We had another solid night on the ice Friday. We put together a 3-2 evening between our best bets and player props and turned a profit again.

We'll look to keep the train on track with three more plays for Saturday's slate.

Maple Leafs (-145) @ Predators (+125)

Death, taxes, and backing the Predators. I think they've played a lot better than given credit for this season, and I see value in them again at home versus the Maple Leafs.

Nashville has mostly looked good under new head coach Andrew Brunette. Led by Filip Forsberg, the club has threatened at five-on-five while playing the kind of defense that would make GM Barry Trotz proud.

The Preds have conceded just 2.07 expected goals per 60 minutes at five-on-five, which is the best mark in the league. Factor in the strong goaltending behind that defense, and it's no surprise they've conceded just 1.75 goals per 60 at full strength.

The Maple Leafs are a very good team, but they've shown some warts. They've lacked secondary scoring, and the defense has been mediocre.

Those issues haven't looked as noticeable with Joseph Woll between the pipes. The youngster has played shockingly well and leads the league in goals saved above expected.

Unfortunately for Toronto, it likely won't have Woll in net to mask the blemishes. The expectation is Ilya Samsonov will get the nod in goal for this game.

Samsonov has conceded 5.2 goals more than expected through just four appearances. Not only has he failed to cover up Toronto's mistakes, but he's made plenty of his own.

With a strong five-on-five profile, home ice, and a big advantage between the pipes - Juuse Saros is generally as reliable as they come - I see value in the Predators as home underdogs.

Bet: Predators (+125)

Jakob Chychrun over 2.5 shots

Chychrun has logged at least 21:55 of ice time in four of the past five games, headlined by a 28-minute effort last time out. He took full advantage of that workload, firing a whopping nine shots on goal.

Although Chychrun may not flirt with 30 minutes each night, he should routinely play 25-plus moving forward.

The Senators are dealing with ailments on defense. Erik Brannstrom suffered an injury early in Ottawa's last game, which is why so much fell onto Chychrun's plate. Then news came that Thomas Chabot, who played 22 minutes against the Islanders, also suffered an injury and will be out for weeks, if not months.

As a cherry on top, Artem Zub is also banged up. That means three of Ottawa's top five defensemen are sidelined.

Chychrun is a minutes eater who has always generated shots in bulk on the back end. Given the injuries Ottawa is dealing with, Chychrun will get as much ice as he can handle from head coach DJ Smith.

Expect him to make the most of it.

Odds: -140 (playable to -160)

Kyle Connor over 3.5 shots

Connor is firing on all cylinders for the Jets. He leads the team in goals, points, shot attempts, shots on target, and scoring chances through seven contests.

The shot volume has been strong from Connor, who's averaging a hair under eight attempts per game. That's more than enough to go over his total on any given night, which is why he has hit the over more than he's come up short this season.

Although Connor is a strong five-on-five player, he greatly benefits from his shot being the focal point of Winnipeg's power play. The good news is he has the best matchup imaginable to take advantage of that.

The Canadiens lead the league in shorthanded time on ice per game, and they rank dead last in suppressing expected goals while undermanned. Put simply, Montreal takes a ton of penalties and is quite bad at killing them.

This is a prime matchup for Connor to put up a big shot total.

Odds: -106 (playable to -135)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @ToddCordell.

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Thursday was a good night for our shot props. We cashed two of three plays, with Adam Fantilli coming up one short of a sweep despite logging 18 minutes in a high-event matchup.

At any rate, we'll take the profit and look to continue our strong start to the season with three more props for Friday night's slate.

Jack Eichel over 3.5 shots

Eichel is off to a very strong shooting start. He's registered at least four shots in five of seven games, falling only one shy in the other two.

Eichel is averaging a healthy seven shot attempts per game, which is a massive number for him. He's a very accurate shooter and doesn't need as many attempts as some to go over his shot total.

