We have a small but fun five-game slate on the menu for Monday night. Let's take a look at a few of the best ways to attack it.

Nathan MacKinnon over 4.5 shots (-145)

MacKinnon is shooting the lights out right now. He's gone over his total in six of the past nine home games, over which time he's averaged just under eight shot attempts per contest.

Of the three games he's gone under, two were against very structured, slower-paced teams in the Flames and Kraken. I don't think the Blackhawks fit those criteria.

Only two sides have conceded five-on-five shots at a higher rate than Chicago since the trade deadline. This is a very strong matchup for Colorado in that game state, and its elite power play can be expected to make noise against anybody. MacKinnon should generate plenty in all situations.

It's also worth noting the Blackhawks rank 31st in shots against per game to centers over the last 10. That's their worst ranking against any position.

Even juiced, I see plenty of value in backing MacKinnon at home in this spot.

Kris Letang over 2.5 shots (-125)

Letang continues to fire from anywhere and everywhere on home ice. The veteran Penguins blue-liner ranks third in shot attempts (81) across the entire NHL over his past 10 home games.

The only two players who rank ahead of him, Jason Robertson and Roman Josi, always have shots lines set at 3.5, and they're often juiced toward the over. Yet Letang is priced at 2.5.

Letang has hit in eight of his last 10 in Pittsburgh and attempted no fewer than five shots in any of those games. He's generating enough volume to get the job done every single night.

Although the Senators are a competent defensive side in preventing shots, their numbers are much worse on the road. I think they can be had; expect Letang to generate his fair share of shots.

Connor McDavid over 3.5 shots (-115)

I love, love, love, McDavid in this spot. Love him. He's gone over his shot total in 66% of his games this season, including a ridiculous 74% hit rate on home ice.

If we isolate the last 20 home dates, he's registered at least four shots on 16 occasions, falling one shy in all of the exceptions. He's cooking.

Now a scorching-hot McDavid draws a putrid Sharks team that's seen the bottom fall out since the deadline. San Jose has won only once in eight tries, its five-on-five numbers have plummeted, and the team has been taking a ton of penalties.

I don't think the Sharks have the depth or defensive prowess to hold up at five-on-five. Their recent tendency to parade to the box should also serve McDavid well considering he leads the Oilers in power-play shots this season.

There's a ton to like about McDavid in this spot. Quite frankly, I think this price would be better served attached to 4.5 shots, not 3.5.

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.

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We have a jam-packed day of action ahead of us Saturday, with 26 of the NHL's 32 teams in action.

Let's take a closer look at a couple worth backing.

Jets (-140) @ Predators (+120)
March 18, 2 p.m. ET

Despite their recent success, I've been extremely bearish on the Predators. They simply don't have the finishing talent or depth to keep winning games while posting such pedestrian underlying numbers.

They showed us firsthand how lows the lows can be Thursday against the Blackhawks, getting blanked by a bare-bones roster in a must-win game at home.

I think that's the tip of the iceberg for what we'll see from them down the stretch. Hats off to the Predators for staying afloat with the personnel at hand, but it just isn't good enough.

It showed against Chicago, and I expect that will be the case again Saturday versus the Jets.

The Jets are frustratingly inconsistent but have a dynamic top six, which will only be aided by the expected return of Pierre-Luc Dubois.

Their defensive metrics have also been above average since the deadline. When they do suffer breakdowns, they have a probable Vezina finalist in Connor Hellebuyck there to clean up.

I expect the desperate and more talented Jets to control the run of play and generate chances in bulk, as they usually do against the Predators. (They've averaged 39 shots over the past four meetings.) If that's the case, it probably won't even matter that Juuse Saros is at the other end.

Bet: Jets (-140)

Bruins (-165) @ Wild (+140)
Mar. 18, 2 p.m. ET

If you like offense, you'll probably want to go ahead and skip this game. The defenses and goaltenders are simply too good.

The Bruins have conceded five-on-five goals at a lower rate than anybody this season. They also grade out in the top five when it comes to suppressing chances.

They didn't have Charlie McAvoy to start the year and only recently acquired stout two-way defenseman Dmitry Orlov. This version of the Bruins - especially defensively - is better than the one we've seen all season, which is a scary thought.

Then there's the Wild. They rank third in goals against per 60 at five-on-five and fourth in expected goals against. They really don't give their opponents much.

Getting creating quality looks against these defenses is difficult enough, but the forwards have to finish those chances efficiently.

