With 10 games on the slate tonight, let’s examine some league trends and how player prop bets can provide value.
NHL Trends
- The game with the biggest impact on the playoffs is the Red Wings vs. the Penguins. Both teams are just barely on the outside looking into the playoffs and getting two points from this contest will be vital for both team’s playoff hopes. The Red Wings can only make it as a wild card team now that the Maple Leafs and Lightning have both clinched their spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Penguins are three points back of the Islanders for the third spot in the division and only 1 point behind the Capitals. The Capitals currently have 85 points compared to the Penguins and Red Wings both having 84 points. Crosby is willing his team into playoff contention, recording 40 goals and 46 assists this season. The Penguins have won 4 of their last 5 while the Wings have only won 2 of their last 5. The season series is tied 1-1 going into this game.
- Ovechkin and his Capitals head to Buffalo to take on the Sabres and Tage Thompson. The Capitals need to right the ship if they are to hold their playoff spot. They are 1-4 in their last 5 games and with so many teams right on their heels, it is paramount that they win or at least force overtime to get some points and hold their playoff spot. The Sabres are just playing for pride at this point and will end up missing the players by just a few games, but they are a young team and you should expect to see them making a charge in the next few seasons. The Capitals are full of veterans who know what it takes to do the job. The season series is tied at 1-1.
- The New Jersey Devils take on the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Devils will not be playing playoff hockey this season and have shut star center Jack Hughes down for the year as he will undergo shoulder surgery. The Leafs are only 3 points back of the Panthers and have a game in hand. While it looks unlikely either team will catch the Bruins for the 1 seed in the Atlantic Division, home ice is up for grabs, and the Leafs play the Panthers one more time this season. Auston Matthews has been a goal-scoring machine this season, he leads the league with 66 goals and needs just 4 goals in his 4 remaining games to hit that elusive 70-goal mark in a season. He would join the elite company of Gretzky, Lemieux, Brett Hull, and a few others to score 70 goals in a season. These teams met just a few days ago with the Maple Leafs winning 5-2.
- The Winnipeg Jets travel to Dallas to take on the Stars in a game that should have an intense playoff-like atmosphere. The Jets are only 2 points behind the Avalanche, and although they won’t be catching the Stars for the 1 seed, playing well enough to earn home-ice advantage would be very impactful. The Stars have already clinched but are just a few points away from securing the outright number 1 seed in the Western Conference and can potentially win the President’s Cup Trophy, the award given to the team with the most points at the end of the season. Dallas has dominated the season series, leading it 3-0.
Player Prop Bets
Tyler Toffoli Under .5 Points
The Stars have played the Jets so tough this season. Through the 3 matchups this season, the Jets have only scored 3 total goals against the Stars. In a game where the Jets are not predicted to score many goals, the under should have value. Toffoli has 3 points in his last 10 games.
Erik Karlsson Over 2.5 Shots
Based on the playoff implications, this game between the Red Wings and the Penguins should be played very tight. With how cagey the game could be, shots from the blue line could happen at a higher rate than normal. Karlsson will also be out there for the powerplay, giving him extra ice time to take a few shots on net. He has hit this line in two of his last three games.
Max Domi Over .5 Points
Domi has played very well since he started to play with Matthews. He is a pass-first forward and has proven to be an important piece of the offense recently. Last game against the Devils, whom the Leafs play tonight, he recorded 2 assists and had 2 shots on goal. He will have opportunities and playing with Matthews, it is always possible to record an assist.
Nikita Kucherov Over 1.5 Points
Kucherov has been the best playmaker in the league this season and he has been on a heater recently. The elite forward has recorded 2 or more points in 5 of his last 6 games. The Lightning matchup with the Senators is a very good matchup for them. The Senators average 3.4 goals against per game. I expect Kucherov to stay hot and record a few points in this contest.
