Although we have only two games on Friday's slate, there are a few props on the board that really stand out. Let's take a closer look.

Mikael Backlund over 3.5 shots (+110)

Backlund is one of the hottest shooters in the NHL right now. His line recently jumped from 2.5 shots to 3.5 shots and it hasn't seemed to matter; he has cleared it in nine of his past 10 games.

The underrated two-way pivot has averaged 6.4 shot attempts per game during this hot streak, which is nearly 1.5 higher than his season average to date.

While 6.4 attempts may not seem like high volume for somebody who needs four shots, Backlund is effective at driving the net and getting the puck into high-danger areas. It's easier to hit the target from close range with fewer obstacles in between the puck and the netminder.

Getting the puck to the slot shouldn't be a problem against the Anaheim Ducks. No team has given up more shot volume, or quality, on a per game basis this season.

With the Winnipeg Jets stumbling over themselves, the door has crept open for the Flames to really push for a playoff spot. This game is imperative for them, and I think we're going to see that urgency in their play.

Expect the Flames to put up 40+ shots in this game, and for Backlund to take his fair share of them.

Carter Verhaeghe over 3.5 shots (+105)

Verhaeghe is another underrated player in the midst of an absolute heater, at least on home ice.

He has generated four shots on goal or more in nine of the past 10 games in Florida, averaging a whopping 4.8 in that span. He has put up at least five shots seven times in that span so he's not just squeaking by. Verhaeghe is getting the job done with room to spare.

I don't see that changing Friday night against the Chicago Blackhawks. For one, Verhaeghe was recently reunited with Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett. His shot rate is at its highest with those two players.

Trying to slow Verhaeghe will be a putrid Blackhawks team that is playing terrible defensive hockey. At five-on-five, only four teams have conceded shots at a higher clip over the past 10 games.

With the Blackhawks bleeding volume, and Verhaeghe lights out at home, he should be able to remain red hot.

Sam Reinhart over 2.5 shots (-145)

Like Verhaeghe, Reinhart is another Panthers player who does his best work on home ice.

He has recorded three shots or more in eight of his last 10 home dates, coming just one shy in both of the exceptions (while combining to miss the target five times). We could easily be looking at a 10-for-10 situation.

Reinhart's volume has been through the roof in Florida. He has averaged 6.8 attempts over his last 10 home dates, compared to just 4.8 on the road. A massive swing.

The Blackhawks are a bad defensive team and paper thin. Playing on the third line, Reinhart should have advantageous matchups against porous depth pieces all night long.

Look for him to take advantage.

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. Kyle Connor came through at plus money against the Wild. Unfortunately, Elias Pettersson put up a dud and generated only two shots against the Ducks.

We'll set our sights higher with three plays for Thursday night's jam-packed slate.

Brayden Point over 2.5 shots (-125)

Point has cooled off of late, going over on his shot total in just three of the past 10 games. I like the Lightning center's chances of getting back on track Thursday night against the Golden Knights.

The matchup is more enticing than meets the eye. Vegas has been bleeding shots of late, ranking 29th in five-on-five attempts against per 60 over the past 10 games.

The center position has caused the Golden Knights more problems than any other during this stretch. They've allowed 13.6 shots per game by centers, which is the third-highest mark in the NHL.

Point is also a more efficient shot generator at home. He has gone over at a 59% clip in Tampa Bay, compared to 50% on the road.

Look for him to get back on track in an advantageous spot against Vegas.

Miro Heiskanen over 2.5 shots (-135)

Heiskanen has been shooting the lights out. He has gone over 2.5 shots in seven of the past 10 games, over which span he's accumulated a whopping 72 attempts.

Roman Josi (80) and Brandon Montour (74) are the only defenders in the NHL who've attempted more shots during the same period.

Now Heiskanen finds himself in a mouthwatering matchup against the Sabres. Not only do the Sabres tend to play high-event games that pull the pace out of opposing teams, they give up a lot of shots to defensemen.

Only the Coyotes and Ducks - two teams in the thick of the Connor Bedard sweepstakes - have allowed more shots per game to blue-liners over the past 10.

Expect Heiskanen to be ripping pucks early and often in this game.

Clayton Keller over 2.5 shots (-120)

Keller let us down last time out, but we're going right back to the well with the Coyotes star forward.

He has hit in four of his past five home games and his success rate in Arizona sits above 55%. That's a far cry from the 34% clip he's hit at on the road this year.

Perhaps more important than the location of the game, though, is the opponent. The Nashville Predators have not defended all that well for quite some time, and things are likely to get worse given the state of their roster post-deadline.

Keller generated six shots on eight attempts when these teams met a couple of weeks ago. I don't know that he'll reach those heights again, but with cushy usage and a relatively weak opponent, Keller should be able to get the job done in the desert.

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

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After a quiet Wednesday night, the NHL is back in full force with a juicy 11-gamer on the docket for Thursday.

Let's waste no time getting to a couple of the games that stand out the most.

Devils (-150) @ Capitals (+130)

The Devils are quietly playing some of their best of the season. That's saying something considering they sit third in the NHL in points and goal differential; the bar is high.

They have won the expected goal battle at five-on-five in 11 of the last 12 games and have consistently graded remarkably well, even in defeat.

For example, the Devils have suffered three losses over the past nine games. The lowest expected goal share they posted in one of those three came last time out against the Maple Leafs, a game in which the Devils controlled 66.89% of the expected goals and won the Grade A chance battle 15-4.

If those are the kind of losing efforts the Devils are putting out, they're in really good shape.

The one - and perhaps only - concern with them of late is the play of Vitek Vanecek. He has provided stable play for the majority of the year, but he's really fallen into a rut. He has posted a sub-.865 save percentage five games in a row, allowing 20 goals over that span despite facing more than 25 shots just once.

The expectation is he'll get a night off in favor of Akira Schmid. The young Swiss netminder has played really well when given the chance, posting a .926 save percentage through 12 NHL appearances this year.

He should be able to step in and get the job done against the post-deadline version of the Washington Capitals. Their play of late leaves a lot to be desired; they've managed just a 43% xG share over the last five.

Their issues stem mostly from a bruised and battered defense. John Carlson, Nick Jensen, and Martin Fehervary are all injured, which has left their blue line very thin.

Look for a Devils team loaded with firepower - Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, and Timo Meier come to mind - to exploit those weaknesses and get the Devils back in the win column inside 60 minutes.

Bet: Devils in regulation (+105)

Senators (+110) @ Kraken (-130)

The Eastern Conference has sort of beat up on the Western Conference this season, which a quick look at the standings would tell you.

I expect that trend to continue Thursday night when the Senators take on the Kraken in Seattle.

The Senators have largely played quality hockey for several months now. Their underlying metrics are good, they have finished chances at an efficient clip, and they seem to have a real positive aura around them as they push to get into a wild-card spot.

The Senators sort of took their foot off the gas against Chicago last time out, expecting a free two points against the Blackhawks. They paid the price; it was their first negative xG performance in six games and they were blown out of the rink, 5-0.

Brady Tkachuk and co. are no doubt chomping at the bit to right those wrongs and respond following what can only be considered an embarrassing effort.

Although the Kraken - on a 7-3 run - look to be a fierce opponent right now, they are more bark than bite. They have controlled just 46% of the expected goal share at five-on-five (24th) and own a negative goal differential in that gamestate.

They have also faced the Red Wings (x2), Ducks, Blue Jackets, Blues, Sharks, and Flyers in that time. Their schedule has been soft and they've still posted underwhelming numbers.

With a mediocre five-on-five game, and pedestrian goaltending, I expect the Kraken to take a step back and taste defeat against the Senators.

Bet: Senators (+110)

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 ahead of us Wednesday night. Luckily, there's still plenty of value on the board, so let's dive into it with three best bets.

Wild (+110) @ Jets (-130)

The Wild have gotten a ton of positive results lately, picking up at least a point in 10 consecutive games.

While Minnesota might extend that streak to 11 in Winnipeg, I don't see it leaving with two points.

Despite their recent success, the Wild are still really laboring offensively. They've generated high-danger chances at a below-average rate and rank dead last in goals per game during this stretch.

Facing Connor Hellebuyck won't be the elixir to their offensive woes. Despite his recent struggles, he ranks fourth in the NHL in goals saved above expected (plus-22.8).

It generally doesn't take long for Hellebuyck to get back on track, and a game against Minnesota - in a back-to-back situation for it, no less - could be just the spot to do it.

Conversely, the Jets' offense should benefit greatly from Marc-Andre Fleury drawing the start instead of Filip Gustavsson, who played Tuesday and has been one of the league's best netminders this season.

Fleury's numbers lag significantly behind Gustavsson's in every sense. He also has a poor recent history against Winnipeg, conceding at least four goals in four of his last five games against them.

