NBA Postseason Best Bets (5/14)
Alex Christenson
We have an 11-game slate in the NHL for Thursday, so there are several NHL prop bets to choose from. It’ll be impossible to top Tuesday’s 13/13 article and Wednesday’s 4-0 showing, but hopefully we’re able to finish the week strong at FTN Bets.
The odds change pretty quickly in the NHL, so take advantage of our Prop Shop for the best possible odds and check out our Pick Tracker for all of my picks. October is the best month of the year for a sports fan and our FTN Bets package includes picks from everyone at FTN Network, across all sports.
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With our FTN Bets package, you’ll get picks from everyone at FTN Network, plus tools, projections and access to Discord, where I’ll discuss every slate.
Thursday is a great night for SGP Point Parlays, so be sure to check out our FTN Bets Tracker for more! With our betting package you get all of our picks across all sports, plus access to our Discord channel and to our projections. Promo code Meaney will get you 10% off all packages at FTN.
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Be sure to check out Mean Streets for daily picks and Dangle Bet Celly for full NHL breakdowns each Tuesday and Thursday.
The Best NHL Prop Bets
Nikita Kucherov Over 3.5 SOG
(-110, BetMGM)
Kucherov’s 3.5-shot prop is one I usually avoid because I view him as a playmaker more than a shooter, even though he’s one of the better snipers in the NHL. I find he tends to pass it off on the power play rather than shoot the puck. However, he’s been shooting more this season, and the matchup is tasty. Kuch has six goals, 10 points and 28 shots on goal in seven games this season. He’s only cleared 3.5 shots in four of those games, but he enters with 37 shot attempts at 5v5, which is tied for the seventh most (T3 among forwards). The Sharks have coughed up the third-most shot attempts and shots at 5v5/60. Only the New York Islanders are allowing more scoring chances at 5v5/60 than San Jose this season, and no team has surrendered more high danger chances. As a result, the Sharks have a league high 3.29 expected goals against per hour at 5v5.
Bonus
- Brayden Point O 2.5 SOG (-145, DraftKings)
- Victor Hedman O 2.5 SOG (+100, BetMGM)
- Victor Hedman Point (-135, DraftKings)
- Victor Hedman Power Play Point (+280, DraftKings)
- Brayden Point O 1.5 PTS (+175, DraftKings)
Mike Matheson Over 2.5 SOG
(-130, DraftKings Sportsbook)
Matheson only has one goal on the season, but it was a beauty.
This is exactly what I talked about in our Fantasy Hockey Draft Guide when it came to Matheson. The Habs’ defenseman is a fantastic skater and he’s not afraid to join the rush or take it end to end like he did in his last game against the New Jersey Devils. Matheson has 20 shots on goal through six games and he has at least three in four of his past five matchups (5-plus in two of three). The Canadiens remain thin on the blue line, so the former Penguin is getting all the ice time he can handle in Montreal. His 25:40 per game ranks third in the league. He’s topped 26 minutes in two of his last three games and three times this season. Columbus has surrendered the fifth-most shot attempts and the sixth-most shots at 5v5/60.
Bonus
- Zach Werenski O 2.5 SOG (-150, DraftKings)
- Cole Caufield O 3.5 SOG (-115, DraftKings)
- Johnny Gaudreau O 2.5 SOG (-143, BetRivers)
- Zach Werenski Power Play Point (+280, DraftKings)
Josh Norris Over 2.5 SOG
(+110, BetMGM)
We’re going back to Josh Norris until he slows down and books adjust. Through three games this season, Norris has three goals, four points, three power play points and 12 shots on goal. He’s picked up at least three shots in each game and he’s in a good spot to put more pucks on the goal Thursday. This isn’t the same stingy Islanders team we’re used to seeing. They’re very strong in goal, but they haven’t helped out Ilya Sorokin much to start the season. New York has allowed the fourth-most shot attempts and seventh most shots at 5v5/60. As mentioned earlier, no team has surrendered more scoring chances at 5v5/60 than New York (35.47). Can Norris extend his point streak to four games to start the season?
Bonus
Goal Scorers
David Pastrnak
Brayden Point
Cole Caufield
Nathan MacKinnon
Alex DeBrincat
Kyle Connor
Cam Atkinson
Kirill Kaprizov
Roope Hintz
Josh Norris
Brock Nelson
William Nylander
Mika Zibanejad
PrizePicks
- Nikita Kucherov O 3.5 SOG
- Victor Hedman O 2.5 SOG
- Michael Matheson O 2.5 SOG
- Josh Norris O 2 SOG
- Victor Hedman Point
- Zach Werenski Point
- Alex Iafallo Point
- Josh Norris Point
