We are heading into tonight's 10-game NHL slate on a high note, as we nailed all three best bets from last night's article! Tonight I’m heading to PrizePicks, where I've narrowed in on a trio of prop bets on the ice. If all three of these player props cash, they'll net us a 5x multiplier.
We are heading into tonight's 10-game NHL slate on a high note, as we nailed all three best bets from last night's article! Tonight I’m heading to PrizePicks, where I've narrowed in on a trio of prop bets on the ice. If all three of these player props cash, they'll net us a 5x multiplier.
Thursday’s Best NHL PrizePicks Player Projections
(Props courtesy of PrizePicks)
Sidney Crosby More Than 0.5 Assists
Both the Penguins' (29-33-11) and Sabres' (29-35-6) seasons are essentially done at this point, as they're each sitting at least six points out of the final Wild Card spot in the East. The two teams will meet up tonight, and this Eastern Conference clash is set for 7:00 p.m. ET from KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY.
Pittsburgh's lack of success hasn't been Sidney Crosby's fault. The star centerman enters tonight's action with 79 points (11th-most in the NHL), which have come via 25 goals (51st) and 54 assists (eighth). He's on track to reach a point-per-game pace for the 20th straight time in his career! Sid the Kid has logged at least one assist in three straight games, as well as in five of his last six outings (83.3%). I'll take him to register another one tonight.
I also love this matchup for Crosby since he’s looking to rack up the assists against a lousy Buffalo defense. The Sabres are currently ranked 28th in GAA (3.16), 31st in SV% (.880), and 29th in high-danger shots against (286). They're also 22nd on the penalty kill (76.42%), and 13 of Crosby's 54 helpers have come in man-advantage situations this season.
Lane Hutson More Than 0.5 Assists
Meanwhile, the Canadiens (33-28-9) are making a push for the postseason, as they come into tonight's game occupying the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. They'll take on a Flyers team (28-36-9) that has slid to second-to-last in the East, where only the Sabres are worse. This contest gets underway at 7:00 p.m. ET from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA.
Keeping it with the assist props, I'll play Lane Hutson to record one tonight. The Habs d-man has lived up to the hype in his debut season, and he currently sits as high as +450 to win the Calder Trophy for the best rookie. Only San Jose's Macklin Celebrini (-280) has a shorter price. Hutson has emerged as Montreal's top offensive defenseman, where he's logged 54 points (5G, 49A) across 70 games. He has at least one apple in seven of his last 12 outings (58.3%).
Like Buffalo, Philadelphia's defense has been a train wreck all season. They're dead last in SV% (.871) and 29th in GAA (3.21), while sitting 17th on the PK (77.35%). During their current 0-5-1 stretch of play, the Flyers are allowing 4.5 goals per contest. This sneakily potent Habs offense should feast tonight. I like Hutson to get in on the scoring action with an assist.
Auston Matthews More Than 0.5 Assists
Let's wrap things up out West, where the Maple Leafs (43-25-3) will try to snag an easy two points against the lowly Sharks (19-42-9). This cross-conference showdown gets underway at 10:30 p.m. ET from the SAP Center at San Jose in San Jose, CA.
Auston Matthews missed some time earlier in the season, but he's still more than a point-per-game guy this year. In 56 games played, the superstar center has 64 points on 27 goals and 37 assists. Matthews is primed for a monster night against this terrible Sharks defense, and I'll take him to pick up an assist. He has three of them in his last two games. Overall, his 37 helpers are the 50th-most in the NHL.
San Jose is the worst defensive team in the league this year. They're last in GAA (3.43) and high-danger shots against (295), as well as 29th in SV% (.885). The Sharks are 26th in penalty killing (74.77%), and they'll have a tall task against a Maple Leafs squad that's fifth on the power play (26.04%). Of Matthews' 37 assists, 14 have come on the power play. Give me Matthews to log an assist tonight.
