The NHL playoff race is heating up, and if you're looking for some betting action today, you've come to the right place.
These are my three favorite plays at PrizePicks, which pay 5/1 if you opt for the Power Play.
The NHL playoff race is heating up, and if you're looking for some betting action today, you've come to the right place.
These are my three favorite plays at PrizePicks, which pay 5/1 if you opt for the Power Play.
Saturday’s Best NHL PrizePicks Player Projections
(Props courtesy of PrizePicks)
Johnny Gaudreau Over 0.5 Points
The Blue Jackets wrap up a four-game homestand tonight, where they'll take on the floundering Flyers. Philadelphia has dropped six straight games (0-4-2), allowing 4.5 goals per game over the six-game stretch! This is a great spot to lock in Columbus' top scorer, Johnny Gaudreau, to get a point.
The winger leads the Blue Jackets in scoring this year, registering 56 points (11G, 45A) so far. He has a point in two straight games (2A), and he has nailed the prop in seven of his last nine games (1G, 10A). Circling back on Philadelphia, this rough stretch has dropped them to 18th in overall defense (2.96 GAA). The Flyers are vulnerable at the moment, and I expect this scrappy Jackets squad to kick them while they're down. Give me Gaudreau to record a point.
Mikael Backlund Under 0.5 Points
The fourth and final installment of the Battle of Alberta is set for tonight, and Calgary's looking to salvage a split for the season series. They'll have a tall task against an Edmonton team that's climbed to second in the Pacific Division standings.
I mentioned that the Flyers were going through it right now. Well, the Flames have been equally as bad, posting a 1-7-0 record over their last eight games. Calgary's third-line center, Mikael Backlund, hasn't registered a point over that entire stretch. He's scoreless in his last seven games. I don't see things turning around for Backlund as they square off against Edmonton's stingy defense. The Oilers are up to ninth in overall defense (2.68 GAA), and they've allowed the fifth-fewest 5-on-5 high-danger shots (140) this year. Look for Backlund's pointless streak to continue in this rivalry showdown.
Connor McDavid Over 1.5 Points
Keeping it in the same game, I will lock in Connor McDavid to add two points tonight. This is a lofty total, but McDavid's obviously the most impressive forward in the league right now (and probably the entire world).
McDavid's up to 128 points this year, which is third in the league. He has 31 goals and 97 apples, and he's looking to become one of four players to amass 100+ assists in a single season (Wayne Gretzky, Bobby Orr and Mario Lemieux). Over Calgary’s noted eight-game slide, they're conceding 4.1 goals per game! Now, the Flames are tasked with slowing down Edmonton's third-ranked offense (3.6 GPG) and third-ranked power play (26.43%).
Let's take a flier on McDavid to record two points, which he has done in 10 of his last 13 games.
Make sure to check out our other best bets for Saturday:
- NHL Prop Betting Cheat Sheet
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- NBA First Basket Scorer Odds, Picks & Predictions
- Premier League Matchday 32 Odds, Picks & Prediction
- 2024 NCAA Tournament Same Game Parlay Picks: Final Four
- Cook Out 400: NASCAR at Martinsville Odds, Picks & Predictions
