Are you ready for an 84-game NHL schedule? Obviously it won’t happen this season, which is the typical 82 games, but the league is looking into adding two more games going forward so rivals can play each other more often. The addition of two games would allow the NHL to keep its current schedule format while giving divisional rivals four games against each other every season. That means instead of, say, Edmonton and Calgary only playing three times some years, with one team getting just one home game, they would play four times. Here’s a look at two intriguing NHL matchups early this week.

Top NHL Betting Picks of the Week (December 19th, 2022)

Earlier this week, @coreypronman and seven panelists released their NHL future power rankings for the 2025-26 season.

Now, @TheAthleticNHL writers react to their rankings:https://t.co/PMd8wZgjbk pic.twitter.com/Kic6SDsYzK

— The Athletic NHL (@TheAthleticNHL) December 17, 2022

Detroit Red Wings vs. Washington Capitals

• When: Monday, December 19, 2022, 7:00 PM ET
• Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.
• TV: NBCSWA, BSDET
• Radio: 98.5 The Sports Hub (Red Wings) // WXYT-FM 97.1 (Capitals)
• Live Stream: NHL Live
• NHL Betting Odds: Red Wings +1.5 // Capitals -1.5

Is this the game where Capitals legend and future Hall of Famer Alex Ovechkin ties Gordie Howe for second all-time with his 801st career goal? Last Tuesday in Chicago, Ovechkin had his 29th career hat trick to reach 800 and join Howe and Wayne Gretzky (894) in the 800-goal club.

It would be ironic if Ovi ties Howe against Detroit as Howe played the first 25 of his 26 NHL seasons and scored 786 goals with the Red Wings before retiring for the first time in 1971 when he was 42. He came out of retirement in 1973 to play six seasons in the World Hockey Association with Houston and New England and, following the merger with the WHA, a final NHL season with the Hartford Whalers in 1979-80, adding another 15 goals to his total, including his last when he was 52.

Gordie Howe died in 2016 when he was 86, but his sons Mark and Marty, also his teammates in the WHA and with Hartford, will be in Washington on Monday to watch. Ovechkin was unable to score on seven shots on goal in the past two games.

“Like anything, inside of his long career of scoring goals, it’s going to come,” Capitals coach Peter Laviolette said. “We don’t talk about it much. We don’t focus on it; we focus on the game and the team concept. We focus on the power play and the structure. We focus on 5-on-5, and what to do. And inside of that at some point it’ll come.”

The Caps are very banged up and two more forwards are in question on Monday in TJ Oshie and Nic Dowd. Oshie was injured in Saturday’s game against Toronto and didn’t take part in Sunday’s optional skate. The 35-year-old has 11 points in 22 games this season. Dowd sat out Saturday’s win over Toronto and has produced 10 points and 72 hits in 32 games this year.

Over the weekend, the NHL announced that Jakob Vruna, who entered the NHL/NHL Players’ Association Player Assistance Program on Oct. 19., returned to available status and entered the follow-up care phase of the joint program. But according to Red Wings head coach Derek Lalonde, there is no set timetable on when the Czech winger will be ready to play.

When Vrana does return to the lineup, it could provide a much-needed offensive boost for Detroit, which is currently battling through injuries to several forwards. Robby Fabbri (lower body) is still working his way back after tearing his ACL in March. Filip Zadina (lower body) hasn’t played since Nov. 5, while Matt Luff (upper body) has been out since Nov. 8. Tyler Bertuzzi (upper body) was placed on injured reserve for the second time this year on Dec. 1.

NHL Betting Pick: Washington Capitals

Ottawa Senatros vs. Winnipeg Jets

• When: Tuesday, December 20, 2022, 8:00 PM ET
• Where: Canada Life Centre, Winnipeg, MB
• TV: TSN3, TSN5, RDS
• Radio: TSN Radio 1200 (Senators) // Power 97 FM (Jets)
• Live Stream: NHL Live
• NHL Betting Odds: TBA

The Jets have been better than expected this season but will be without a key piece for a while in forward Blake Wheeler. He will miss at least four weeks after having surgery Friday for a groin injury, coach Rick Bowness announced. Wheeler was injured during Thursday’s win over the Nashville Predators after being hit in the groin by a shot from teammate Josh Morrissey.

Wheeler has recorded nine goals and 17 assists in 29 games this season. His injury leaves the Jets without its top three options at right wing. Nikolaj Ehlers, who started the season on the top line, recently took the ice over the weekend for the first time since his sports hernia surgery on Nov. 23 but won’t be ready for a while. Mason Appleton, the Jets’ third-line option who has played higher in the lineup when needed, is still recovering from wrist surgery.

Karson Kuhlman, who was claimed off waivers from the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday, made his Jets debut playing in Wheeler’s spot at right wing on the top line with Cole Perfetti and Mark Scheifele in a 5-1 win against the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday. Kuhlman had two shots on goal in 16:32.

This is the first meeting of the season between the Canadian rivals. Last year, they split with each winning on the road.

Ottawa had a four-game winning streak snapped Sunday in a 4-2 loss in Minnesota. Mark Kastelic and Claude Giroux scored, and Anton Forsberg made 19 saves for Ottawa (14-15-2). It should be No. 1 Cam Talbot in net for Tuesday. Talbot turned aside 29 shots in Saturday’s 6-3 win over the Red Wings. It was the fourth straight win for the 35-year-old netminder, and over his last nine appearances he’s an impressive 7-2-0. Talbot will carry a 2.55 GAA and .916 save percentage into Tuesday.

NHL Betting Pick: Ottawa Senators

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READ MORE: Top NHL Betting Picks of the Week – December 26th, 2022