I don't see that happening too often in a likely goaltending duel between Linus Ullmark and Filip Gustavsson.

Ullmark owns a .935 save percentage for the season, leads the league in goals saved above expected, and is the odds-on favorite to bring home the Vezina.

He's expected to square off against the only goaltender who has kept him company in most categories. Gustavsson has a .931 save percentage through 31 appearances and, on a per start basis, ranks only behind Ullmark in GSAE.

Gustavsson has conceded two goals or fewer in 14 of his last 18 games. Given the level he's playing at and the absence of Kirill Kaprizov, you can bet the Wild be doing their best to suck the life out of the game and let their goalie do the rest.

I think this is going to be a tight checking, low-event game that features arguably the NHL's two best netminders this season. We're unlikely to see many goals as a result.

Bet: Under 5.5 (Even)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.

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Thursday night was a good one for our shot props. Carter Verhaeghe and Jared McCann breezed past their totals, ensuring a profitable night despite a dud of a performance from Jason Robertson.

We'll happily take the 2-1 night and look to build upon it with three more plays as we begin the weekend.

Jakub Vrana over 2.5 shots (+115)

To say Vrana has hit the ground running with the Blues would be an understatement. The highly skilled winger has played inside the top six, as well as on the top power play, and has taken full advantage of it.

Vrana has scored three times over three games while generating nine shots on goal and 17 attempts. With just under six attempts per game, Vrana is creating more than enough volume to hit his shot total on a consistent basis.

He finds himself in a juicy matchup Friday night against the Capitals. Not only is it a chance to make some noise against one of his former clubs, but the Capitals enter this game playing some of their worst hockey this season.

At five-on-five, they are bleeding shots and rank 31st in expected goals against per 60 since the trade deadline. We've also seen a healthy uptick in penalties, which means extra time and space for Vrana to go to work.

Vrana has gone over his total in two of three games since debuting with the Blues. Given he's being centered by a strong playmaker in Pavel Buchnevich and is being used in every key offensive situation, I expect him to come through once again.

Tage Thompson over 3.5 shots (-110)

After finding himself a bit of a rut, Thompson is heating up. He has hit in back-to-back games, generating eight attempts or more in each.

That not so coincidently aligns with the return of top line winger Alex Tuch. With Tuch back in the fold, the Sabres' top line possesses more punch and is able to spend additional time on the attack. Clearly, it's paying off.

While we have seen an uptick from Thompson since Tuch's return, it is worth noting he also leads the team in attempts, shots, and chances over the past 10 games. He was still generating plenty as the go-to shooter.

Every point is crucial for the Sabres right now and that is reflecting in Thompson's usage, as he's played 21 minutes or more in two straight contests. So long as this game against a feisty Flyers team remains relatively close - I expect it will - Thompson will get all the ice he can handle.

Troy Terry over 2.5 shots (-125)

Terry is quietly having a productive shooting year, at least on home ice. The skilled winger has averaged 2.9 shots per game in Anaheim and gone over his shot total 57% of the time; including six of his last nine.

He has feasted on underwhelming competition in that span, getting the job done most recently against the Coyotes, Blackhawks, Predators, and Islanders.

Luckily for Terry, he has another mouthwatering matchup in front of him Friday.

The Blue Jackets rank dead last in the NHL and have conceded shots at a higher rate than every other team since their deadline sell-off. They are awful.

I think this is a generous price for Terry at home against the worst defensive team he'll see all season.

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.

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Our lone side of the night suffered defeat in crushing fashion Wednesday. The Sabres led 2-0, 3-1, and 4-2 in Washington but blew it in the dying seconds of the game before eventually losing in a shootout. Gross!

We'll aim to get that taste out of our mouth with a pair of plays for Thursday's 11-gamer. Let's get right to them.

Kraken (-175) @ Sharks (+150)

The Sharks are in it to win it. The Connor Bedard sweepstakes, that is.

They have underperformed based on their five-on-five process for much of the season due to unfathomably bad goaltending. Now that they've traded star winger Timo Meier, as well as depth forwards Nick Bonino and Matt Nieto, the team is underwhelming across the board. The process is bad and the goaltending is more likely to throw San Jose an anchor than a life raft.

As a result, we are seeing truly miserable hockey from the Sharks post-deadline.

They've won one of just six games since March 3. They rank 30th in expected goals against and dead last in goals against on a per 60-minute basis in that span.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know a bad goaltending tandem is not going to hold up behind a team bleeding chances. That's what we're seeing right now.

