Point should get all the ice he can handle and pick up a few shots along the way.

Odds: -140 (playable to -160)

Victor Hedman: Over 0.5 assists

Hedman was an assist machine during the regular season. He piled up 63 over 78 games, which was the second-highest total of his illustrious career.

Like Point with his shot generation, Hedman was most efficient at home. He recorded at least one assist in 24 of 39 games played in Tampa Bay, which is a healthy 62% clip.

Hedman plays a ton of minutes at even strength and also quarterbacks a lethal power play that features stars like Nikita Kucherov, Steven Stamkos, and Point.

Hedman routinely plays 25-plus minutes, and that'll no doubt be the case again with the Lightning in a must-win game.

Given all the elite talent he'll share the ice with, there'll be plenty of assist opportunities for Hedman.

Odds: -115 (playable to -130)

Bo Horvat: Over 2.5 shots

Not a lot went right for the Islanders over the first two games versus the Hurricanes. They dropped both and spent a lot of time on their heels in the defensive zone. Carolina outshot New York 184-85 overall, by far the biggest discrepancy we've seen from any series.

Despite that, Horvat still managed to get his fair share of shots on Frederik Andersen.

Horvat generated eight shots on goal over the first two games of the series and hit the over in each.

His success should continue back on home ice, where Horvat was so good this season. He averaged 3.3 shots per game and posted a 62% success rate at home.

Similarly to the Lightning, the Islanders are in a 0-2 hole and in desperate need of a win. They'll rely heavily on Horvat to help get it.

Odds: -134 (playable to -150)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X at @ToddCordell.

Copyright © 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find year-round coverage of betting news and insights for all sports by visiting our Betting section and subscribing to push notifications.

There are three games scheduled Wednesday night with no shortage of value in the player prop markets. Let's take a closer look.

Morgan Rielly: Over 0.5 assists

Rielly is coming off an impressive offensive season where he produced 51 assists over 72 games played. He was far more productive at home: Rielly recorded an assist in 44% of his road games, a far cry from the 68% hit rate he posted when playing in Toronto.

He tends to skate behind the Auston Matthews line a lot at five-on-five. That's invaluable when playing at home because head coach Sheldon Keefe can control the matchups and get his best players extra shifts away from the opposition's best defensive personnel.

That should lead to less time against stingy Hampus Lindholm, who the Bruins tried to attach at the hip of Matthews over the first two games of the series.

Rielly will share the ice with Matthews a lot at even strength, he'll quarterback the power play, and he'll likely see upwards of 25 minutes.

Look for him to pick up an assist along the way.

Odds: -105 (playable to -125)

Noah Hanifin: Over 0.5 points

Hanifin is playing some of the best offensive hockey of his career. He has eight points over the last six games and found the scoresheet in five of them.

The production comes after a role change: Hanifin was moved up to the top power-play unit in place of Shea Theodore, and is now running point alongside stars like Jack Eichel, Tomas Hertl, and Jonathan Marchessault, providing plenty of opportunity to help facilitate a goal.

The Stars are a very strong defensive team but Jake Oettinger isn't getting it done in the playoffs of late. He posted a putrid .895 save percentage last year and allowed four goals on only 15 shots in the series opener.

Vegas has more than enough weapons to be opportunistic with its finishing. If it is, Hanifin stands a good chance of hitting the scoresheet.

Odds: +115 (playable to -115)

Wyatt Johnston: Over 2.5 shots

Johnston recorded only one shot against Vegas in Game 1 but it wasn't for a lack of chances. He attempted seven shots during five-on-five play, which tied him for the team lead, but he couldn't hit the net.

Generally speaking, that kind of volume is going to lead to success. Johnston averaged 4.3 shots per game and went over his total in 18 of 20 tries during the regular season when attempting seven shots or more.

Johnston enjoyed success against the Golden Knights in last year's playoffs, recording 21 shots over six games. That's 3.5 per contest while playing about 15 minutes.

Johnston has a much bigger role on this version of the Stars - he logged more than 19 minutes in Game 1 - so it stands to reason he can maintain that sort of production.

Odds: -130 (playable to -145)

Adrian Kempe: Over 2.5 shots

Kempe is a certified Oilers killer. He's faced them 26 times over the past few seasons and gone over his total all but three times. Kempe isn't just grinding his way to three shots, either, he's consistently soaring over the number.