For perspective, Eichel registered six-plus attempts in 41 games last season. He had four-plus shots in 31 contests, good for a whopping 76% success rate. If we raise the bar to games in which Eichel recorded seven attempts - this season's average - he hit in 24 of 29 (83%).

He shouldn't have much difficulty getting to that number Friday against the Blackhawks. They're dead last in five-on-five shot suppression and concede a ton of volume to opposing centers.

Eichel went over his total against Chicago just a few days ago. There's no reason to expect any different this time around.

Odds: -120 (playable to -135)

Kirill Kaprizov over 3.5 shots

While I generally prefer backing Kaprizov on home ice, a date with the Capitals seems like a worthwhile exception.

They're not a good defensive team and are routinely giving up shots and goals in bulk. A high-event game environment in Washington should serve Kaprizov well.

There are a couple of other things that should aid Kaprizov's chances. For one, Minnesota can't defend a lick right now. The Wild need to generate a lot of offense to outscore their problems, which means loosening the leash for Kaprizov.

His road volume is also extremely strong right now. He's averaging 8.7 shot attempts per game away from Minnesota, well above last year's rate of 6.7.

So long as Kaprizov continues to generate shots at this clip, there's value in backing him anywhere.

Odds: -115 (playable to -125)

Quinn Hughes over 2.5 shots

Hughes said he wanted to shoot the puck more this season. We're still dealing with small samples, but that sure doesn't appear to be wordplay.

He's recorded three-plus shots in five of six games, and the shot attempt output we've seen is remarkably high.

Hughes has attempted 51 shots through just six games. No other Canucks player is in the same stratosphere, with Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser sitting tied for second on the team at 28 each.

An average of 8.5 attempts is something you expect to see from players like Kaprizov, Jack Hughes, and Auston Matthews. That we can get someone with that volume at a 2.5 line is a bargain.

Even if you expect Hughes to slow down, this is not the matchup for that to happen. The Blues rank 30th in shots against per game versus defensemen and are in the latter half of a road back-to-back.

They should be an inviting opponent for Hughes to build on his early-season success.

Odds: -105 (playable to -135)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @ToddCordell.

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We have the first 16-game slate in NHL history ahead of us Tuesday night. Let's waste no time getting to a handful of my favorite props on the board.

William Nylander over 3.5 shots

The Capitals have bled shots over their first few games of the season. Only the Sharks, who should contend for last place in the NHL, have allowed shots at a higher clip during five-on-five play.

To make matters worse, Washington also takes a ton of penalties. The Capitals are averaging nearly eight minutes per game on the penalty kill, leaving plenty of opportunities for opponents to generate shots in bulk.

All of this should be music to Nylander's ears. He's attempted 40 shots through five games - good for a healthy average of eight per contest - and is one attempt behind Auston Matthews for the team lead at full strength. Nylander is also one of the focal points on the man advantage, meaning he's in a prime position to exploit the Capitals' inability to stay out of the box.

This is a great matchup for Nylander at five-on-five and on the power play. Look for him to stay hot and take advantage.

Odds: -118 (playable to -130)

Kyle Connor over 3.5 shots

The Blues aren't a good defensive team on paper, and that's translated to the ice. Only three clubs have allowed five-on-five shots at a higher rate than the Blues.

St. Louis has struggled most with left-wingers, ranking dead last in shots allowed per game to the position.

It just so happens that the Jets' leader in shot attempts, shots on goal, scoring chances, and expected goals is a left-winger.

Connor is averaging 4.6 shots on 8.2 attempts per game this season. He's also much more effective at home than on the road, as his hit rate in Winnipeg was 22% higher a season ago.

Connor should be in for a ceiling performance against this underwhelming Blues team.

Odds: -105 (playable to -125)

Filip Forsberg over 3.5 shots

Forsberg is on another level right now. He's generated 29 shots on goal and 56 attempts through six games. That's Nathan MacKinnon and David Pastrnak territory when it comes to shot creation.

The market has yet to adjust as Forsberg's shot line remains at 3.5 each night.

