We saw history in the NHL over the weekend as Washington Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin scored his 787th goal, which is the most by a player with one franchise, breaking the previous mark held by Gordie Howe. Ovechkin has spent all 18 years of his NHL career with the Capitals, who drafted him first overall in 2004. Here’s a look at two intriguing early-week matchups in the league.

Top NHL Betting Picks of the Week (November 7th, 2022)

NHL Power Rankings:

1: @GoldenKnights
2: @NHLBruins
3: @NJDevils
4-32: https://t.co/YCHiwV4x5x ???? pic.twitter.com/m3oiDxN3aQ

— theScore (@theScore) November 7, 2022

Vancouver Canucks vs. Ottawa Senators

• When: Tuesday, November 8, 2022, 7:00 PM ET
• Where: Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa, Canada
• TV: TSN5, RDS2, SNP
• Radio: Sportsnet 650 Vancouver (Canucks) // CFGO TSN Radio 1200 (Senators)
• Live Stream: NHL Live
• NHL Betting Odds: TBA

The Senators are on a five-game losing streak, which has led to speculation that Coach DJ Smith could be in trouble. Not so, says GM Pierre Dorion. Then again, Dorion’s job might not be safe, either. The Senators are 20th in the NHL averaging 3.45 goals per game, but also are allowing 3.45 goals per game, 10th most in the NHL. They also are 26th on the power play at 18.4 percent and 18th on the penalty kill at 77.3 percent.

“I’m very happy with him,” Dorion said. “I’m happy with the job D.J. has done, his staff has done. … I think D.J. has done a good job, he’s shown he can win. I’m not giving votes of confidence or anything. D.J. is our coach, he’s going to be our coach. I have faith in how this team plays under D.J.”

Smith is in his fourth season as Senators coach and Ottawa has a record of 85-111-24 in that time. He signed a two-year contract July 28, 2021, that keeps him with the team through the 2023-24 season with a team option for 2024-25.

The Senators also have been put up for sale. In a team-issued statement, Senators chairman and governor Sheldon Plener called the retaining of Galatioto Sports Partners as financial adviser for the process of a sale a “necessary and prudent step to connect with those deeply interested parties who can show us what their vision is for the future of the team.”

He made it clear that “a condition of any sale will be that the team remains in Ottawa.” The decision to sell comes about eight months after the death of longtime team owner Eugene Melnyk in March. Melnyk bought the team in 2003. His two adult daughters, Anna and Olivia Melnyk, inherited the franchise.

Vancouver got off to a rough start but has played better of late in winning three of five, although it does come off a 4-3 shootout home loss to Nashville on Saturday. With the score tied 3-3, the Canucks nearly pulled ahead midway through the third when JT Miller streaked in on a breakaway with two Predators players chasing, and blasted a shot on net. Juuse Saros plucked the puck out of the air to keep the game tied. Miller did have a goal and assist to extend his point streak to six games. He has five goals and four assists in that stretch.

NHL Betting Pick: Ottawa Senators

Carolina Hurricanes vs. Florida Panthers

• When: Wednesday, November 9, 2022, 7:00 PM ET
• Where: FLA Live Arena, Sunrise, FL
• TV: BSFLX, BSSO
• Radio: 99.9 The Fan FM (Hurricanes) // AM 560 Sports WQAM (Panthers)
• Live Stream: NHL Live
• NHL Betting Odds: TBA

The Canucks have been massive disappointments thus far and now will be without one of their best players in young defenseman Quinn Hughes for a while due a lower-body injury. He was originally considered day to day after being a late scratch for a 5-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday but didn’t practice Sunday or Monday.

Two of the better teams in the Eastern Conference face off for the first time this season. However, Florida will be without star forward Matthew Tkachuk as he was suspended for two games by the NHL Department of Player Safety for poking Los Angeles Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick in the face with his stick on Saturday night.

The incident occurred at 19:22 of the third period, with the Panthers trailing the Kings 5-4. Florida defenseman Brandon Montour took a shot from the point that Quick covered. Tkachuk was standing near the crease and poked the Kings goalie in the mask with his stick. Tkachuk was given a two-minute minor for goalie interference and a 10-minute misconduct penalty. The Kings won the game 5-4. Tkachuk has five goals and 12 assists.

“While we heard Tkachuk’s argument that he was not intentionally aiming for Quick’s face in an attempt to injure him, he was intentionally using his stick to hit an opponent in the head, making contact with his face,” the Department of Player Safety said in its ruling.

Fellow forward Sam Bennett has been an anomaly this season, generating one of the highest rates for expected goals per 60 minutes among forwards — without the results to show for it. Florida would benefit from a change there. Bennett had one goal and four assists through 10 games while averaging nearly 20 minutes per game.

Teuvo Teravainen is top-five in average ice time for the Hurricanes (over 17 minutes per game) but managed only three assists through his first nine games. The winger is coming off a 65-point campaign, proving there’s more Teravainen can offer to Carolina’s offense (which has been middle of the pack, netting 3.25 goals per game).

NHL Betting Pick: Carolina Hurricanes

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READ MORE: Top NHL Betting Picks of the Week – November 14th, 2022