Look for the Jets to take advantage of a strong scheduling spot and get back in the win column following a dud of an effort against the Sharks last time out.

Bet: Jets (-115)

Kyle Connor over 3.5 shots (+105)

Connor has hit another gear lately. He's attempted 70 shots over the past 10 games, leading the Jets in that category, scoring chances, and expected goals over the stretch. He's been Winnipeg's biggest offensive threat.

I expect that to be the case again versus the Wild on Wednesday. For one, Connor is significantly more efficient on home ice. His hit rate in Winnipeg is 52%, while he's come through just 29% of the time on the road.

Connor also has a pretty strong history against Minnesota, hitting in three straight games against the club and four of the last six.

The Wild are generally a stout team at suppressing shots. However, they rank middle of the pack over the last 10 contests and played 65-plus minutes of hockey last night. That, coupled with travel, could lead to some fatigue Wednesday.

Look for Connor to take advantage.

Elias Pettersson over 3.5 shots (-130)

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. That certainly applies to backing top shot generators when going up against the Ducks.

Anaheim has bled shots, chances, and goals all season and continues to show no signs of improvement. Over the past 10 games, the Ducks have conceded an average of 41 shots while giving up high-danger looks and expected goals at a higher clip than every other team.

Pettersson is the player primed to benefit most from such an advantageous matchup. He leads the Canucks in attempts (by 17) over the past 10 contests, taking just under seven per game.

He should have a field day at five-on-five, while his one-timer will be heavily featured on each power play.

Pettersson had eight shots on goal the last time these two teams met. I don't expect him to reach those heights again, but he should cruise past four.

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

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We have a packed 10-game slate on the docket Tuesday night. Let's waste no time in getting to our best bets.

Maple Leafs (+105) @ Devils (-125)

The Devils are a well-oiled machine right now. They own a 7-2-1 record over the last 10 games and have posted very strong underlying numbers in the process.

Even in defeat, they are routinely out-performing their opponents. Over the last two defeats, for example, they generated 90 shots while conceding only 44.

They've been a tough out every single night, and the floor, and ceiling, of the team should only rise with the addition of Timo Meier.

He looked a little out of sync with new linemates Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt in his debut last time out, yet he still found the back of the net and generated a few shots. The sky is the limit as he becomes more comfortable.

New Jersey's top six is a problem for anyone, and there is real depth behind them as well. The play of its bottom six has been a big separator of late. Ondrej Palat, Erik Haula, and Jesper Boqvist have posted a 76% expected goal share since being assembled a few games ago. Meanwhile, the fourth line has netted five goals over the last 10.

I think New Jersey's forward depth is going to cause the Maple Leafs problems in this game. With John Tavares and Ryan O'Reilly out of the lineup, the Leafs don't seem to have the punch to match up with a team like the Devils from top to bottom.

The lack of dynamic ability outside of the big guns, coupled with a shallowness down the middle as a byproduct of injuries, is likely going to be the difference.

Look for the Devils to claim another two points as they continue to push the Hurricanes for top spot in the Metro Division.

Bet: Devils (-125)

Flames (+120) @ Wild (-140)

Death, taxes, and Minnesota Wild unders. Their games have featured five goals or fewer 11 times over the past 12 contests. That is absurd in a modern NHL where goal scoring is rising substantially.

When you take to the numbers, it is easy to see why the Wild have played in so many low-scoring games. They have not generated high-danger chances at an efficient clip, and they lack firepower in their lineup beyond the big dogs up front.

With Grade A looks coming few and far between, and a lack of finishers taking the chances that do come, it's understandable that they've struggled to convert.

The Wild have won a lot of games anyway on the back of strong defense and Filip Gustavsson. We'll start with the former. Over the past 12 games, the Wild rank third in high-danger chance suppression at five-on-five. They're not giving up much.

When they do, the Wild have one of the league's best netminders this season there to bail them out. Gustavsson owns a remarkable .933 save percentage - league average is .900 - and ranks second in Goals Saved Above Expected per start, only slotting behind Linus Ullmark.

He is at the peak of his powers right now, having conceded two goals or fewer in eight of his last nine games.

The Flames are a poor finishing team, they are very good at limiting high-danger chances, and they're in a back-to-back situation.

With every point crucial, I think they'll be happy to play this game tight to the vest and keep it within striking distance from start to finish.

Don't expect much offense in Minnesota.