Forsberg has hit in five of six games and finds himself in a great spot Tuesday to continue his shooting success.

The Canucks rank in the bottom 10 in shots against per 60 minutes at five-on-five, and their penalty-killing metrics are abysmal. Forsberg is the Predators' leading shooter at even strength, and getting him the puck in shooting position is priority No. 1 for the power play.

Forsberg should test Thatcher Demko often in this one and go over the number with room to spare.

Odds: -118 (playable to -135)

Timo Meier over 0.5 points

We backed Meier for a point last time out, and he cashed us out with a primary assist in the first period. I see plenty of reason to return to him against the Canadiens.

First and foremost, Meier remains on the top line with the Devils' best player. Jack Hughes has piled up 10 points through four games and has looked unstoppable.

Riding shotgun with Hughes will provide a ton of opportunities for Meier, who's more than capable of taking advantage. He's averaged more than 70 points per season over the last couple of years.

Meier also gets to square off against the lesser of Montreal's goalies. Jake Allen stole the show in Buffalo on Monday, which means the Devils will see Sam Montembeault.

He's coming off a rough preseason in which he allowed nine goals on just 58 shots faced (.845 save percentage).

Not very often do you get an elite offensive winger playing alongside a Hart Trophy candidate at anywhere close to this price, especially against one of the league's worst teams. There's immense value here.

Odds: -120 (playable to -170)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @ToddCordell.

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We're not even two weeks into the 2023-24 NHL campaign and we're already starting to see meaningful shifts in the futures market.

The landscape for the Hart Trophy, in particular, looks quite different than it did to begin the month. Let's take a closer look.

Note: Only listed players 60:1 or shorter

Connor McDavid is still the favorite to win the Hart, but his implied odds have dropped from 50% to 36.4%. That's a massive change in such a short period of time.

The fact there are 14 players with at least as many points as McDavid is a factor. McDavid getting injured and missing three-to-five games is also a factor. However, the biggest is the play of New Jersey Devils superstar Jack Hughes.

Hughes was one of my best bets to win the Hart Trophy at the beginning of the month. At +1600, the odds implied less than a 6% chance of him taking home the hardware. Fast forward and his chances are nearly four times as high, as Hughes' +350 odds imply a 22.2% chance.

That's an extremely large adjustment, and it was made for good reason. Hughes couldn't have started the season any better, as he has 10 points, all primary, through four games.

Only Alex DeBrincat and Dylan Larkin have more primary points than Hughes. They both sit one ahead, but they've played two more games.

On a per-game basis, nobody has outproduced Hughes. He's averaging more than five shots on goal per contest, creating a ton of offense for his linemates (as evidenced by his six assists), and carrying a McDavid-esque workload, averaging more than 22 minutes a game.

Given the immense talent of the former first overall pick - as well as the crazy usage and strong supporting cast - there's no reason to believe Hughes' outputs are smoke and mirrors.

So long as he stays healthy, he should be one of the league's top scorers on a Devils team expected to contend for a Metro Division title. That'll put him firmly in contention for his first Hart.

Although Hughes is the biggest mover to date, he's not the only one rising up the leaderboard.

A pair of early hat tricks have seen Auston Matthews' odds go from +1100 to +650. Leon Draisaitl has also seen a slight boost. His per-game outputs are actually a little better than McDavid's, and he'll have an extra chunk of games to gain separation.

In terms of fallers, Jason Robertson is the most noteworthy name still on the board. He has just two points through four games (zero goals) and hasn't generated shots or chances at anywhere close to the level we're accustomed to seeing.

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @ToddCordell.

Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We finished last week on a strong note, going 2-1 Friday to give us a fourth consecutive winning night.

We'll look to pick up where we left off with a couple of plays for the lone game on Monday's NHL card.

Let's get right to them.

Cole Caufield over 3.5 shots

Caufield's piled up the shots in the early going of the season. He's attempted 33 shots through four games, which equates to more than eight per contest. That kind of volume will lead to a lot of success in the shot prop market, so it's no surprise Caufield has hit the over in three of four games.

