It’s a bit of a short week regarding the NHL because the All-Star Game is being played on Saturday from Las Vegas. We’ll have a preview of that later this week, but here are two intriguing early-week matchups. Check back for NHL odds.

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Edmonton Oilers vs. Ottawa Senators

• When: Monday, January 31st, 2022. 7:30pm ET
• Where: Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa, ON
• TV: SNW, RDS
• Radio: CHED 630 AM (Oilers) // TSN Radio 1200 (Senators)
• Live Stream: NHL Live
• NHL Betting Odds: Oilers -1.5

It’s the first meeting of the season between the teams.

The Oilers got a lot better over the weekend with the team debut of former All-Star forward Evander Kane. The 30-year-old was placed on unconditional waivers by the San Jose Sharks on Jan. 8 with the intention of terminating his contract “for breach of his NHL standard player contract and for violation of the AHL COVID-19 protocols.”

Kane was in the fourth season of a seven-year contract he signed with San Jose on May 24, 2018, but did not play for the Sharks this season. He was suspended by the NHL for 21 games on Oct. 18 for violating NHL COVID-19 protocol. Super-talented player but has had some off the ice issues. The Oilers signed him to a low-risk one-year deal and Kane scored in his Edmonton debut Saturday, a 7-2 win over Montreal.

Edmonton scored three in less than two minutes during the first, and scored first for the first time in 12 games en route to its fourth straight victory. Kane, a two-time 30-goal scorer who has had at least 20 in a season five other times, will likely be used in several different line combinations while Edmonton searches for the right fit.

“It’s nice to contribute on a new team coming in, you want to show what you can do,” said Kane. “Obviously, it was great to get the boys on the board early. And everyone kind of took off after that.”

Ottawa comes off a 2-1 home loss to Anaheim on Saturday. The Sens remain without center Josh Norris due to a shoulder injury. Coach D.J. Smith said that Norris will be out until the all-star break at the very least. Norris has 18 goals and 26 points in 36 contests in 2021-22.

Defenseman Erik Brannstrom was back at practice on Sunday after being in COVID-19 protocol. Brannstrom said he feels ready to go, but Smith said the team would decide early Monday if he will play against Edmonton. He hasn’t been in the lineup since Jan. 23.

Edmonton lost 6-4 at home to Ottawa on Jan. 15 in the lone meeting this season. Norris scored twice, including the tiebreaking goal as the Senators tallied five times in the third period to rally. Matt Murray stopped 33 shots.

NHL Betting Pick: Oilers

Arizona Coyotes vs. Colorado Avalanche

• When: Tuesday, February 1st, 2022. 9:00pm ET
• Where: Ball Arena, Denver, CO
• TV: ALT2, BSAZ
• Radio: Arizona Sports 98.7 FM (Coyotes) // Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM (Avalanche)
• Live Stream: NHL Live
• NHL Betting Odds: TBA

The moneyline for this game is going to be incredibly high, probably north of -600 in favor of the Avalanche even though they are without one of their best players in forward Nathan MacKinnon. He will not play for the Avalanche until after the All-Star break and will miss the NHL All-Star Game because of a concussion and facial fracture. MacKinnon was voted captain of the Central Division for the All-Star Game. Dallas Stars forward Joe Pavelski will be Central captain in MacKinnon’s absence and Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi will replace him on the roster. MacKinnon is third on the Avalanche with 43 points (nine goals, 34 assists) in 31 games. Defenseman Ryan Murray could be ready for Tuesday’s game. He has been sidelined since Jan. 14 with an upper-body injury. Murray has four assists, 12 shots, 27 blocks and 16 hits in 21 appearances this year. Arizona enters off a 3-1 home loss to Buffalo, the Yotes’ fifth straight defeat. Phil Kessel produced a power-play assist and fired two shots on goal. Kessel helped out on a Shayne Gostisbehere goal in the third period. The assist ended Kessel’s four-game point drought, though he’s still gone 14 contests without a goal. He has 11 helpers in that span, and the winger is at 28 points, 89 shots on net, 16 PIM and a minus-13 rating through 43 appearances overall. Colorado is 2-0 vs. Arizona this season. Their game in Denver was on Jan. 14 and the Avs won 4-3 in a shootout. Nazem Kadri scored the winner in a shootout. Mikko Rantanen, Tyson Jost and Andre Burakovsky scored in regulation for Colorado, and Pavel Francouz stopped 23 shots. All-Star Clayton Keller had his first career short-handed goal and Johan Larsson also scored for Arizona, which went 0 for 3 in the shootout.

NHL Betting Pick: Avalanche on puckline

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READ MOREL: 2022 NHL All-Star Game NHL Odds, Preview and Prediction