NHL Trends and Player Prop Bets Thursday the 4th
With nine games on the slate tonight, let's take a look at some trends going around the league and how we can find value with player prop bets.
NHL Trends
- Sidney Crosby and his Penguins visit Washington to take on Ovi and the Capitals. Both these teams are very close to the playoffs but currently sit a few points out. The Penguins have been hot recently, winning 4 of their last 5 games, and are making a late push into playoff contention. The Capitals are tied with the Red Wings for the last playoff spot so they need to win these games or force overtime to get 1 point at least. The Capitals currently lead the season series 2-1 against the Penguins this season.
- The Bruins take on the Hurricanes in what is shaping up to be two of the higher-ranked playoff seeds in the Eastern Conference. Both teams are Presidents Cup trophy hopefuls and this game is shaping up to have that intense playoff feel. Hurricanes goalie Frederik Anderson has been elite this season. He missed a large chunk of the season with an injury, but he has boasted a gaudy 1.88 Goals against per game and a .930 save percentage this season. If the Canes can get this type of production headed into the playoffs, they can make a very deep playoff run.
- This is a huge game between central division rivals. Currently, the Predators have 90 points compared to the Blues 84. Both teams have played 75 games as well. A win for the Predators gives them an 8-point buffer on the Blues and virtually clinches one of the wildcard playoff spots in the Western Conference. A Blues win keeps them within 4 points with 6 games still to play. The Blues can still make the playoffs if they lose this game, but a loss in the division makes that feat much harder. The Predators lead the season series 2-0.
- This a must-win game for the Islanders as they travel to Columbus to take on the Blue Jackets. The playoff race in the East is incredibly tight, with the Islanders, Red Wings, Capitals, Flyers, and Penguins all vying for just 2 spots. The Islanders are taking on a team that is 25-38-12 this season and have no playoff hopes. The Islanders lead the season series 2-0 and won the last meeting 7-3.
- The Winnipeg Jets have been struggling recently, only winning 1 of their last 5 games, and the Flames could be a ‘get-right’ game for the team. The Flames boast a 34-35-5 record and will not be making the playoffs this year. The Flames have won both games between these teams this season. The Jets offense has been struggling and is only averaging 3.04 goals per game. Luckily, they are one of the best defensive teams in the league and only give up 2.48 goals against per game. The Jets sit third in the Central Division standings and have virtually clinched a playoff spot.
Player Prop Bets
Nikita Kucherov Over 3.5 Shots
Kucherov is having a great season, already tallying a flashy 42 goals and 88 assists. He is an elite playmaker and can light the lamp with the best goal-scorers in the league. In his last 7 games, he has hit the over on this line 4 times. The Canadiens are averaging 33 shots per game, and Kucherov can muster up 4 or more shots to hit this line.
Sidney Crosby Over .5 Points
Crosby vs Ovi. A crucial game with playoff implications for both these teams. What’s not to love about this matchup? Now, both these teams don’t score too many goals, both averaging under 3 goals per game, but if the Penguins break through, there is a good chance it is because of Crosby. Crosby leads this team in both goals and assists and has 84 points this season. Crosby has recorded at least 1 point in 6 straight games.
Anze Kopitar Over .5 Assists
Kopitar has a smash matchup against the Sharks in this game. The Sharks are giving up 3.9 goals against per game. The Kings lead the season series 2-1 and they are still in need of points to make the playoffs. This is a great matchup for the Kings to record two points and strengthen their playoff chances. Kopitar is averaging .53 assists per game this season and has not recorded an assist in 4 straight games. He is overdue for a helper, and he has a great matchup to get it done.
Kirill Kaprizov Over .5 Assists
In both matchups between these teams earlier this season, Kaprizov has recorded an assist. He is an elite playmaking forward who has 46 assists this season, averaging .69 assists per game this season. He has 5 assists in his last 5 games.
Matthew St.Pierre
Matthew St.Pierre has always had a deep love for sports. Throughout his life, he has played and watched just about every major sport there is. With over nine years competing in fantasy leagues for football, hockey, and baseball, sports have always been a huge part of his life. Matt looks forward to building a successful career as a journalist, offering in-depth investigations and quality insights across all sports topics. Outside of sports, you'll find Matt playing video games, walking his dog, Simba, and traveling.