While these games don't matter one iota to the Sharks, they're crucial for the Kraken. They're in a heated wild-card race and still fighting to move up a slot or two in the Pacific Division. With a win tonight, and some help, they could wake up tomorrow just four points behind the Kings for a slot that would earn them home-ice advantage.

The Kraken are a deeper and more talented team with a lot to play for. I expect that to shine through in this game as they take care of business inside 60 minutes.

Bet: Kraken in regulation (-110)

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

I thought the wrong team was favored at open, and the market seems to agree, with the Flames now being slight favorites in Vegas. I still see value on them at this price, though.

Although it may sound crazy to say the 30-win Flames should be favored on the road against the 42-win Golden Knights, the latter is something of a paper tiger right now.

The Golden Knights own an impressive 6-1 record since the deadline. That doesn't mean they've played well.

At five-on-five, they rank dead last in expected goal share and have conceded xGA at a higher rate than every team in the league. Vegas also slots in the bottom five in high-danger chances against, surrounded by teams like the Blue Jackets and Capitals. Not ideal.

The Golden Knights generated more than 30 shots just once during this 6-1 stretch. They have simply shot the lights out - their shooting percentage sits just under 14% - while the goaltending has been great at the other end.

The opposite is true of the Flames. They are routinely outplaying their opponents, dominating the run of play and generating chances in bulk. They just can't put the puck in the net.

Even if their style of play isn't conducive to high shooting percentages, I think there's room for positive regression there, especially when going up against Adin Hill or Jonathan Quick.

If the desperate Flames can come out and generate, say, 10 more shots than they give up against a Golden Knights side getting cratered at five-on-five, I'm happy to take my chances it'll lead to a positive result.

Quick getting the start here would be ideal - aside from the last couple of games, he has struggled mightily all year - but I see an edge on the Flames regardless.

Bet: Flames (-115)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.

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We split our player props on Wednesday night. Tage Thompson came through against the Capitals; however, Noah Dobson missed the net three times while falling one short to close out the night.

We'll look to get back in the win column with three more plays for Thursday night's huge slate of games.

Carter Verhaeghe over 3.5 shots (-105)

Verhaeghe is sizzling at home. He registered at least four shots on goal in 12 of his last 14 games in Florida, over which time he's averaged 6.36 shot attempts per game.

He let us down last time we backed him, but I love his chances of rebounding Thursday night against the Canadiens.

They are giving up a ton of shot volume right now, especially on the road. Only the Ducks have allowed more shot attempts, and shots on target, per game over their last 10 road dates.

Verhaeghe will benefit mightily from a mouthwatering matchup at five-on-five and on the power play. It just so happens he was recently moved up to the Panthers' top unit. That should afford him an extra shooting opportunity or two, which he probably didn't need.

The Panthers fire shots at will every night. With a juicy matchup and every point crucial, Florida won't take its foot off the gas in this one. Look for Verhaeghe to be very involved offensively.

Jason Robertson over 3.5 shots (+105)

Robertson has teed off on the Oilers this season. Through two meetings, he's produced a whopping 16 shots. No, not attempts; that alone would be fairly impressive. I'm talking shots on goal. He attempted 23 shots over those two games, hitting double digits each time out.

The Oilers are generally a pretty strong shot-suppression team. Their Achilles' heel is taking penalties, and that's where Robertson makes his hay. Only David Pastrnak, Alex Ovechkin, and Mika Zibanejad have recorded more shots on the power play this season, and all three of them have played at least 27 more minutes on the man advantage than Robertson.

He's as efficient as it gets. With the Oilers being one of the league's most penalized teams - on the season and over the last 10 games - Robertson should benefit from plenty of opportunities to go to work.

Jared McCann over 2.5 shots (-135)

Despite their poor record, the Sharks were a pretty good five-on-five team for much of the year. That has completely changed since their deadline sell-off.

In six games since, they've conceded more shots on goal per game than anyone but the Coyotes and Blackhawks. They've also given up a ton of high-quality chances and taken penalties at an increased rate.

All of that is music to the ears of Jared McCann, the Kraken's top weapon. He went over his shot total in six of the past seven games, only failing against a stout Stars team.

McCann not only hit, but smashed in matchups against weaker opponents like the Red Wings and Blue Jackets. I expect that will be the case once again versus the Sharks.

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.

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Tuesday night was a solid one on the ice, as we split our best bets while going 2-1 on player props to turn a profit.