Bet: Under 5.5 (+100)

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

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We posted a disappointing 1-2 record with our props on Monday night. Leon Draisaitl took only two of 37 shots for the Oilers. Meanwhile, Brady Tkachuk hit the net on three of six attempts, and took 17 penalty minutes, in a great matchup against the Blackhawks.

We'll look to get back in the win column with three more plays for a busy Tuesday slate.

Martin Necas over 2.5 shots (-130)

Necas is as consistent as they come on the road. The emerging star winger has averaged 3.2 shots per game away from home this season, which has helped him to an impressive 73% hit rate on his shot total.

Tonight, Necas finds himself in a mouth-watering matchup against a bad Canadiens team missing an abundance of players.

The Canadiens have allowed 66.45 shot attempts per 60 minutes of five-on-five player over the last eight games. That's a worse mark than all but the Blue Jackets and Ducks.

Their numbers aren't great on the penalty kill, either, where Necas finds himself skating on the top unit.

As a cherry on top, the Canadiens' league-wide ranking in shots against is lower against right wingers than any other position. The stars are all aligning for an active offensive game from Necas.

Clayton Keller over 2.5 shots (-130)

Keller is heating up. He has registered at least three shots in four straight games at home, where he's enjoyed fairly consistent success all season long.

He has gone over his total 57% of the time in Arizona, compared to just 34% away from home. That's a big swing.

The attempt data suggests that is no coincidence. Keller has averaged five attempts per game in Arizona and only 3.7 on the road.

He should be able to stay hot at home on Tuesday against the Blues. They are among the worst shot-suppression teams in the league right now and they're giving up a lot of volume to left wingers.

With cushy usage at home, and a juicy matchup against a team bleeding shots, Keller should be able to hit the over for the fifth straight time in Arizona.

Nathan MacKinnon over 4.5 shots (-115)

MacKinnon has hit a new level of late. He's not just getting the job done in the shot department; he's routinely soaring past the number with room to spare.

He has gone over his total in seven of the last 10 games. In every single one of those scenarios, he recorded no fewer than six shots on target.

The three failures came against strong defensive teams in the Kraken, Flames, and Jets. I wouldn't put the Sharks in the same group, especially in their current state.

They try and play a tight brand of hockey under David Quinn, but they just don't have the horses to hold up. I don't see that changing in the latter half of a road back-to-back at high altitude.

Look for MacKinnon, who has hit in nearly 60% of home games this season, to put together another big performance.

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

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We have six games on the docket, which is pretty good for a Monday night slate.

Let's take a look at the best ways to attack it with three props that stand out.

Leon Draisaitl over 2.5 shots (-132)

Many star players do their best work on home ice. Draisaitl is not one of them. The German superstar has averaged 3.5 shots per game on the road this season, leading to an absurd 73% success rate. That's 14% higher than what Draisaitl has managed at home (59%), which is a strong output in itself.

Draisaitl finds himself in a good spot to stay hot Monday night against the Buffalo Sabres. At five-on-five, they rank bottom 10 in shot suppression over the last 10 games. The Sabres grade out even worse when killing penalties, allowing shots at a higher rate than all but the Coyotes.

While the Sabres have admittedly done a good job of limiting the penalties taken, Draisaitl and the Oilers' lethal power play don't need many opportunities to make noise.

Draisaitl currently finds himself riding shotgun with Connor McDavid on the top line and playing upwards of 22 minutes per night. That should be more than enough to get the job done in what is also an above-average matchup for generating shots.

Brady Tkachuk over 3.5 shots (-120)

Tkachuk is one of the best, and most consistent, shot generators in the NHL. He ranks 14th in total shot attempts while only five players have found the target more often.

It doesn't matter if Tkachuk is playing at home (67% hit rate) or on the road (62% hit rate); he consistently gets the job done.

I expect that will be the case once again on Monday night against the Blackhawks. They've been a priority target for shots all season long. With management completely gutting what was left on the roster leading up to the deadline, things figure to get even worse for Chicago.

Led by their outstanding top line of Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, and Claude Giroux, the Senators should dominate the puck in this game. They're going to spend a ton of time in the offensive zone, and Tkachuk should be the one taking the majority of the shots.

With the Senators in desperate need of every point they can get, there's potential Tkachuk's usage could go up in the event this game stays close. Either way, I think this is a more than fair price for a high-end shooter in a fantastic matchup.

Seth Jones over 2.5 shots (-120)

Jones has some of the most extreme home/road shooting splits you'll see. He's in Kirill Kaprizov and Jason Robertson territory.