What I love about Caufield is a lot of his volume is coming at five-on-five. He doesn't need an abundance of power-play opportunities to generate shots.

That said, serving as the Canadiens' main man on the power play is definitely a positive - especially against the Sabres.

Buffalo has spent more than six minutes per game killing penalties so far. If it gives Montreal three or four opportunities on the man advantage, that should lead to extra shooting looks for Caufield and lighten the load of what he needs to accomplish at full strength.

Caufield has registered at least five shots on goal in three straight games. He also accomplished that feat in both meetings with the Sabres last season.

Win or lose, expect Caufield to put plenty of pucks toward the net in this one.

Odds: -115 (playable to -130)

Dylan Cozens over 0.5 points

Cozens is heating up in a big way. After a couple of pointless efforts to start the campaign, Cozens has responded by finding the scoresheet at least once in three straight games. The shot volume is also way up, with Cozens attempting 23 shots over those three contests.

The Sabres recently moved Cozens to the top line to ride shotgun with Tage Thompson. The move paid immediate dividends as the pair posted incredible on-ice numbers, combining for 14 scoring chances in their first game together against the Islanders.

Cozens should greatly benefit from playing with a linemate like Thompson, one of the NHL's best point producers who doesn't face top-line competition on home ice. Cozens will get to play with the Sabres' best weapon and avoid the most difficult matchups, meaning he'll be placed in ideal situations to produce offense.

There's always the power play if he fails to get anything done at even strength. Cozens is a focal point for the Sabres on the man advantage, with nobody taking more shots in the situation for the team. And the Canadiens lead the league in penalty kill time per contest.

Cozens has various pathways to pick up a point in this game.

Odds: -120 (playable to -140)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @ToddCordell.

Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Thursday was another good night on the ice. Between sides and player props, we hit three of five bets - including a +160 underdog with the Predators.

Let's explore three favorites on Friday's card as we look to keep the ball rolling.

Devils (-120) @ Islanders (+100)

The Devils entered the season with very high expectations - and rightfully so. They were one of the league's best teams last year and look even better on paper with Tyler Toffoli, top prospect Luke Hughes, and goal-scoring winger Timo Meier on the roster from the start. However, they haven't lived up to the billing.

New Jersey opened the year with three straight home games and dropped two of them. In the lone victory against the Red Wings, the Devils started slowly and were forced to erase an early deficit to get a result. Not ideal.

As sluggish as the Devils have looked, I still believe they're an upper-echelon club, and we're getting a discounted price right now.

The Devils have an 80-point Selke finalist, Nico Hischier, centering their second line and a near-point-per-game winger in Jesper Bratt by his side. Not many teams have anywhere close to that level of firepower on their second line. The Islanders certainly fall short.

I think it's only a matter of time before the Devils hit their stride and start to play like the dominant team they were for so much of last season.

While a date with Ilya Sorokin isn't ideal for an offensive breakout, I still quite like the Devils' chances. The Islanders barely squeaked into the playoffs last season and made zero notable additions in the offseason. They are what they are: a bubble team.

After multiple underwhelming efforts to start the year, and a few days to chew on them, I'm expecting a more talented Devils side to flex their muscles this time out.

Odds: Devils (-120)

Timo Meier over 0.5 points

Meier's campaign is off to a miserable start. Through three games, he hasn't found the scoresheet and has only registered four shots on goal. For perspective, last season he averaged more than four shots … per game.

He's in a healthy rut, and the Devils are determined to get him out of it. Their solution is to slot Meier alongside Jack Hughes on the team's top line. Hughes has piled up six points through just three games and looked dynamic every time over the boards. Suffice it to say, Meier should benefit from playing on his wing.

There's also the regression element. Meier scored 40 goals last season and has averaged more than 70 points over the past two years. He's one of the league's better scoring wingers and, at 27, there's no reason to believe the bottom has suddenly fallen out.