We'll look to keep things moving in the right direction with three more plays for Wednesday's four games.

Sabres (+100) @ Capitals (-120)

Leading up to the trade deadline, the Washington Capitals punted on the season by shipping away a handful of quality contributors in exchange for assets to better serve them in the future. Boy, has it showed.

Since deadline day, the Capitals controlled a putrid 38.54% of the expected goal share at five-on-five. That ranks dead last in the NHL.

Those numbers stem mostly from an inability to defend. With John Carlson and Nick Jensen injured - and Dmitry Orlov now playing for the Boston Bruins - Washington just doesn't have the horses defensively to limit shots and chances at anywhere close to the level it did previously.

For all their faults, the one thing the Buffalo Sabres can really do is put pressure on defenses with a dangerous run-and-gun offense.

Be it at five-on-five or across all game states, the Sabres rank third in goals per 60 minutes this season.

Led by Tage Thompson, Jeff Skinner, Dylan Cozens, Rasmus Dahlin, and Alex Tuch - who just returned to the lineup last time out - the Sabres can do severe damage offensively against teams that aren't up for the challenge.

They should significantly benefit from a date with an injury-plagued Capitals team that can't defend a lick.

Charlie Lindgren's presence between the pipes for Washington in a back-to-back situation will be a nice little bonus. He held up well for the first half of the season, but his play tailed off significantly since the calendar flipped.

Lindgren ranks 64th among 69 eligible netminders in save percentage (.877) in 2023. Suffice to say, he's going to have his hands full against a desperate Sabres team with a lethal offense.

Look for the Sabres to claim another much-needed two points.

Bet: Sabres (+100)

Tage Thompson over 3.5 shots (+110)

Thompson hasn't hit the over as regularly of late, but his shot volume remains consistently high. He's still the Sabres' primary shooter, leading the team by a healthy margin of 11 in shot attempts over the last 10 games.

It just so happens one of Thompson's best games of late came versus the Capitals. At the end of February, he amassed seven shots on goal and 11 attempts against a Washington team that was less thinned out than it is now.

With every point crucial, the Sabres will no doubt be giving Thompson a full workload in this spot. I expect he'll play 19-20 minutes Wednesday night, which should be more than enough for him to take advantage of such a strong matchup.

Noah Dobson over 2.5 shots (-125)

I generally want two things when backing Dobson: home ice and a good matchup. While we don't have the former, the latter more than makes up for it. The Anaheim Ducks are a dream opponent for shooters - especially on the backend.

They've allowed 11.51 shots per game to blue-liners this season, which is good for 32nd in the NHL. Their standing isn't much better over the last 10 games, as they slot 30th.

Dobson leads the New York Islanders in attempts (61) over the past 10, recording 12 more than the closest teammate in that span. He's shooting a lot.

With his average volume, we'd only need Dobson to hit the net on half of his attempts to get the job done. It's possible - and perhaps likely - we'll see an uptick in such a strong matchup.

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.

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Monday night was a good one for our best bets, as we won both our side and our player prop.

We'll look to keep the train on the track Tuesday night with another couple of bets.

Red Wings (+130) @ Predators (-150)

The Predators are 7-2-1 over their last 10 games and are ever so slightly hanging around in the wild-card race as a result. I'm not buying what they're selling, though.

They are lacking high-end talent offensively, and their team defense isn't nearly as potent without Mattias Ekholm. I think a lot of their recent success stems from who they've played.

Over the last five games, for example, the Predators have faced the Blackhawks, Canucks, Coyotes, Ducks, and Kings (minus Kevin Fiala). Getting results during that stretch is hardly impressive.

While the Red Wings don't exactly offer a big step up in competition, that doesn't need to be the case to see value at this price point.

Nashville isn't a good team. The Preds weren't when healthy to begin with and certainly aren't now, having sold off several key pieces while playing without a couple of others.

This Red Wings team undoubtedly has more depth and firepower up front. Ville Husso is no slouch in goal, either, ranking 11th among 42 eligible netminders in save percentage since Jan. 18.

Opportunistic finishing and Husso helped lead the Red Wings to an upset win over a historically good Bruins team just a couple of days ago. It's well within the realm of possibility that they follow it up with another victory against this thin Predators lineup that has overachieved of late.

Bet: Red Wings (+130)

Islanders (+110) @ Kings (-130)

The Kings are playing lights-out defense right now. They have conceded only 79 high-danger chances at five-on-five over the past 10 games, which slots them second in the league.

