NHL Tuesday best bets: Senators to stay hot vs. Kings

We have a busy night of hockey ahead of us, with nine games scheduled for Tuesday's NHL slate. Let's explore our best bets.

Panthers (-120) @ Jets (+100)

The Panthers rank eighth in the league in goals per game, and their goaltending has been inconsistent. As such, they play in a lot of high-scoring games and are generally attached to high totals.

But that shouldn't be the case Tuesday against the Jets, not with Aleksander Barkov and Anton Lundell both sidelined. Barkov is a point-per-game stud, while Lundell is a promising youngster who ranks sixth among Panthers skaters in points. Those are big losses, especially at the same time.

While Florida still has talent down the middle, Sam Bennett, Colin White, and Eetu Luostarinen aren't as dynamic as the Panthers' injured centers and won't create the same volume of quality chances for their linemates.

That will be problematic against a goaltender like Connor Hellebuyck. Winnipeg's star netminder has been nothing short of spectacular this season. Through 18 appearances, he owns a .931 save percentage and sits third among all NHL goalies in goals saved above expected (plus-13.6).

On the flip side, it's hard to see the Jets doing much damage of their own. Spencer Knight has quietly played very well for the Panthers, drastically outperforming Sergei Bobrovsky and his $10-million cap hit.

Knight owns a .923 save percentage on the season and enters Tuesday's action after stopping 67 of 69 shots over his last two games.

Missing two of their best forwards, the Panthers will undoubtedly try to tighten up defensively. With a strong goaltending matchup and a high total, there's plenty of value in backing the under.

Bet: Under 6.5 (-110)

Kings (-105) @ Senators (-115)

Are the Senators turning a corner? Ottawa has won four of its last five games and posted remarkably strong underlying metrics in its last 10.

The Senators have controlled 56.16% of the expected goal share at five-on-five in that span, good for third in the entire league. The only thing holding them back has been an inability to convert on their wealth of chances.

Despite Ottawa's 10-game possession hot streak, no team in the league has scored on a lower percentage of its five-on-five shots in that span; the Senators have converted on just over 4% of their shots.

Those numbers are unsustainably low for any team - let alone one rostering talented forwards like Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, Alex DeBrincat, and Claude Giroux.

It just so happens the Senators might be drawing the perfect opponent to prompt some positive regression.

The Kings have dealt with goaltending issues all season and sit 28th in five-on-five goals against. Though Jonathan Quick has been better than Cal Petersen, his .888 save percentage is still putrid.

Expect Ottawa to be on the front foot plenty in this contest. With an expected edge in net - Quick has allowed three goals or more in six of his last seven games - there's plenty of reason to like the Senators at home.

Bet: Senators (-115)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.