Game 2 is set to get underway in four different series on Thursday night with some great angles to attack in the prop bets market. Below, I give my three best NHL player prop bets for Thursday.
As a reminder, I am playing all player props for a half-unit each during the playoffs. Follow me on Twitter to get all of my plays on days without full write-ups.
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
Bet $10, Win $200 if Either Team Scores a Goal >>
Anthony Mantha Over 0.5 Points (+115)
The Washington Capitals will look to take a 2-0 series lead over the Florida Panthers in Game 2 tonight. Anthony Mantha was one of Washington’s best skaters in Game 1 as he was all over the ice, contributing in different areas of the game.
Logging an assist and five shots on goal on Tuesday, I expect Mantha to be impactful in Game 2 as well. In Game 1, Mantha led all Washington forwards in ice time and five-on-five expected goals for (xGF).
Mantha has been great for Washington since returning from injury on March 3rd as he has registered 17 points in 27 games. I like Mantha to keep it going as the Panthers’ defense looked very suspect in Game 1.
The Capitals generated 4.11 xGF in that game, and that was with playing the majority of the game without talented top-six winger Tom Wilson. Additionally, Mantha has proven successful against this team as he has now notched a point in both appearances against Florida this season.
Mikael Granlund Over 0.5 Assists (+130)
The Nashville Predators will look to even up the series following their 7-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche in Game 1. If I have learned anything this year, it is that “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”.
After hitting this prop on Tuesday, I am going back to the well tonight. While Nashville did get stomped in Game 1, Granlund still was able to muster two assists.
Granlund has been on fire as he now has 10 assists over his last five games, which makes sense considering he centers a line between two 80-point scorers in Duchene and Forsberg. In all four games against Colorado this season, Granlund has registered at least one assist.
Matthew Tkachuk Over 0.5 Assists (+115)
Just like the Granlund play, I am going back to the well on another successful prop from Tuesday’s article as the Calgary Flames attempt to take a 2-0 series lead against the Dallas Stars. Tkachuk assisted on the lone goal by Lindholm in that game and I think he should be able to keep It going.
As I mentioned on Tuesday, Tkachuk is a member of the best line in hockey as he plays alongside Gaudreau and Lindholm. All three of these guys have reached at least 40 goals this season, and very rarely does this line not muster a goal.
Additionally, I expect some regression from Jake Oettinger in this contest for Dallas as he played better than usual on Tuesday against a far superior team. In Game 1, Oettinger had 0.21 goals saved above expected, a mark that is over double the amount of his season 60-minute average of 0.1.
Best of luck!
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