With Jonathan Quick - who struggled all year long with the Kings - gone and Joonas Korpisalo in the mix, the Kings have two reliable netminders who can give them competent goaltending on a nightly basis.

Factor in their defensive prowess, and it's no coincidence the Kings have conceded two or fewer goals in five straight games. They are a very difficult team to generate offense against.

I expect the Islanders will struggle in that regard on Tuesday night. They're not a great offensive side at the best of times, and their numbers really tail off on the road.

Their expected goal share sits at 48% over the last 10 road dates, and they've net just 2.02 goals per 60 at five-on-five. That ranks them 27th in the league.

With the way the Kings are suppressing chances, this hardly seems like the spot where New York will be able to jumpstart its attack - especially without Mathew Barzal.

Having Fiala in the lineup would certainly be preferable. He's had a very productive year, and the Islanders are most vulnerable conceding shots and chances to wingers.

That being said, the Kings still have plenty of talent there in Adrian Kempe, Viktor Arvidsson, and Gabriel Vilardi, among others.

Look for the Kings to come through in what should be a slower-paced, grind-it-out affair.

Bet: Kings (-130)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.

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We hit our lone player prop Monday night, successfully backing Mikko Rantanen to record an assist at plus money. We'll look to build on that with three more plays for Tuesday night's 12-game slate.

Jack Hughes over 3.5 shots (-120)

Hughes is one of the hottest shooters in the league, especially when playing on home ice. The Devils' young superstar recorded four shots or more in nine of his last 10 games in New Jersey, falling one shy in the lone exception. Hughes attempted seven shots in that game and missed the target on four occasions, so it very easily could've been another hit.

Although a date with the Lightning hardly seems ideal on the surface, Tampa Bay has gone through some issues defensively of late. The Lightning are especially bad on the road, allowing five-on-five shots on goal at a higher rate than all but the Ducks and Blackhawks over their last 10 games.

Hughes has the ability to get the job done against any opponent. He hit the over against the Rangers, Golden Knights, Kings, Maple Leafs, and Hurricanes during this hot streak at home.

With the Lightning laboring defensively and Hughes set to get advantageous matchups, I expect he'll get the job done once again.

Kris Letang over 2.5 shots (-115)

Letang hasn't been a frequent target this year, but his recent numbers have certainly caught my attention.

He registered three shots or more in seven of the past 10 games, and seven of the last nine when playing in Pittsburgh. His volume at home, in particular, has been nothing short of remarkable. Letang averaged 8.22 shot attempts per game over the past nine home dates.

Tonight, Letang finds himself in a juicy spot against the Canadiens, a bad defensive team at the best of times. Now they're playing in a road back-to-back against a Penguins side in the thick of a heated playoff race.

When playing on the road, only the Ducks conceded shots at a higher rate than the Canadiens over the last 10. They're giving up a ton of volume, and Letang - the Penguins' leading shot generator of late - figures to be the prime beneficiary.

Miro Heiskanen over 2.5 shots (-132)

Heiskanen is quickly becoming one of my favourite blue-liners to back. It doesn't seem to matter who he's up against or, more recently, whether he's at home or on the road. He simply gets the job done.

The Stars defenseman just completed a two-game set against a low-event, stingy defensive team in the Kraken. He generated 12 attempts over that span while hitting the over each time out.

Normally not as efficient on the road, Heiskanen quietly generated at least five attempts in nine of his last 10 away from home. That seems to be his magic number - Heiskanen owns a 37-8 record (82% hit rate) when attempting five shots or more this season.

The Canucks have given up a little more volume of late and been a below-average team in limiting shots to defensemen over the past 10 games.

Even in a back-to-back, Heiskanen stands out as someone worth backing.

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.

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We have a pint-sized three-game slate to begin the week. Although there isn't much to choose from on the betting board, a couple of plays still pop off the page.

Let's take a closer look.

Stars (-125) @ Kraken (+105)

The Stars bested the Kraken last time out in an airtight affair. Despite the scoreline, neither team was able to generate much offensively, especially Seattle.

The Kraken only mustered four high-danger chances in more than 63 minutes of action. With a goaltender like Jake Oettinger between the pipes, the Stars will always be in great shape when they limit teams that much.

I expect the Stars to prevail once again in the second leg of a two-game set in Seattle. First and foremost, they're the better team in better form. At five-on-five, Dallas has controlled well over 57% of the expected goals share over the last 10 games. That's a top-five clip in the NHL. Seattle slots far below the Stars in that regard, coming in around 48% (19th) during the same span.

