Welcome to Thursday's edition of the "Morning Skate," which follows a five-game card from Wednesday.
Three of the five games were shutouts, including Toronto blanking Vegas, ending the Golden Knights' run of scoring at least one goal in a game. Their streak of 59 games of not being shutout was the third-longest in the league.
Let's take a look at the main highlights from Wednesday:
- The injury-ravaged Maple Leafs were without five key players, including captain Auston Matthews, yet still improved to 6-1-0 this season without last year's Rocket Richard Trophy winner.
- Sebastian Aho scored his 58th career game-winning goal to surpass Ron Francis (57) for the most in franchise history and help the Hurricanes (14-4-0, 28 points) move into first place in the Metropolitan Division with a 4-1 win in Philadelphia.
- Daniel Sprong opened the scoring while Brandon Montour and Chandler Stephenson had multiple points as the Kraken blanked the Predators, 3-0.
- Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 24 shots, Jason Zucker scored the game’s only goal, and the Buffalo Sabres silenced the Los Angeles Kings 1-0 on the road.
Through the first 44 nights of the season:
- Favorites are 186-104, including a 161-85 run.
- Overs are 133-134-23, but the Under is currently on a 65-45-9 roll.
We have 10 games on the card tonight, with hefty prices from five of the games.
Tonight's FEATURED GAME (lines courtesy DraftKings):
Florida (-238, 6) at Chicago
OUTLOOK: The defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers finish up a mini-two-game trip that started with a 6-3 loss in Winnipeg. This is a good opportunity to flex their muscles against the lowly Blackhawks, who have lost three straight, including Tuesday's 3-2 home loss to the Anaheim Ducks. Since a 3-1 win streak carried into early November, the 'Hawks have lost five of six. Florida has won six of the last eight meetings and should make it seven of nine without a hitch. The puck line (+110) is the smart play here, as the Panthers win by at least two goals.