On the road, Jones has averaged exactly 2.0 shots per game and gone over his total a putrid 28% of the time. His success rate jumps to a ridiculous 64% when playing on home ice. That's a 26% swing!

With Jones averaging an extra 1.4 shot attempts per game at home, it is no coincidence we have seen such a drastic difference in success rate.

The Senators are not a high-end team to target for shots, except with opposing defensemen. Just five sides have conceded more shots per game to the position over the last 10 games.

The matchup is solid, Jones is at home, and he's an even larger focal point of the offense now with Patrick Kane, Max Domi, and seemingly every gifted Blackhawks player was shipped out of town.

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

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Our weekend best bets resulted in a disappointing split. The Senators came through for us on the puckline, but the Devils were unable to convert a 50-27 shot advantage against the Golden Knights into a victory.

We'll set our sights higher with a couple plays for Monday night's six-game slate.

Predators (-110) @ Canucks (-110)

The Predators recently pulled the plug on their season, selling off a handful of meaningful contributors in Mattias Ekholm, Nino Niederreiter, Mikael Granlund, and Tanner Jeannot. Factor in the absences of Ryan Johansen and Filip Forsberg due to injury and there simply isn't much meat left on the bone.

That has shown in the team's underlying process of late. Over the last seven games, the Predators rank 22nd in expected goals share - and 27th in shot share - at five-on-five.

Those are extremely uninspiring numbers, especially considering they've faced bottom-feeders like the Blackhawks, Coyotes, and Sharks during that stretch.

Although the Predators' numbers are not good at either end of the ice, their five-on-five issues stem largely from an inability to defend. That checks out given some of their recent departures; Ekholm is a very sound minute-munching defenseman and Niederreiter has long been an underrated two-way winger.

The Canucks are not world-beaters at five-on-five, but they definitely look to have some advantages. Their metrics have been better than Nashville's of late and they have two of the best even-strength weapons in the league on their roster.

Elias Pettersson begins the day tied for fourth in five-on-five points while Quinn Hughes is tied with Shea Theodore for ninth among blue-liners.

I expect the Canucks will have the puck a lot. Given Nashville's recent struggles and Vancouver's star power, the Canucks should be able to make real noise with it.

So long as Juuse Saros doesn't steal the show, I see Vancouver leaving the ice with another two points.

Bet: Canucks (-110)

Senators (-280) @ Blackhawks (+230)

The Senators have been playing very good hockey for quite some time now. Since Dec. 1, they sit tied for fourth in the NHL in wins while slotting eighth in terms of points percentage.

Their offense is firing on all cylinders, Jakob Chychrun drastically improves them at both ends of the ice, and the goaltending appears to have stabilized. Put it all together and it makes sense the Senators are enjoying such success recently.

The Senators have won five straight games, each of them by at least two goals. Now they get to look forward to a game with the Blackhawks as they continue their ascension up the Eastern Conference standings.

Chicago currently possesses one of the worst rosters I've seen in the modern era. This year's team was paper-thin at the best of times. With Jonathan Toews sidelined and Patrick Kane, Jake McCabe, and Max Domi traded, next to nothing remains.

The Blackhawks are devoid of almost any real talent at every position. They struggle at five-on-five, their power play is toothless, and they can't get a save with any frequency. I think the red-hot Senators will skate circles around them in what is another crucial game.

Look for the Blackhawks, whose last seven losses were by at least two goals, to be defeated rather convincingly in this spot.

Bet: Senators -1.5 (-120)

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

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Wednesday night was a tough one for our best bets. The Capitals dominated the Ducks from start to finish but were unable to win the game inside regulation. We also fell a puck short of the over in Vegas, with the Golden Knights failing to put one in the empty net to bring us home.

We'll look to rebound with a pair of sides for Thursday night's monster slate.

Kraken (-115) @ Red Wings (-105)

The Kraken are not playing their best hockey. In fact, they're playing some of their worst. They have won just four of the past 10 games and controlled only 45% of the expected goals share at five-on-five.

Thursday presents a nice opportunity to buy low against a Red Wings team in a really bad spot. Detroit has dropped three games in a row - essentially ending any hope of claiming a playoff spot - and just moved two of its better players (Tyler Bertuzzi and Filip Hronek) for draft picks. That takes a big bite out of a team that wasn't very good to begin with.

As concerning as the Kraken's play has been of late, the Red Wings look even worse; their high-danger chance share sits at 42% over the past 10 games.