Meier is a great player going through a quiet spell. Getting a shot on Hughes' line should be just what he needs to get going. At even money, there's tremendous value in backing him to register his first point of the season.

Odds: +100 (playable to -140)

Rasmus Andersson over 0.5 points

Andersson is off to a strong start offensively. He's registered at least a point in three of four games and attempted six shots in the lone failure. He's an excellent puck-mover and is generating a lot of shots, which is a good recipe for production.

The Blue Jackets have struggled mightily without the puck. They rank second to last in shot suppression at even strength, meaning they spend a ton of time on their heels in the defensive zone. There should be plenty of opportunities for Andersson to make plays with the puck while sustaining pressure in the offensive zone at five-on-five.

Andersson also quarterbacks the top power play of a Flames team that's scored on the man advantage in three of four games thus far.

Between skating on PP1 and playing big minutes for a team with a huge five-on-five advantage, Andersson should get a ton of touches in the offensive zone.

Look for one of them to turn to gold.

Odds: -120 (playable to -140)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @ToddCordell.

Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We're coming off another successful night on the ice, going 2-1 with our best bets on Wednesday night.

We'll look to keep the profit train moving with a pair of sides - including a healthy underdog - for Thursday's jam-packed slate of games.

Predators (+160) @ Rangers (-190)

The Predators are off to an underwhelming 1-3 start, but they've played a lot better than the results suggest.

They've controlled a healthy 58% share of the expected goals at five-on-five, a top-five mark in the NHL. Making those metrics all the more impressive is the fact their schedule has been so demanding. They've faced the Lightning, Kraken, Bruins, and Oilers - four playoff teams from a season ago.

Nashville has only conceded five goals at full strength thus far, and four of those came against a desperate Oilers team last time out.

The Predators really haven't given their opponents much. Considering the goaltending they generally get, that's a recipe for success over the long haul if they can continue to play like they have.

Coming off a pair of losses - including a blowout last game - I think we're going to see a top-tier effort from the Predators. You can't earn a playoff spot in October, but you can lose one, and a 1-4 start would begin to point the Predators in that direction.

The Rangers look pretty good statistically right now, but it's worth noting their schedule has been ultra-soft. They've played a Sabres team that'll likely be on the playoff bubble, as well as the Blue Jackets and Coyotes, two teams that failed to win even 30 games a season ago.

I'm expecting a tight, low-scoring game in which there isn't much separating the two teams. At +160, I'll happily roll the dice with a desperate Predators side in what should be a pretty evenly matched contest.

Bet: Predators (+160)

Kings (-110) @ Wild (-110)

The Wild aren't off to the most impressive of starts. Although they own a 2-1 record through three games, there are a lot of concerns beneath the hood right now.

Minnesota was absolutely dominated in its season opener, getting outshot 41-21 by a Panthers team missing its two best defensemen and second-line center. Not great.

They followed that up by giving up seven goals to the Maple Leafs. They only took three penalties and didn't allow an empty-netter, so it's not as if the output was inflated by unusual circumstances.

The Wild played well against the Canadiens, but that's the Canadiens. Not a lot can be expected from them on any given night - especially when Jake Allen isn't manning the crease.

I think the Wild are a little overrated right now. The loss of Jared Spurgeon really hurts them at both ends of the ice. I also think they're leaving value on the table against the Kings by starting Marc-Andre Fleury again rather than going back to Filip Gustavsson, who already stole the Wild a game this season.

The Kings are a deeper team up front and very stout defensively. In fact, only the Stars and Islanders have done a better job of limiting expected goals thus far.

That - along with the Wild not using their best goaltender - should more than offset the gap between the two sides in goal.

Bet: Kings (-110)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @ToddCordell.

Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After a quiet two-game slate, the NHL is back in full force on Thursday night with 24 of the league's 32 teams set to hit the ice.

Let's take a closer look at a few of my favorite props on the board.

