NHL PrizePicks Player Predictions: Saturday (11/2)

The NHL rolls out an 11-game slate today, including an international contest between the Stars and Panthers in Finland. There's no shortage of ways to get in on the action, including heading to PrizePicks. Below I've listed my three favorite player predictions on the platform. If you opt for the PrizePicks Power Play, this trio provides a respectable 5/1 payout.

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Saturday’s Best NHL PrizePicks Player Predictions

Evgeni Malkin More Than 0.5 Assists

The Penguins snapped their six-game slide (0-5-1) last time out, beating the Ducks in a 2-1 overtime contest. They'll look to make it two in a row when they wrap up a three-game homestand against the Canadiens. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. ET from PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.

Evgeni Malkin is 100% in pass-first mode this year, as he's amassed 11 assists compared to just three goals. His 11 helpers are the sixth-most in the NHL. He's assisted on 31.4% of Pittsburgh's goals this year. I like this matchup for Malkin against the Habs tonight.

Montreal's defense is the worst in the league, allowing 4.00 goals per game. While the Pens haven't been hot offensively, this is a great breakout spot against a lowly Canadiens defense. Furthermore, Malkin has been elevated to the top line with Sidney Crosby and Rickard Rakell. Rakell has easily been the biggest benefactor, leading the team with six goals. Malkin has an assist in five of the team's 12 games, including notching two assists in a 6-3 victory against Montreal on October 14th. Let's take Malkin to pick up an assist tonight.

William Nylander More Than 3.5 Shots on Goal

The Maple Leafs have rattled off two straight wins. William Nylander found the back of the net in both games. The Leafs will look to keep things rolling tonight when they square off against the Blues. This cross-conference matchup is slated for 7:00 p.m. ET from the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, MO.

Nylander is on a tear to start the new campaign, leading the Maple Leafs in goals (eight). He is third on the team with 35 shots on goal (SOG), which equates to 3.2 per game. The star winger has eclipsed this threshold in five out of his 11 contests this year, and I'll play him to do so against the Blues tonight.

This will be the second meeting between the two clubs. Nylander racked up four SOG in the home matchup on October 24th. St. Louis is a bit shaky on the defensive end, where they've allowed the ninth-most SOG this season (337). That translates to 30.6 per game against. Considering Nylander is seemingly lighting the lamp at will, I expect him to be in shoot-first mode in this one. Let's take Nylander to clear 3.5 SOG tonight.

Ivan Barbashev More Than 0.5 Points

The night wraps up out west with a Western Conference tilt between Utah and Vegas. The Golden Knights look to get back in the win column after having their four-game winning streak snapped by the Kings (6-3). This game starts at 10:00 p.m. ET from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV.

Vegas' top line has been on an absolute tear to start the new season. The Ivan Barbashev-Jack Eichel-Mark Stone trio have combined for 47 points through the first 11 games. Barbashev has 12 of those 47 points and leads the team with seven goals. The Russian-born winger has at least one point in seven of his 11 games.

I'll back Barbashev to notch another point tonight against Utah. The Hockey Club's defense has been a major issue this year, conceding 3.45 goals per game (26th). They're also 28th in high-danger shots against (29) during 5-on-5 play. That's critical because Barbashev isn't getting much power play time nowadays. I'll back Barbashev and this red-hot first line against the pedestrian Utah defense.

Make sure to check out our other best bets for Saturday: