For the first time in the 53-year history of the program, the Johnstown Warriors Cambria Youth Hockey Program rostered an all-girls team this season, and Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby played a big role in making it happen.

Each player on the 12-and-under team, which is based outside of Pittsburgh, first began playing the game in Crosby's Little Penguins "Learn to Play Hockey" program, and the squad was surprised with tickets to see their idol play last week versus the Anaheim Ducks.

"Every single girl, all 17 of them, started with the Little Penguins. That's why we have a team now," head coach Sheri Hudspeth told Michelle Crechiolo of the Penguins' website. "This doesn't happen without him. We are so grateful."

The Warriors thought they were on the way to play a game, but their bus stopped in front PPG Paints Arena for the NHL contest.

"We told the girls that since they all played Little Penguins, they're here to see the big Penguins," Hudspeth added. "They came off the bus just screaming."

The team showed up early to see Crosby during warmups. It also gave him a jersey signed by every player, along with autographed individual photos of the entire roster and a plaque.

The gesture and the program's appearance at the game - during which Crosby recorded a goal and an assist - resonated with the longtime Penguins superstar.

"I think that's really cool," he said. "That's what it's all about. It doesn't always work out that way, but the fact that they made a team and are all continuing to play is great. My sister Taylor grew up playing hockey, and sometimes growing up, we had girls on our team. The fact there's enough girls to make a full team tells you that girls' hockey is doing pretty well. It's great to see."

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Although this midweek preview consists of only three days as a result of the holiday, there's no shortage of games for us to pad our wallets ahead of the weekend.

Among them, the Toronto Maple Leafs head to the United States capital, two Atlantic Division heavyweights clash at TD Garden, and the New Jersey Devils search for their first win.

Game betting

Tampa Bay Lightning at Montreal Canadiens (Tuesday)

The Canadiens are playing a fast, exciting brand of hockey early in the season, and the Lightning can score goals at will. However, Claude Julien tends to tighten things up against offensive powerhouses, while Tampa will be eager to get things in order on the back end. The total is set at 6.5, but eight of the last 10 meetings between these teams have finished under that number.

Arizona Coyotes at Winnipeg Jets (Tuesday)

Following a disappointing start to the season, the Coyotes appear to be rounding into form, though scoring has proved to be a real issue for them, which should play right into the hands of the defensively shorthanded Jets. Arizona have lost all nine of their visits to Winnipeg since the 2012-13 lockout. At a short price of -130, back the Jets to make it 10 in a row over the Coyotes north of the border.

Dallas Stars at Columbus Blue Jackets (Wednesday)

It's hard to pass up getting the better team (the Stars) at a significant discount due to their poor start to the season. Dallas' losses have come against the Bruins, Blues, Red Wings, Flames, Capitals, and Sabres. It's been a tough schedule, but four of those five losses have been by just a goal. Expect a bounce back from the Stars after being blanked in Buffalo.

Tampa Bay Lightning at Boston Bruins (Thursday)

The Bruins are home on two days rest after hosting the Ducks on Monday. It's a spot they typically excel in under Butch Cassidy, going 7-2 since he took over for Claude Julien. Back the scorching-hot Bruins at a short price on Thursday.

New York Rangers at New Jersey Devils (Thursday)

This is a strange spot for the Rangers, who will be playing just their fourth game of the season when they take on the Devils at the Prudential Center. The Rangers are 2-6 in their last eight games in New Jersey, while losing nine of their last 10 on at least four days rest, which is what they have here. Bet the Devils to finally claim their first win of the season in what will be their seventh game.

Game props

Nashville Predators at Vegas Golden Knights (Tuesday)

This will be the seventh all-time meeting between the Predators and Golden Knights. There have been just four goals scored in the first period of their previous six contests, with each of them staying under 1.5 goals in the opening frame. At +135, that's gravy.

Toronto Maple Leafs at Washington Capitals (Wednesday)

The Leafs faced this situation four times last season - traveling for the second game of a back-to-back after playing the first at home. They were 1-3 in those contests, but more importantly, allowed 23 goals over that span. Play the Capitals team total over 3.5 at plus-money, as well as the over 4.5 at close to +300 if you're feeling it on hump day.