Jordan Kyrou over 3.5 shots

Kyrou didn't end last season on the best of terms. He was rifting with Blues head coach Craig Berube, and his ice time - and shot outputs - decreased as a result.

A new year has provided a fresh start for everyone, and Kyrou is certainly making the most of it. He's logged more than 40 minutes through two games - a far cry from the 15-to-16 minutes per game he routinely played down the stretch last season - and amassed 18 shot attempts. That's an average of nine per game, which is a very strong rate.

What's impressive is that Kyrou got the job done as a shooter despite stiff competition. His first two games came against a Stars team that made the final four and a Kraken team that's extremely good at limiting shots and sucking the life out of opposing offenses. For Kyrou to generate such volume against those teams is a very encouraging sign.

The Coyotes are an improved team, but they can still be exploited defensively. Kyrou should see favorable matchups on home ice, and I expect he'll make the most of them.

Odds: -115 (playable to -130)

Jake DeBrusk over 2.5 shots

No Bruins player has attempted more five-on-five shots than DeBrusk over the first two games of the year. No, not even David Pastrnak.

That should bode well for his chances of success on Thursday night. The Sharks are an abysmal team, spending most of the time on their heels in the defensive zone and absorbing shots in bulk.

The Sharks have conceded nearly 80 shot attempts and 40 shots on goal per 60 minutes of five-on-five play. Those are absurdly bad numbers.

Sure, their schedule has been difficult. But - even without Patrice Bergeron - the Bruins remain a strong team, especially when it comes to controlling play and winning the shot count.

DeBrusk and the Bruins should spend a ton of time with the puck in the offensive zone, meaning there won't be any shortage of shooting opportunities.

Odds: -115 (playable to -130)

Miro Heiskanen over 2.5 shots

The Ducks were an unmitigated disaster defensively last year and appear to be once again this season. The core of their team is largely the same, and they didn't make any needle-moving additions to their blue line in the summer.

Given as much, it's hardly surprising they rank dead last in five-on-five shot suppression through the first week of the season.

Heiskanen should be one of the prime beneficiaries of this matchup. He plays on the top pairing at even strength, he skates on the top power play, and he's a more than willing shooter.

He hit the over in all three meetings with the Ducks a season ago. Based on his current shooting form (he has 14 attempts through two games), I'm confident he's in a good shooting state of mind to keep that streak going.

Odds: -105 (playable to -125)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @ToddCordell.

Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We have a juicy nine-game slate ahead of us on Tuesday night. Let's take a closer look at a few plays that pop off the page as we look to rebound from a disappointing 1-2 evening.

Rasmus Dahlin over 2.5 shots

Dahlin has been a one-man shooting gallery in the early going of this season. He attempted 18 shots through only two games, which comfortably leads the Sabres. Dahlin didn't have one abnormally high game to skew the numbers, either. He's attempted at least eight shots each time out, which is usually more than enough to soar past a 2.5-shot line.

Beyond the volume, there are a couple of reasons I really like Dahlin in this spot. The Lightning have struggled mightily to defend, owning a league-worst 33% expected goals share through three contests while allowing shots at one of the highest clips in the NHL.

That the Sabres are winless through a pair of games could help as well. You can't earn a playoff spot in October, but you can lose one. We're still early, but the Sabres - who are expected to be a bubble team - can only spot opponents so much of a head start before they really get into trouble.

I expect Dahlin to get all the ice he can handle and take it upon himself to get involved and make something happen offensively.

Odds: -115 (playable to -130)

Evan Bouchard over 2.5 shots

I'm all-in on Bouchard this year. With Tyson Barrie out of the picture, Bouchard now quarterbacks a historically good power-play unit on a full-time basis while also playing a ton of minutes at even strength.

The workload he'll carry on a nightly basis is going to be enormous. We're already seeing that, with Bouchard logging 24 minutes or more in each game thus far.

Bouchard attempted at least eight shots in each contest. That was enough for him to breeze past his over both times, as the gifted offensive defenseman registered five shots against the Canucks twice in a row.