Seattle has an abundance of depth that should be able to gain real traction against this shallow Detroit side.

With Philipp Grubauer - rather than Martin Jones - expected to be between the pipes, those edges have a much better chance of holding up. Believe it or not, Grubauer ranks 13th among 39 eligible netminders in five-on-five save percentage since the calendar flipped.

Beyond Seattle's deeper roster and better underlying profile, this price is also way off from what the market previously told us.

The Kraken closed -180 last time they faced the Red Wings, implying a 64.3% win probability. The current price suggests the Kraken will win 53.5% of the time.

Call me crazy, but I don't think home ice is worth more than a 10% swing in probability, and that's before noting that multiple quality pieces have been plucked from this version of the Red Wings.

Back the Kraken to get right against a Detroit team trending downward in a hurry.

Bet: Kraken (-115)

Penguins (+140) @ Lightning (-165)

The Lightning are quietly in a rut. They've been blown out in back-to-back games, dropped three of four overall, and were outshot by nearly 30 in the lone game they won.

Although the regular season doesn't hold a ton of meaning for a team like the Bolts, I expect they'll be looking to right the ship and put this poor run of play behind them as soon as possible.

A home date with the Penguins seems like an opportune time for that. The Pens have played better recently but, by and large, they've struggled defensively all season.

The Lightning should be chomping at the bit for a chance to play them. They're 22-5-3 on home ice this season and have scored more goals - at five-on-five and overall - than every team in the league in their own building.

That is anything but a coincidence. The Lightning are the NHL's most efficient team when it comes to generating high-danger chances at home. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to predict a team with that kind of talent will score a lot when generating such impressive chance volume.

Look for the Lightning's lethal home attack to lead them to a victory inside 60 minutes.

Bet: Lightning in regulation (-110)

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

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We have six games on the docket for a pretty busy and enticing Wednesday night.

Let's dive into a couple that stand out.

Hurricanes (-140) @ Golden Knights (+120)

The Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights are strong defensive teams. They forecheck hard, play with a lot of structure, and generally make it quite difficult on opposing teams to work the puck into high-danger areas of the ice. Yet I still see value on the over.

Carolina's a well-oiled machine offensively. Regardless of the opponent, the Hurricanes simply always generate chances in bulk.

They've taken their chance generation to new heights of late, averaging nearly 18 grade A chances per game over the last 10. Unsurprisingly, that total leads the NHL.

I don't see Vegas' goaltending holding up against anywhere close to that level of volume. Adin Hill is projected to get the nod in goal tonight. He enters play having allowed 4.2 goals above expected on the year, which ranks him 39th among the 50 netminders who've played at least 20 games.

While I don't have as much faith in the Golden Knights' offense, they rank in the top half of the league in chance generation over the last 10 games. Shea Theodore recently returned to the lineup, and the addition of Ivan Barbashev up front also gives them a little boost.

They have enough talent to cause problems for Frederik Andersen, who ranks just one spot ahead of Hill in goals saved above expected for the season.

With Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov, Martin Necas, Jack Eichel, and Theodore among the notable weapons taking the ice, I think 5.5 goals is simply too low - especially given the pedestrian goaltending matchup.

Bet: Over 5.5 (-120)

Capitals (-190) @ Ducks (+160)

The Washington Capitals' management has punted on the season, recently shipping away solid contributors like Dmitry Orlov, Garnet Hathaway, Marcus Johansson, and Erik Gustafsson to better position themselves for the future.

That being said, there's a difference between management giving up on the year (so to speak) and players doing so.

While the Caps lost some of their depth, they still roster a ton of quality veteran players like Alexander Ovechkin, T.J. Oshie, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Tom Wilson, and Darcy Kuemper.

Those are good, prideful players who'll no doubt continue going full steam ahead. A win over this lowly Anaheim Ducks squad could get them within three points of a playoff spot with 19 games to go. It's still a very manageable task.

The players no doubt know the importance of this game and will be looking for revenge after suffering a defeat at the hands of the Ducks just last week.

Washington allowed an average of more than 43 shots and 4.3 expected goals per game over the last 10. Both totals rank dead last in the NHL. But with plenty of firepower remaining, the Capitals should be able to cause the Ducks' defense all kinds of problems.

At the end of the day, Anaheim has lost 41 of 60 games and shown no signs of improvement analytically.

Odds are - despite their recent struggles - the Capitals get a result here. I like backing them to do it inside 60 minutes.

Bet: Capitals in regulation (-125)

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

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