He's averaged 4.7 shots over the 26 meetings and recorded at least four in 10 of the past 11, including a five-shot performance in Game 1 of the series.

With 55 shots on goal and 13 points over his last 11 games against Edmonton, Kempe's clearly shown he's the Kings' best option to try and keep up with the high-powered Oilers.

He should see 18-20 minutes in Game 2 and generate at least a few shots along the way.

Odds: -140 (playable to -160)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X at @ToddCordell.

Copyright © 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find year-round coverage of betting news and insights for all sports by visiting our Betting section and subscribing to push notifications.

We have four more playoff games on the docket Tuesday night. Let's waste no time getting to a few of my favorite ways to get involved in the action.

Brayden Point: Over 2.5 shots

There's hot, and then there's Point. The Lightning's top center has recorded three shots or more in six consecutive games and eight of the past nine overall.

Point had five scoring chances and four shots on target against the Panthers in the series opener. Both of those totals were good for first place on the Lightning.

Point logged 16:46 at five-on-five alone in Game 1. That was more than every forward on either team, which is pretty impressive given all the star power featured in this series.

He's attached to the hip of 100-assist man Nikita Kucherov at even strength and on the No. 1 power-play unit. With 20-plus minutes likely coming his way as the Bolts look to avoid falling into a 2-0 hole, he should have ample opportunity to shoot the puck once again.

Odds: -140 (playable to -160)

Nathan MacKinnon: Over 4.5 shots

The Jets had a miserable time slowing MacKinnon down in the series opener. MacKinnon found the scoresheet twice and helped the Avalanche threaten offensively almost every shift.

The Avalanche recorded 36 shot attempts with MacKinnon on the ice across all situations. He was involved in a healthy chunk of them as he alone fired 11 pucks toward Connor Hellebuyck.

Although MacKinnon hit the net four times and fell short of this total, the process was extremely encouraging.

MacKinnon has attempted 11 shots or more 21 times this season. He recorded five shots or more in 19 of them and finished with four in both exceptions. He's almost automatic when generating such volume.

I think MacKinnon can hit double digits again in Game 2. He played more than 22 minutes a night in the regular season and logged over 24 last time out. Jared Bednar rides his horses and will no doubt lean on his Hart Trophy candidate to lead the charge while pushing to even the series.

It's also worth noting Zach Parise is skating on the top line in Jonathan Drouin's absence. MacKinnon has only played a couple of games with Parise, but he's taking upwards of 30 attempts per 60 minutes at five-on-five. Those are astronomically high rates to go along with MacKinnon being the lead dog on the power play.

Win or lose, I expect him to put up a big number Tuesday night.

Odds: -130 (playable to -145)

Josh Morrissey: Over 0.5 assists

Morrissey is one of the best puck-moving defensemen in the sport. He hits consistently good outlets and is so good at finding open seams once shop is set up in the offensive zone.

He's registered 32 assists over his past 30 games played and has picked up at least one apple in 19 of them.

Morrissey also has an extremely strong history against the Avalanche, recording an assist in nine of the past 10 head-to-head meetings.

The good times should continue against a laboring Alexandar Georgiev. He owns an .856 save percentage and has conceded at least four goals in six of eight games over the past month.

He's not getting the job done right now. With Morrissey likely to play 25-plus minutes across all situations against a high-event Avalanche team, I like his chances of helping create a goal.

Odds: -110 (playable to -135)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X at @ToddCordell.

Copyright © 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

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We have a fun four-game slate Monday night split between a pair of Game 2s and series openers. Let's take a look at the best ways to attack them.

David Pastrnak: Over 4.5 shots

Pastrnak failed to record five shots in Game 1, but there were signs an outburst could be coming. Pastrnak's shot volume was quite solid given the circumstances. He attempted seven shots despite the Bruins leading for 58 minutes and sitting on a multi-goal lead for nearly two periods.

They didn't need to push for offense, and yet Pastrnak still generated enough attempts to give himself a reasonable chance of reaching five shots on goal.

Game 2 is almost certainly going to be more competitive, which should lead to a more favorable game script for Pastrnak to push for offense.

