NHL SOG parlays: Tkachuk equals ka-CHING

Hopefully, you enjoyed a nice long weekend! While the NBA has been on break, there has been no shortage of betting options, from a packed NHL weekend to the NBA All-Star Game festivities, to the Genesis Invitational to the Daytona 500, plus plenty of college basketball.

As we head into a new week, the NHL once again takes center stage, and there are some spots of interest for a fun play tonight.

Taking a shot at green with a shot on goal parlay

Two teams in particular look poised to get plenty of pucks on net, and we're thinking the best way to start a new week would be a nice and simple SOG parlay. 

First legs:

The Florida Panthers are averaging 36 shots per game as a team when skating at home over the past month and a half, and they should have no issues dictating the pace against an Ottawa team skating on a back-to-back. The Panthers have logged 34+ shots in six of their last eight meetings against the Senators, this could definitely be fun.

Matthew Tkachuk 3+ shots: Tkachuk is averaging 3.5 SOG per game at home this season, and he's playing against his brother, Brady, which should be a nice motivating factor to shoot the puck. Tkachuk has 3+ shots in four of his past six against Ottawa.

Aleksander Barkov 2+ shots: Barkov has hit 2+ shots in 76% of his games this season, and he sure loves seeing the Senators. Barkov has averaged 3.7 SOG/game over his last six meetings, going for 3+ five times. We're just asking for two tonight.

Second legs:

Then there are the Pittsburgh Penguins, who should equally find little resistance on offense, as the Islanders are allowing nearly 33 shots per game on the road, the same number Pittsburgh is averaging on offense. The Penguins have logged 36+ shots in four of their past five against New York.

Sidney Crosby 3+ shots: Crosby has been steady at this shot number, hitting it in 75% of games this season. He's also had plenty of success against the Islanders, logging three or more shots in seven of his past nine games against them.

Evgeni Malkin 3+ shots: Malkin has had some big games recently against the Islanders, three times finishing with 5+ shots in his past four meetings. Malkin has also gone over in four of the last five games played without Jake Guentzel, who was recently placed on IR.

SGP+ for tonight on FanDuel: Matthew Tkachuk 3+ shots, Aleksander Barkov 2+ shots & Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin 3+ shots (+354)

Good luck tonight!

In the news ...

William Byron wins Daytona 500 — The Daytona 500 was delayed a day due to rain, and it ended up being William Byron who won the race under caution on Monday. Ross Chastain made a move late and wrecked second-place Austin Cindric, giving Byron his first Daytona 500 victory. He was 16-1 to win prior to the race. There were plenty of highs and lows from the race, and the NASCAR community turns now to the Craftsman Truck Series Race on Saturday. Byron is currently +600 to win the Cup Series this season if you'd like to bet on him carrying this momentum forward all season.

Brooklyn Nets fire head coach Jacque Vaughn — In the midst of an 8-23 run, the Brooklyn Nets have fired head coach Jacque Vaughn, who has been with the team since 2016. It's hard to know who is at fault here, as the Nets are undermanned as a team following the failure that was the Kevin Durant-Kyrie Irving-James Harden experiment. Brooklyn is currently 21-33 on the season, just outside the 10th seed in the East and the final play-in game spot. If you wanted to somehow bet that the Nets turn things around, they're +1100 to make the playoffs. We wouldn't recommend it.

Latest report suggests Steelers might move into 2024 with Rudolph and Pickett at QB — An interesting report came out from Pittsburgh Steelers insider Gerry Dulac, who said there is some internal support for Mason Rudolph to be this year's starter. Furthermore, Dulac states the Steelers are not interested in bringing in a quarterback who wants to be a starter. Consider us confused, and we still don't fully buy it. Pittsburgh needs to upgrade its QB room to have a chance in the AFC. This hasn't changed the odds on Justin Fields's next team; Pittsburgh remains the favorite at -135. 

Today's Bark Bets is written by Griffin Carroll. Follow him on Substack: griffybets.substack.com.