On the penultimate day of the NHL regular season, the playoff picture is now set. The 4 games tonight and 6 games tomorrow still feature players looking to hit incentive bonuses, career benchmarks and teams wanting set the tone for the playoffs. A couple of games worth targeting tonight for player props are Maple Leafs vs Lightning and Oilers vs Coyotes. A few familiar names have a good chance to end the season on a high no te, both personally and together as a team. Here are our best NHL player prop bets for today, and you can also find our'NHL predictions for each of today’s games.
Auston Matthews, TOR, Over 0.5 goals (-150)
While not a single NHL player will ever truly elevate their personal stats over the success of the team, Auston Matthews has a chance to net his 70th goal of the season tonight. He is just a goal away from reaching that esteemed distinction that would be just the 15th 70-goal season in NHL history. The Maple Leafs are already locked into their playoff position and their opponent is set. This game is about staying healthy, entering the playoffs on a roll and getting Matthews that 70th goal.
In 3 games against the Lightning this season, Matthews has 3 goals. Granted, the -150 odds for him to make it 4 goals in 4 games tonight are not very appetizing. If you are looking for better value, check out the odds of some of Matthews' teammates to go over a point prop and then parlay one with this pick. Mitch Marner, William Nylander, John Tavares and Morgan Reilly among others will all be looking Matthews-first every time they get the puck. Matthews will likely be fed pucks at every possible chance tonight. Pairing a fellow Maple Leaf player's odds will bring better value here.
Connor McDavid, EDM, Over 1.5 points (-135)
Yet again, what Connor McDavid has done this season has been remarkable. Another ho-hum, status-quo 132 (and counting) point season. Even more impressive is he helped bring this Oilers team back from a brutal start to the season. He didn't catch fire until mid-November so the bulk of his points have been in just 61 games. With that, facing a weaker team tonight, more McDavid production feels like a reliable play for bettors.