The matchup is very good as well. The Maple Leafs allowed more shots to wingers than all but the Blue Jackets over the last 10 games of the regular season. Pastrnak has feasted on them all year, generating 10 attempts or more in four of five meetings.

I expect we'll see an uptick in shots from Pastrnak in Game 2.

Odds: +120 (playable to -120)

Andrei Svechnikov: Over 2.5 shots

Svechnikov was a one-man shooting gallery for the Hurricanes in their series opener. He led the game in shots (six), scoring chances (eight), and shot attempts (13) while logging 15 minutes of ice time.

He mostly skated on the third line alongside Jordan Staal and Jordan Martinook at even strength. That may not sound like the opportune playing situation for a dynamic offensive player like Svechnikov, but the numbers tell a different story.

Svechnikov averages upwards of 25 shot attempts per 60 minutes of five-on-five play with Staal as his center. That's a far cry from his averages alongside Evgeny Kuznetsov (15.5) or Sebastian Aho (13.9).

His shot rates are also higher with Martinook than any other winger on the Hurricanes.

Staal is more of a passer than a shooter - he had twice as many assists as goals this season - and Martinook is a north-south player whose job is to forecheck and win pucks back. Both players are happy to defer to Svechnikov, the real offensive threat on the line, and it shows in the numbers.

Expect another active shooting performance against the Islanders.

Odds: -140 (playable to -150)

Adrian Kempe: Over 2.5 shots

The Kings are going to need offense to keep up with Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and the high-flying Oilers. Kempe is their best bet to provide it.

He led the team in scoring during the regular season and has enjoyed unbelievable success against the Oilers for several years.

Kempe has recorded three or more shots in 22 of 25 meetings against the Oilers dating back to the 2021-22 season. He's averaged a whopping 4.7 shots per game against Edmonton in that span.

He's also on a run of 10 consecutive games against the Oilers with at least three shots. He routinely soared over the number, averaging five shots on goal per contest.

Be it in the regular season or the first round of the playoffs, the Oilers have seen a ton of Kempe over the past few years. They haven't seemed to come up with an answer to stop his shot volume.

As a member of the top line and power play, Kempe will see all the ice he can handle. Look for him to make the most of it as he so often does.

Odds: -134 (playable to -160)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X at @ToddCordell.

Copyright © 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

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Six of the eight NHL playoff series begin this weekend. Let's waste no time getting to a handful of players worth targeting in their openers.

Brent Burns: Over 2.5 shots

Game 1 scheduled for 5 p.m. ET Saturday.

Burns is a volume shooter with a very strong history against the Islanders. He's gone over this number in nine of the past 12 versus New York, including five of the six head-to-head meetings in last year's playoffs.

The Islanders conceded a ton of shots to opposing defensemen this season. Only the Sharks, Ducks, and Blue Jackets - three of the league's worst teams - allowed more shots against the position on a nightly basis.

Although the Islanders improved in that regard under Patrick Roy, they're still susceptible to giving up shots. They rank 22nd in shot attempts against per minute since Roy took over.

The Islanders also have one of the worst penalty-killing units in the NHL. Burns quarterbacks the Hurricanes' top power play - and his shot is a key weapon - so he should have plenty of opportunities to shoot there as well.

Odds: +115 (playable to -115)

David Pastrnak: Over 4.5 shots

Game 1 scheduled for 8 p.m. ET Saturday.

Pastrnak's shot outputs fell off a cliff down the stretch. He averaged 3.9 shots on just 6.9 attempts over the last 10 games of the regular season. Those numbers would be good for many players, but they're nowhere close to what we're used to from Pastrnak. Even so, I trust him to shoot early and often against the Maple Leafs.

Pastrnak faced the Leafs four times in the regular season. He attempted at least 10 shots in each meeting, combining for 45 in total. That led to 24 shots on target, good for an average of six per night.

The Leafs aren't the stingiest of defensive teams and allowed a ton of volume to wingers down the stretch. The Blue Jackets were the only team to give up more shots to the position over the final 10 games.

Pastrnak also enters well-rested. He recorded at least five shots in 10 of his past 15 games when playing after three or more days off. He averaged 6.5 shots on goal per game under such circumstances this season.

Expect that trend to continue in the Bruins' series opener.

Odds: +120 (playable to -125)

Brayden Point: Over 2.5 shots

Game 1 scheduled for 12:30 p.m. ET Sunday.