Nashville Predators at Arizona Coyotes (Thursday)

Arizona may not be scoring many goals these days, but it isn't conceding many either. The Predators have scored just 11 goals in their last seven visits to the desert. Play their team total under 2.5 at plus-money, while the under 1.5 in the first period is also worth a strong look.

Buffalo Sabres at Los Angeles Kings (Thursday)

In their last four road games in the second of a back-to-back, the Sabres have just four goals. They've also been shut out in four of their last six visits to Los Angeles, with the Kings winning each of those games 2-0. Buffalo's team total under 2.5 should be priced around +140 given the rate they've been scoring, and certainly warrants a play here.

Player props

Toronto Maple Leafs at Washington Capitals (Wednesday)

Alex Ovechkin has a higher goals per game rate against Toronto than any other Eastern Conference team with 39 goals in 48 career games. He's also potted six in his last six against the Leafs the past two seasons. Back him to add to his total in this game.

Tampa Bay Lightning at Boston Bruins (Thursday)

Over the past three seasons, David Pastrnak has 15 points in 12 games against the Lightning. He had six in three against them last season, including five assists. Trust him to get another helper on Thursday at the Garden.

Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.

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James Neal continues to prove his scoring touch is back.

The Edmonton Oilers forward has passed his goal total from last season after notching his eighth marker of this campaign in the veteran's sixth game on Monday against the Chicago Blackhawks.

The 32-year-old was traded to Edmonton for Milan Lucic in July after potting just seven goals in 63 games with the Calgary Flames during the first season of a five-year, $28.75 million contract.

Lucic, who scored six goals with the Oilers last season, has recorded zero points and 26 penalty minutes so far this year in six games with the Flames.

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Washington Capitals netminder Braden Holtby owned his tough outing Monday after being pulled during the team's 6-3 loss to the Colorado Avalanche before recording a single save.

"I needed to fight harder to find that first one and find a way to make a save on maybe the second," Holtby said, according to The Athletic's Tarik El-Bashir. "It's unacceptable on my half. The last few games here I feel like I (can) put a lot of that weight on my shoulders. ... I need to be better."

The veteran puck-stopper was replaced by Ilya Samsonov less than eight minutes into the game after allowing three goals on three shots.

The loss makes for consecutive outings to forget for Holtby, who conceded six goals in a 6-5 defeat against the Nashville Predators on Thursday.

Holtby has struggled to find his game this season following a subpar campaign in 2018-19. Through five starts, he has just one victory and owns a goals-against average of 4.27 with a .846 save percentage.

The 30-year-old is in the final year of his current deal, which carries a cap hit of $6.1 million. He's scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.

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The Vancouver Canucks have granted netminder Jacob Markstrom a leave of absence to tend to a family matter, general manager Jim Benning announced Monday.

Markstrom is expected to rejoin the club on the road this weekend against either the New Jersey Devils or the New York Rangers.

The 29-year-old puck-stopper has had a strong start to the campaign, collecting a pair of wins with a 2.23 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage over four starts.

Vancouver will lean on backup Thatcher Demko as Markstrom is likely to miss at least two games this week. The Canucks host the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday before heading to St. Louis for a date with the Blues Thursday.

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David Pastrnak continues to prove his elite scoring pedigree.

The Boston Bruins sniper tallied each of the club's four goals in its 4-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Monday. He now has six goals in as many contests.

Pastrnak scored 4:34 into the third period to complete his first career four-goal outing.

The Czech winger opened the scoring 4:18 into the game by ripping home a beautiful power-play marker:

Midway through the second period, Pastrnak deposited a perfect pass from Brad Marchand off an ugly turnover for his second tally:

Just minutes before he scored his fourth, the 23-year-old completed his fifth career regular-season hat trick with a quick strike off the draw:

Pastrnak is already the third player this season to record four goals in a game along with Detroit Red Wings forward Anthony Mantha and Edmonton Oilers winger James Neal. In 2018-19, it was achieved on four occasions.

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