There have been 18 NHL games in the first 3 days of this busy week in hockey. It gets even crazier with 13 games on tap Thursday. Fans have been treated to very entertaining hockey this week. Whether it was the 3 Hughes brothers facing off in a high scoring game, the Oilers getting hot again, or the Coyotes completing a sweep of the past 5 Stanley Cup winning teams. Thursday sets up to deliver in a similar way considering t he number of games and the pure matchups.
You can also find out our NHL predictions for both games today,'but for now, let’s dive into my best NHL prop bets.
Tage Thompson over 0.5 goals (+145)
Tage Thompson returned to the lineup on Tuesday after missing 10 games due to an upper body injury. In his first game back, he was rusty as he admitted. But he still tallied an assist. As he gets back to feeling the puck against and getting back in the groove, his production should return as well. This is a guy who had 47 goals and 47 assists for 94 points last year in 78 games played. Sure, he is returning from injury. But with his upside, this +145 for a goal scorer to do what a goal scorer does is great value.
Thompson should have ample opportunity to produce tonight. He skates on the Sabres' top line with Casey Mittelstadt and Jeff Skinner, as well as on the top power play with those guys plus Dyland Cozens and Rasmus Dahlin. Thompson will get a ton of ice time to try to keep his team in a game against a tough team. His upside and this possible game script give this +145 tons of appeal.