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.

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 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.

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

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.

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 busy 10-game card ahead of us Thursday night. There's plenty of value on the board, but I see most in backing a couple of teams that still have a lot on the line. Let's look closer.

Devils (+170) @ Maple Leafs (-200)

The Devils appear ready to pack things in and call it a season. Despite getting high-end goaltending from Jake Allen, the club has won just six of its 16 games since deadline day.

New Jersey has controlled only 44% of the expected goal share in that span, putting it in the company of teams like the Blue Jackets and Ducks. And things are only getting worse.

With the playoffs completely out of the picture, the Devils have shut down Jack Hughes. That removes the most dynamic player from a lineup already looking pretty thin.

There isn't much meat on the bone remaining for a New Jersey team playing out its final string of games, while the Maple Leafs have plenty of incentive to put their best foot forward.

Home ice in the first round is still on the table for Toronto. The club's also chasing history with a 70-goal campaign very much within Auston Matthews' grasp.

The Maple Leafs are in much better form than the Devils and have a lot more to play for. I expect that to shine through en route to a win inside 60 minutes.

Bet: Maple Leafs in regulation (-125)

Canadiens (+175) @ Islanders (-210)

The Canadiens stomped the Flyers last time they played, but don't let that result fool you. Montreal has played poorly lately, particularly on the defensive side of the ice.

The Habs have given up an alarming amount of shots, chances, and expected goals over the past 10 games and rank in the bottom three in each category.

The Islanders aren't the most prolific offensive team. However, they have some players at the top of the lineup who can make you pay, namely Bo Horvat, Mathew Barzal, Brock Nelson, and Noah Dobson.

Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault has performed well this season, but his game has dipped lately. He's allowed three goals or more in eight of the past 11 starts and won only three of those.

With just five goals against over the last four contests, New York is doing a great job limiting opposing offenses. Montreal will have difficulty keeping up offensively with an Islanders squad still trying to clinch a playoff spot.

New York has won five in a row and six of seven. Look for the red-hot Islanders to pick up another two points in regulation.

Bet: Islanders in regulation (-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.

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 jam-packed cards of the season Thursday night. Let's waste no time getting to our bets.

Auston Matthews: Over 4.5 shots

Matthews is firing on all cylinders as he continues his quest for 70 goals. He leads the NHL in scoring chances over the past 10 games and has recorded more shots on goal than all but Nathan MacKinnon in that span.

Playing with Max Domi has seen Matthews hit a different gear shooting the puck. Matthews attempts nearly 10 more shots per 60 minutes of five-on-five play when riding shotgun with Domi over Mitch Marner or William Nylander. He's also scoring 2.95 goals per 60 minutes with Domi, miles ahead of his 1.6 average with the other two players.

Matthews is the biggest shooting threat in the league right now. There's no reason to expect that to change against the Devils.

The 26-year-old is chasing history and has an excellent matchup in front of him. New Jersey is bleeding shots every night. And with Jack Hughes shut down for the season, they're spending even more time on their heels.

This is a spot where Matthews could produce a multi-goal performance and put himself within reach of 70. I expect him to be firing early and often.

Odds: -114 (playable to -135)

Erik Karlsson: Over 2.5 shots

Karlsson has gone over this total in six of the past 10 games, averaging nearly seven shot attempts per contest.

His recent shooting success should continue in an advantageous matchup against the Red Wings. They're giving up a lot of shot volume nightly, especially to opposing defensemen. Only the Blue Jackets have allowed more shots on goal per game to the position over the last 10 contests.

Karlsson averages more than 24 minutes per game and is one of the few offensively dynamic weapons the Penguins feature.

Head coach Mike Sullivan will no doubt heavily rely on Karlsson to create offense in a matchup between two sides fighting for the Eastern Conference's final wild-card spot.

Karlsson had no problem doing so in recent meetings, recording four shots on goal in four of the past five versus Detroit. Expect him to make his mark offensively again.

Odds: -134 (playable to -150)

Brock Nelson: Over 2.5 shots

Nelson is one of the most consistent shot-generators in the league on home ice. He's registered at least three shots in 25 of 38 games in New York, good for a 66% success rate.

Although his volume has dipped a little lately, the Canadiens could be just what the doctor ordered to get back on track.

Columbus and Detroit are the only teams to have conceded more shots on goal than Montreal over the past 10 games.

The Canadiens also sit 30th in shots allowed to opposing centers in that span, making this an opportune spot for Nelson to make noise.

With the Islanders still trying to solidify a playoff position, Patrick Roy will give Nelson and the team's top players a full workload.

Odds: -125 (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.

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

Three NHL games are scheduled for Wednesday night, but only one pops off the page.

Let's look at how we're attacking the day's marquee matchup.

Golden Knights (-105) @ Oilers (-115)

The Oilers could be playing without superstar Connor McDavid in what might well be a playoff preview for the opening round. That'd be a problem.

Edmonton played without its captain for two games earlier this season, dropping both contests and being outscored by six on aggregate.

Life without McDavid has never really been kind to the Oilers. Dating back a few seasons, they've dropped six of the last seven without him, and the offense dried up as they scored more than three goals just once.

While this could be the best version of Edmonton we've seen, I still expect the struggles without McDavid to continue against the Golden Knights if he's unable to play.

Vegas sits tied for sixth in five-on-five goal share over the past 10 games, and its lineup is seemingly getting better by the day. Tomas Hertl made his highly anticipated team debut Monday and found the scoresheet while logging over 20 minutes of ice time.

Hertl gives an already-quality club another impact player who can raise the floor and ceiling nightly.

I think the Golden Knights are better than the McDavid-less Oilers. They're also jockeying for seeding and coming off a pair of losses. Look for a hungry Vegas team to earn two points in this one.

Bet: Golden Knights (+100)

Jack Eichel: Over 3.5 shots

We've consistently targeted Eichel in recent weeks, and there's no reason to get away from that Wednesday.

Eichel recorded at least four shots in 15 of the past 19 games and posted three in each exception. He's shooting the puck a ton.

Vegas ranks fourth in five-on-five pace over the last 10 contests and should create a healthy shooting environment for Eichel in an enticing matchup.

The Oilers have also conceded 11.10 shots per game to centers during that span, tied for eighth most in the NHL.

With Edmonton playing high-event hockey and struggling to slow opposing centers, Eichel is primed to continue his shooting success.

Odds: -134 (playable to -150)

Evander Kane: Over 2.5 shots

Kane has slowed down lately, but a few things are working in his favor here.

He's consistently fared well on home ice, generating three shots or more at a 62% clip this season and 67% over the last two years.

Kane is also coming off three days of rest, which has served him well both times this campaign. Over two such instances, Kane posted 11 shots on 21 attempts.

And McDavid's potential absence opens the door for more offensive opportunities. Kane is skating in the top six and could be on the No. 1 power-play unit, which he's usually not a part of.

Kane recorded at least three shots in both games McDavid missed earlier in the season despite difficult matchups against the Rangers and Wild. I expect him to do the same against the Golden Knights.

Odds: +103 (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.