The NHL has announced that that an investigation into Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Ian Cole found no evidence that he sexually abused a woman when she was a minor. The league has subsequently concluded its investigation and Cole is no longer suspended. Here’s a look at two interesting NHL games this week. Check back for NHL odds.

Top NHL Betting Picks of the Week (October 17th, 2022)

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Dallas Stars vs. Toronto Maple Leafs

• When: Thursday, October 20, 2022, 7:00 PM ET
• Where: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON
• TV: SNO, BSSW
• Radio: Sportsradio 96.7 FM (Stars) // Sportsnet 590 The FAN (Maple Leafs)
• Live Stream: NHL Live
• NHL Betting Odds: TBA

The Maple Leafs, who have the longest Stanley Cup drought in the NHL, got some bad news over the weekend when No. 1 goaltender Matt Murray suffered an adductor injury and was placed on long-term injured reserve. He’s expected to miss about four weeks.

He made 19 saves in his Maple Leafs debut, a 4-3 loss at the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday after being acquired in a trade with the Senators on July 11.

“He’s put in a lot of work and he’s been healthy all the way through the offseason, training camp, preseason,” Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said. “He’s put in a lot of work and hasn’t missed a second and been feeling good all the way through. To that end, it’s disappointing for him obviously disappointing for us. We want him to be healthy and want him to be in the net, but these injuries happen and we’ve dealt with a lot of them when it comes to the goaltenders the last couple seasons. That’s the reason why we signed two guys.”

Toronto opted to add Murray instead of re-signing incumbent starter Jack Campbell, an unrestricted free agent who went on to ink a five-year, $25 million contract with Edmonton. The Leafs also traded Campbell’s former backup Petr Mrazek to Chicago in July, opening the door for an entirely new goalie tandem to take over.

Ilya Samsonov will start most games going forward. He made 27 saves in a 3-2 win over Ottawa on Saturday. Erik Kallgren has been recalled from Toronto of the American Hockey League to serve as Samsonov’s backup.

This is the first of two meetings this season between the Stars and Leafs. Last year, Toronto won both – including 4-3 in OT at home. Auston Matthews had two goals to set the franchise record of 56. He would finish the season with 60. The game-winner came when he took a pass from William Nylander and was able to swipe the puck around Scott Wedgewood 2:10 into overtime.

NHL Betting Pick: Toronto Maple Leafs

Detroit Red Wings vs. Chicago Blackhearts

• When: Friday, October 21, 2022, 8:30 PM ET
• Where: UBS Arena, Elmont, NY
• TV: NBCSCH, BSDETX
• Radio: 560 WQAM (Red Wings) // WRHU 88.7 FM (Blackhearts)
• Live Stream: NHL Live
• NHL Betting Odds: TBA

Always fun when these rivals meet – they used to have wars when the Red Wings were in the Eastern Conference. Detroit will be without one of its best players for the next 4-6 weeks in forward Tyler Bertuzzi due to an upper-body injury.

The 27-year-old left wing sustained the injury blocking a shot by New Jersey Devils defenseman Ryan Graves at 4:15 of the second period of a 5-2 win at New Jersey on Saturday. Bertuzzi has one assist and four shots on goal while averaging 13:38 in ice time in two games for Detroit (2-0-0). Last season he was second on the Red Wings in goals (30) and points (62) in 68 games. The Red Wings also are missing forward Robby Fabbri (knee).

“Obviously, it’s a tough loss with Fabbri also out, two top-six guys, arguably two first-line guys,” coach Derek Lalonde said. “But that is why you have the depth. [General manager] Steve [Yzerman] had a very good offseason and he wanted to have some depth. I like our lineup despite who is out, and that is a credit to having some more depth than Detroit has had the luxury of in the past.”

Bertuzzi missed a chunk of preseason with an undisclosed injury, and at least this time will be able to condition.

“What he missed in camp affected him, and he was behind, you could see, on conditioning,” Lalonde said. “This will be an important for him, six weeks off the ice.”

Detroit won in its trip to Chicago last year 6-3. Lucas Raymond had three goals and an assist, and Bertuzzi added a goal and two assists. Alex Nedeljkovic made 32 saves. Dominik Kubalik, Tyler Johnson and Henrik Borgstrom scored for Chicago. Marc-Andre Fleury was in net but he’s now with Minnesota.

NHL Betting Pick: Detroit Red Wings

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READ MORE: Top NHL Betting Picks of the Week – October 24th, 2022