Point was a shooting machine down the stretch. He recorded three shots or more in eight of his last 10 games, over which time he faced four playoff teams.

Nikita Kucherov feeding Point while chasing 100 assists helped the cause, but playing with Anthony Duclair also played a big role.

Point's shot rates have skyrocketed since Duclair joined the Lightning and started playing on the top line. Point has averaged 10.64 shots on goal and 18.52 attempts per 60 minutes of five-on-five play with Duclair by his side. Those are by far the highest shooting rates he's managed of any regular Lightning player he's skated with.

Point's shooting floor and ceiling have clearly reached new heights.

What I also love is Point has a strong history against the Panthers. He has gone over this total in eight of the past 10 versus Florida, over which time he averaged 3.3 shots.

Odds: -125 (playable to -140)

Mika Zibanejad: Over 2.5 shots

Game 1 scheduled for 3 p.m. ET Sunday.

The Capitals aren't playing great defensive hockey heading into the playoffs - at least not on the road.

They allowed more than 69 shot attempts per 60 minutes over their final 10 road games, putting them in company with the Sharks and Canadiens in the basement of the league.

Conversely, the Rangers ranked fourth in shot generation over the final 10 home dates of the regular season. They have a lot of firepower and can completely overwhelm opponents when getting the matchups they want.

The Rangers should dominate the puck against the Capitals, peppering Charlie Lindgren early and often.

New York outshot Washington in each of the four regular-season meetings, and Zibanejad mustered up three shots or more every time.

Odds: -145 (playable to -160)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X at @ToddCordell.

Copyright © 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find year-round coverage of betting news and insights for all sports by visiting our Betting section and subscribing to push notifications.

There are four games on the NHL schedule Wednesday night, but only one pops off the page. With two of the league's brightest stars having a chance to write their names in the history books, we'll dive into the best ways to get involved in the action.

Auston Matthews: Over 0.5 goals

Matthews let us down against the Panthers, but it certainly wasn't for a lack of trying. He generated 12 shot attempts, seven scoring chances, and six high-danger opportunities. Matthews did everything but put the puck in the net.

His chances of getting to the 70-goal mark should be higher against the Lightning. They're not as defensively sound as the Panthers, nor are they playing for anything in the standings.

That means the Bolts will turn to journeyman Matt Tomkins over star netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy. Tomkins has managed a .891 save percentage through five appearances this season - all against bottom-seven teams - and allowed at least three goals in all but one of them. He hasn't faced a side as good as the Leafs, nor any scorer close to Matthews' caliber.

Matthews leads the NHL in scoring chances by a country mile over the past 10 games. He'll get his share of opportunities. I'll take my chances on him converting one of them against a replacement-level goaltender.

Odds: -150

Nikita Kucherov: Under 3.5 shots

Kucherov's shot volume has fallen off a cliff as he's trying to add his name to the list of a select few players who've recorded 100 assists in a single season. He's recorded two shots or fewer in six of his past seven games and is coming off a zero-shot performance against the Sabres.

Kucherov sits just one assist shy of 100 and will do everything possible to get there in Tampa Bay's final regular-season game. That likely means his shots will be few and far between.

The Lightning can't move up or down the standings. They're playing for nothing outside of Kucherov's record and would likely prefer to rest him as much as possible ahead of a taxing series against the division-rival Panthers. I think his usage will be cut the second he gets an assist.

Even if Kucherov sees a full dose of ice, I don't see the shots being there. As long as he needs an assist, that'll be his priority.

Odds: -130 (playable to -160)

Brayden Point: Over 0.5 goals

Kucherov is -200 to record an assist in this game. There's no likelier option to be on the other end of that historic point than Point.

He's found the back of the net in 10 of the last 15 games in Tampa Bay and potted 12 goals in that span. Point leads the Lightning in goals, he's a shooting machine on home ice, and he receives a ton of Kucherov's passes at even strength and on the power play.

It's no coincidence that Point's shot volume has spiked even further over the past seven games while Kucherov's has plummeted as he chases assists.

Kucherov should have no problem creating chances for his teammates against a fatigued Maple Leafs team playing for nothing. Don't be surprised if Point is often on the receiving end.

Odds: +140 (playable to +125)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X at @ToddCordell.

