Its open season on Atlanta’s Ilya Kovalchuk and a handful of teams in the market for some scoring will take the ice tonight in what could turn into an all-night bargaining session.

Kovalchuk has apparently been put on notice and may have played his last game in a Thrashers uniform. Kovalchuk is currently fifth in the NHL with 31 goals and there are at least a half-dozen teams showing interest but he comes with a price. Sounds like a team needs at least eight-digits of salary cap room per season to lure him and that cuts the prospective buyers down considerably.

One of the big market teams that could use a spark is in action tonight against an opponent that’s overloaded with talent. The New York Rangers (28^th in scoring – 2.49 GPG) visit Washington (1^st overall – 3.82 GPG) and the Capitals (-165) are the biggest road fav on the betting card.

Dallas will test the new HC theory in Columbus (-130) as Claude Noel makes his first appearance behind the bench and Montreal at Boston (-160) is "live" as Greg Dempson’s NHL System of the Day. This system is 82-39 (68-percent) since 1997 and 11-2 the past five seasons and calls for a play on the "Over" 5 (-120).

New York is at Tampa Bay (-160) and Vancouver (-115) faces an Ottawa Senators team riding a 10-game win streak. Brian Elliot has been spectacular during the run (8-0, 1.14 GAA and .961 save percentage) and is confirmed to start for the home side.

San Jose (-145) travels to meet a St. Louis team off a huge upset win vs. rival Chicago last night and the betting public are all over the Blues, moving the line 15-points. Colorado battles Nashville (-135) and in the midst of their first two-game win streak since Dec. 11, the Oilers will try and tame the Wild in Minnesota (-200).

One late game tonight features another team high on the Kovalchuk chain when Anaheim visits the Los Angeles Kings (-160). The Ducks were on the road for six, home for one and back out for this single so HC Carlyle and his boys could be skating on tired legs. LA has won four straight in this series and will look to continue that trend in what could be a low scoring affair.