The Predators are giving up a healthy chunk of shot volume but are doing a great job of keeping most of it to the outside. That should benefit Bouchard, who'll be hovering around the perimeter for about 40% of the game.

Odds: -125 (playable to -135)

Filip Forsberg over 3.5 shots

Forsberg finally has an offensive-minded head coach in Andrew Brunette, and he's making the most of it. The dynamic sniper has been an offensive force, recording three points and attempting at least 11 shots in each of his three games. That's absurd volume.

Although the Oilers have done a good job of limiting shot volume, they struggled mightily against another goal-scoring winger in Brock Boeser. He tallied five points and nine shots on goal over the home-and-home to start the year.

Forsberg is routinely playing 20 minutes a night, which is a new norm for him, and he's one of the most efficient shot-generators in the league. I expect he'll find a way to get his share of shots, especially if the Oilers - who are favored - can get a lead and force the Predators to push for offense.

Odds: +114 (playable to -120)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.

Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We won two of three shot props on Friday night to send us into the weekend on a winning note.

We'll look to pick up where we left off with three more plays for the first card of the week.

Alex Ovechkin over 3.5 shots

The band was back together for the Capitals in their season opener. After an injury-plagued year in which Ovechkin's surroundings were never consistent, he had all of his usual running mates against the Penguins.

Ovechkin was centered by Nicklas Backstrom, T.J. Oshie skated on his opposite wing, and John Carlson was back feeding him one-timers on the man advantage. It paid off.

Although Ovechkin didn't score, he recorded a whopping nine shot attempts and four shots on goal to go over his shot total.

It's the kind of volume we've come to expect from Ovechkin and what we need for him to be a frequent shot prop target once again.

Ovechkin finds himself in a solid spot as he begins the week at home to the Flames. Their shot-suppression numbers have not been great at five-on-five, and they've given up shots at a higher rate than anybody on the penalty kill thus far.

Expect Ovechkin to fire pucks on net early and often once again.

Odds: -125 (playable to -140)

Dylan Larkin over 3.5 shots

Larkin has been a shooting machine through two games. He has registered 17 shot attempts, 13 shots on target, and nine scoring chances, all of which lead the Red Wings. He has not passed up opportunities at five-on-five and also leads the charge on the power play.

Larkin finds himself in a mouthwatering spot to keep firing Monday night against the Blue Jackets. Despite the coaching change and improved personnel, Columbus has still not looked remotely competent defensively. The team has conceded more than 80 shot attempts per 60 minutes at five-on-five, ranking last in that category.

They've also allowed shots on goal, scoring chances, and expected goals at a higher rate than anybody else.

Patrik Laine - who has long struggled defensively as a winger - is currently being used as the team's top-line center while No. 1 defenseman Zach Werenski is sidelined with an injury. Those two things alone paint a good picture of where the Jackets are at right now.

At a generous plus-money price, I see value in backing Larkin's shooting success to continue.

Odds: +120 (playable to -110)

Jesper Bratt under 2.5 shots

We targeted Bratt's under last time out and did not get the wanted result. The process was strong, though. Bratt continued to defer to Jack Hughes and Tyler Toffoli, opting to create shots for them rather than take them. He attempted only two shots at five-on-five, one of which came on a broken play where he had a clear-cut breakaway from center ice and had no choice but to take the shot himself.

That proved to be the nail in the coffin as, by that point, Bratt already had two shots on goal thanks to a never-ending supply of Devils power plays.

I still like what I'm seeing from Bratt as an under target. He has attempted only three five-on-five shots through two games, which is the same total as defensive defenseman Kevin Bahl and the team's fourth-line center, Michael McLeod.

Even in defeat, the Panthers have done a really good job at limiting shots in all situations thus far. I don't expect to see a ton of volume from Bratt against a quality Panthers side that will be fighting tooth and nail to grind out its first win - and point - of the season.

Odds: -135 (playable to -145)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.

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