Copyright © 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find year-round coverage of betting news and insights for all sports by visiting our Betting section and subscribing to push notifications.

We swept the board Monday night, cashing in on the Islanders and both player props.

We'll look to replicate that performance with three more plays for the last big slate of the NHL season.

Dylan Larkin: Over 3.5 shots

Larkin is a one-man shooting gallery. He has averaged 4.4 shots on 7.7 attempts over the past 10 games and has gone over this total in five of the past seven.

The Red Wings are playing for their season and ramping up Larkin's usage. The captain has logged at least 20 minutes in seven consecutive games, often playing in the range of 22-to-24 minutes.

Larkin is an efficient shot-generator at the best of times. With so much ice time coming his way, it is no coincidence we're seeing a big spike in production.

The Red Wings are playing in a must-win game Tuesday. They have to get two points to have any chance of making the dance, meaning Larkin will see a full dose of usage even if up two or three goals. They simply can't afford to let off the gas.

Larkin has feasted on the Canadiens, recording at least four shots in six of the past seven meetings. They are bleeding shots at five-on-five, struggling on the penalty kill, and giving up a ton to centers on a nightly basis, so there's no reason to expect Larkin to slow down.

Odds: +103 (playable to -140)

Auston Matthews: Over 0.5 goals

Matthews is on an absolute heater. He has scored in eight consecutive games and 11 times over the past 10 contests.

The volume he's generating is simply absurd. Only Nathan MacKinnon - who has logged well over 20 more minutes of ice than Matthews - has recorded more shots in the past 10 games, while No. 34 leads the NHL in scoring chances by a margin of 11. He is piling up the shots, and from dangerous areas at that.

The Maple Leafs are not playing for anything as a team. They won't move in the standings no matter how things play out over the final two games. Their sole purpose is getting Matthews his 70th goal, at which point they can pull the plug on some key regulars and rest them for the playoffs.

I expect the Leafs will do everything they can to get Matthews his historic goal against the Panthers, opening the door for a night of rest Wednesday.

Although the Panthers aren't exactly pushovers, they're missing some key personnel due to injury. That should help the Maple Leafs control more of the puck and create some chances for Matthews that might not have been there otherwise.

Odds: -130

Noah Hanifin: Over 0.5 points

We are riding the wave for Hanifin and riding it well. He has found the scoresheet in his last four games and five of the past six.

Hanifin is playing a lot of minutes behind the Jack Eichel line at even strength and quarterbacking the top power-play unit. He's getting the optimal usage for point production and taking full advantage of it.

I expect that will be the case again versus the Blackhawks. They're one of the worst defensive teams in the NHL, and Arvid Soderblom is incapable of bailing them out.

Soderblom owns a putrid .880 save percentage through 31 appearances and ranks dead last in goals saved above expected.

The matchup is as good as it gets for Hanifin and the Golden Knights. Given they'd control their destiny with a win, putting them in a good position to avoid an opening-round matchup with the Stars, they should put their pedal through the floor.

Odds: +105 (playable to -130)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X at @ToddCordell.

Copyright © 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find year-round coverage of betting news and insights for all sports by visiting our Betting section and subscribing to push notifications.

We have one of our last big slates of the season as half of the league is set to take the ice Monday night.

Let's take a look at a few of my favorite betting spots.

Islanders (-115) @ Devils (-105)

The Devils remain a target as they play out their season. They've won just seven of 18 games since deadline day and posted putrid numbers in that span.

Their five-on-five expected goals share of 45.9% is among the worst in the NHL, and without Jack Hughes, they don't have as much high-end talent to compensate. It's not a good recipe.

While the Devils might have some extra pep in their step playing in their season finale on home ice, I have a hard time believing they'll be able to match the Islanders' intensity. New York has a ton to play for as it'd clinch a playoff spot with a result in this game.

Several teams are on the Islanders' tails. They won't want to drop this game and leave their playoff spot to chance in the finale.

They're also just a much better team than the Devils right now. The Islanders sit 15th in high-danger chance share since deadline day, 12 slots higher than New Jersey.

It's also worth noting only eight teams have allowed fewer power-play markers than the Islanders over the past five weeks. The Devils have struggled at five-on-five and relied on the power play to give them some big goals. They probably won't get those against the Islanders, making it difficult to keep up.