With the Stars getting the better chances on a nightly basis, the best way to unseat them is by winning the goaltending battle. I don't love the Kraken's odds of doing that.

Philipp Grubauer has slowed down of late, allowing nine goals over the past two games. He has started every game in March, so it's possible fatigue is getting to him a bit. He's likely in for another tough night against Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz, et al.

And if Martin Jones gets the nod? That's even better for the Stars' chances. Among 56 netminders to log 400-plus minutes in 2023, Jones ranks 47th with an .892 save percentage. He is really struggling and unlikely to give the Kraken the quality start they'll need - particularly after a couple weeks of idling.

Look for the Stars to grab another win and take all four points in their visit to Seattle.

Bet: Stars (-125)

Mikko Rantanen over 0.5 assists (+110)

The Avalanche are slowly starting to look like the team we've grown accustomed to seeing. Although they still show some flaws without the puck, they're as dangerous as ever with it.

They've scored an average of 3.85 goals per 60 over the past 10, which is more than all but the Oilers and Stars. They're consistently filling the net.

More goals equates to more points opportunities, and there should be plenty on Monday with Colorado taking on a bruised and battered Canadiens team.

The Canadiens - missing seemingly half their roster - have conceded at least three goals in six straight games and allowed 33 shots or more five times in that span. They're giving up a lot.

With the Avalanche in need of every point they can get, I expect they'll ride the big guns for 20-plus minutes again in this game. The only way they won't is if this turns into a blowout, which probably bodes well for Rantanen's chances of getting in on the action.

Rantanen's registered an assist in seven of his last eight games against bottom-10 scoring defenses. I'm happy backing him to do it again at plus money.

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.

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We have a disturbing two-game slate ahead of us Friday night, with both contests projected to be lopsided affairs. Thankfully, the NHL makes up for it with a 15-game whopper Saturday.

Let's look at a couple of my favorite plays for the next two days.

Blackhawks (+360) @ Panthers (-450)
Mar. 10, 7:00 p.m. EST

All signs point toward the Panthers trouncing the Blackhawks in this contest. Florida's underlying metrics are significantly better, the talent gap is substantial, and the club is desperate for points. Meanwhile, Chicago has more incentive to lose games than win them.

Unfortunately, there isn't much value in backing the Panthers - even on the puckline - in this spot. Luckily, there's a way to side with Florida while still getting value - the first-period market.

The Panthers are one of the better offensive teams in the league, and they generally start fast. They rank in the top 10 when it comes to scoring goals in the opening frame.

The same can't be said of the Blackhawks. They're notoriously slow starters, scoring a league-worst 40 first-period goals through 64 games.

That's not because Chicago has tried to play a low-event contest and keep things tight early. The Blackhawks have given up a ton of goals in the first period. Only the Canucks and Ducks have conceded more often in the opening frame this season.

With the Panthers feeling good about themselves following imperative wins over the Penguins and Golden Knights and every point holding so much value, I don't think they'll want to beat around the bush in this spot.

Expect Florida to come out and take the game to Chicago early.

Bet: Panthers first period -0.5 (-120)

Senators (TBD) @ Canucks (TBD)
Mar. 11, 10:00 p.m. EST

Save for a complete dud against the Blackhawks, the Senators continue to chug along in their quest for a wild-card spot.

The game turned into a sweat, but we successfully backed the Senators as road 'dogs Thursday against the Kraken. Ottawa generated 4.2 expected goals in the contest, which is no small feat against Seattle's usually stout defensive team.

Tim Stutzle, Brady Tkachuk, newcomer Jakob Chychrun, and the Sens' top players continue to drive the bus and prove too much to handle for the opposition nightly.

It hasn't much mattered that the bottom six lacks scoring punch and the ability to drive play. Ottawa has still won seven of 10 games and outplayed its opponent more often than not in the process.

I expect more of the same Saturday night against the Canucks. Even with the added structure under Rick Tocchet, I don't see Vancouver's defense holding up against all the firepower the Senators possess. I also don't see enough depth on the Canucks to exploit Ottawa's lack thereof in that area.

This matchup could also get a little sweaty, especially if Thatcher Demko is on his game. But when all is said and done, I expect the Senators to ride their lethal top six to another much-needed victory.

Bet: Senators ML (expected range: -130)

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

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