Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesThe Nashville Predators (7-1) will go for their sixth consecutive win on Tuesday when they host the San Jose Sharks (4-3-1) as small home favorites at the sportsbooks. The Predators have outscored the opposition by a league-best 12 goals this season Michael Hutchinson Jersey Womens , although they put goaltender Pekka Rinne on IR following a collision on Friday. NHL betting line: The Predators opened as -123 favorites (wager $123 to win $100); the total is at 5.5 goals, according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark. (Line updates and matchup report)NHL betting pick, via OddsShark computer: 3.5-2.5, Predators (NHL picks on every game)Check out the OddsShark podcast on iTunes or Spotify or at OddsShark.libsyn.com for more odds information, betting picks and a breakdown of this week's top sports betting news. Why the Sharks can pay on the NHL linesWhile Nashville has won five in a row, San Jose has put together a modest two-game winning streak heading into a three-game road trip after beating the Buffalo Sabres and New York Islanders at home by a combined score of 9-2.The Sharks had lost their previous two games on the road by just one goal apiece, so at least they were competitive in both matchups despite suffering defeats each time. Led by a balanced scoring attack, this team has seven players with six points or more in the first eight games. Why the Predators can pay on the NHL linesThe Predators are fortunate to have an outstanding backup to replace Rinne in net with Juuse Saros already set as their goalie of the future. In fact, the 23-year-old is a perfect 4-0 this season with a 1.54 goals-against average after blanking the Edmonton Oilers in a 3-0 road victory on Saturday.Saros stopped all 31 Edmonton shots he faced in the win along with all nine in relief of Rinne versus the Flames. He was almost as good as Rinne last year too when he won the Vezina Trophy for being the NHL's best goalie. Smart betting pickThis is a fantastic matchup between two clubs expected to battle for the Western Conference title this season. But Nashville has won four of the past five meetings between the teams, according to the OddsShark NHL Database http://www.officialdevils.com/authentic … ood-jersey , since falling to San Jose in seven games during the 2016 playoffs.The Predators have also been the better team overall the past two years, so look for Saros to outplay counterpart Martin Jones in this spot and stay unbeaten between the pipes.NHL betting trendsThe total has gone under in five of San Jose's last seven games.The total has gone under in four of San Jose's last five games on the road.Nashville is 15-8 in its last 23 games at home.All NHL odds and betting trends according to Bleacher Report's official odds partner, OddsShark. Check out OddsShark on Twitter and Instagram or head to YouTube for more betting picks and analysis on this week's top games. You can also download the free odds tracker app. TORONTO (AP) — John Tavares had the best offensive night of his career and was left wanting for more — from the defensive side of the Toronto Maple Leafs attack.Tavares had the first four-goal game of his career and the Maple Leafs beat the Florida Panthers 7-5 Monday night.Tavares, who signed a seven-year, $77 million contract with the Leafs in free agency on July 1, has 45 goals this season, the most by a player in his first season with the franchise.“Nice to get rewarded like that. It’s a good feeling,” the 28-year-old Tavares said. “I still feel like we can be a little better with some of the opportunities we gave up and eventually went in our net.”Tavares, who also has nine three-goal games since being drafted first overall by the New York Islanders in 2009, moved into second place in goals this season Nico Hischier Jersey , three behind Washington’s Alex Ovechkin.“Just trying to play my game,” said Tavares, whose previous career-high for goals was 38. “With the type of players I’m playing with and the type of team we have, they make so many plays.“You just try to make yourself available.”Zach Hyman had a goal and two assists, and Patrick Marleau and Jake Muzzin also scored for Toronto. Mitch Marner had three assists, while Morgan Rielly and William Nylander each finished with two assists.Frederik Andersen made 31 saves for the Leafs.“The puck has got to stay out of your net,” head coach Mike Babcock said. “We’ve got to help Freddie out.”Jayce Hawryluk scored twice and added an assist for Florida. Jonathan Huberdeau added two goals and Mike Matheson also scored. Evgenii Dadanov and Mike Hoffman each had two assists.Rookie netminder Sam Montembeault allowed two goals on four shots before getting pulled just over four minutes into game. Roberto Luongo, who was scheduled to get the night off with the Panthers set to face the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday, made 28 saves in relief.“It’s embarrassing the way we’ve played the last three, four games Dan Hamhuis Jersey Womens ,” Florida defenseman Aaron Ekblad said. “It’s unfortunate.”Toronto entered play 2-4-1 over its last seven games, including Saturday’s 2-1 overtime loss at home to the New York Rangers. The Maple Leafs had played better during a recent 1-1-1 stretch after surrendering 23 goals in four prior outings over a six-day span from March 11-16.“We’re starting to play better,” said Rielly, who hit the 70-point plateau. “That being said, there’s always areas that you can clean up.”The Leafs scored early when Marleau took a feed from Nazem Kadri and beat Montembeault on the short side for his 16th goal of the season, and second in his last 13 outings.Muzzin made it 2-0 with his ninth at 4:21, blasting a shot past Montembeault, who was promptly replaced by Luongo.Tavares scored his first on the power play at 11:05, beating Luongo with a shot between the pads from close range.Hawryluk got Florida on the board at 13:23, tipping his sixth past Andersen off the rush to make it 3-1. But Tavares added his second just 1:19 later when he tapped a pass from Hyman past Luongo.Matheson blasted his eighth through a screen on Andersen at 16:25 to give the Panthers a bit of life.Tavares made it 5-2 on a rebound off the rush at 5:51 of the second to complete his hat trick. Hats rained down to salute the 28-year-old’s second three-goal game of the season.Tavares scored his fourth to make it 6-2 on another tap-in at 3:57 of the third.Huberdeau got his 24th at 5:34 Youth Pavel Zacha Jersey , but Hyman was left all alone in front and made it 7-3 with his 20th at 6:51.Then, with the Leafs short-handed, Huberdeau scored his second of the night with 6:24 remaining.Hawryluk scored his second of the game with 2:24 remaining to make it 7-5.“Mostly it was a good night,” Tavares said. “We’ll build on the good stuff.”NOTES: Tavares is the fourth member of the Leafs in the last 20 years to record a four-goal game, and the first since Auston Matthews made his debut in October 2016. … Eddie Olczyk held the previous record for goals in an inaugural season with Toronto when he scored 42 in 1987-88. … Tavares also recorded a hat trick on Oct. 7, against the Chicago Blackhawks. … Marleau suited up for the 1,651st regular-season game of his career, tying Chris Chelios for sixth all-time in the NHL. … Toronto defenseman Travis Dermott (shoulder) took part in the morning skate minus a non-contact jersey. Fellow blue-liner Jake Gardiner (back) also skated before the main session.UP NEXTPanthers: At Montreal on Tuesday.Maple Leafs: At Philadelphia on Wednesday.