Look for the Islanders to grind out a playoff-clinching win.

Bet: Islanders (-115)

Dylan Larkin: Over 3.5 shots

Larkin has taken things up a notch as his Red Wings fight tooth and nail for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. He averaged 4.3 shots on 7.2 attempts over the last 10 games and registered at least three shots all but once.

I expect his increased volume to continue against the Canadiens. Larkin has feasted on them in recent years, generating four shots or more in six of the past eight head-to-head meetings.

The Canadiens are a poor shot-suppression team and sit 29th in shots allowed versus centers over the past 10 games. They should provide Larkin with as advantageous of a matchup as he could hope.

Expect Larkin to fire pucks on net early and often with his team's season on the line.

Bet: -122 (playable to -140)

Brayden Point: Over 2.5 shots

Point is as good as it gets when playing on home ice. He's gone over his total 27 times through 38 tries, good for an absurd 71% success rate.

Zooming in a little further, Point has three shots or more in 15 of his past 19 in Tampa Bay. That's a 79% clip spanning over multiple months.

I'm expecting another active performance against the Sabres. They're a below-average team when it comes to preventing shots versus centers.

Superstar linemate Nikita Kucherov also sits at 98 assists. He's chasing history and, with the Lightning locked into their playoff spot, they'll no doubt want him to tidy up so they can rest him and other key players.

That means Kucherov should be as pass-happy as ever, almost solely focusing on distributing the puck. Point rides shotgun with Kucherov at even strength and on the power play, making him a prime beneficiary.

Odds: -145 (playable to -160)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X at @ToddCordell.

Copyright © 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find year-round coverage of betting news and insights for all sports by visiting our Betting section and subscribing to push notifications.

We have a five-game slate ahead of us on Friday. Let's look at a few of my favorite props as we aim to rebound from a tough night on the ice.

Connor Bedard: Over 0.5 goals

Bedard has scored just one goal over his past 10 games. Friday night offers him a good opportunity to get back on track.

The Predators sit in the bottom five in shots against over the last 10 games. They've also given up more volume to opposing centers than any other team during that stretch, which should help raise Bedard's shooting floor and ceiling.

And there's the good old-fashioned due factor. Bedard has generated 33 scoring chances and 35 shots on goal over his past 10 games. His outputs translate to 3.39 expected goals, but he's only found the back of the net once.

Bedard is a high-end finisher who's converted on nearly 11% of his shots this season. It's abnormal for him to run this dry. Given the volume we've seen from him of late - and how much the Predators have conceded - this is a good spot for him to find the back of the net.

Odds: +190 (playable to +175)

Evan Bouchard: Over 0.5 assists

Bouchard is an assist machine. He's registered 62 helpers through 77 games and has done his best work on home soil - where he finds himself on Friday night.

He's assisted on at least one goal in nine of his past 10, 12 of the past 15, and 21 of the last 30 in Edmonton. Those remarkably high success rates show he's in good form and can sustain these numbers over the long haul.

The blue-liner is in an elite matchup to continue his hot streak. The Coyotes have struggled to keep the puck out of the net all season and show no signs of improvement. Only four teams have conceded more goals than the Yotes (35) over the last 10 games.

Arizona gives up a lot of quality chances, and discipline is an issue. Edmonton is lethal on the power play (Bouchard runs point on the top unit) and might be the last team you want to run into penalty trouble against.

Whether Connor McDavid plays or not, the Oilers are primed to make some noise offensively. Look for Bouchard's puck-distributing skills to lead to at least one marker.

Odds: -140 (playable to -155)

Noah Hanifin: Over 0.5 points

Hanifin is in the best role imaginable with the Golden Knights. He's getting a ton of the ice time at even strength behind Jack Eichel and the team's lethal top line, which raises his offensive ceiling.

Rightly or wrongly, Hanifin also unseated Shea Theodore as the quarterback of the top power-play unit. He's getting optimal deployment to create offense. It's clearly paying off: Hanifin has four points over his past four games despite the Golden Knights losing three of them.

Vegas is in a good spot to rebound Friday night at home versus a Wild team playing for nothing. I expect the Golden Knights to put their best foot forward in a winning effort and Hanifin to find the scoresheet along the way.

Odds: +110 (playable to -120)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X at @ToddCordell.

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