NHL Player Props & Best Bets for Thursday: Sharks Take Bite Out of Penguins
We have analyzed the top NHL odds from the best sports betting sites to provide our best NHL player props and bets for the 12 games scheduled for Thursday in the NHL.
As we approach the last month of the NHL regular season, there is still a lot at stake for both contenders and teams hoping to make the playoffs. Two key Thursday matchups to watch are the San Jose Sharks facing off against the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Vegas Golden Knights taking on the Calgary Flames.
There is a plethora of exciting action to enjoy, with tempting opportunities available in every direction. In addition, we explore player prop bets for Cole Caufield and Alex Lyon, providing great potential to boost your winnings.
Check out our top NHL player props and best bets for Thursday (NHL picks determined by odds from our top NHL betting sites, with confidence rating on a scale of 1 to 5 stars).
Thursday’s NHL best bets
- Cole Caufield Over 3.5 shots on goal vs. Bruins (-140 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Alex Lyon Over 2.5 goals against vs. Coyotes (-130 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Sharks +1.5 vs. Penguins (+104 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐
- Golden Knights vs. Flames Over 6.5 (-120 via Caesars) ⭐⭐⭐
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Thursday’s NHL schedule and odds
(Odds via BetMGM)
- Sharks vs. Penguins | Spread: Penguins -1.5 | Total: 6
- Islanders vs. Sabres | Spread: Sabres -1.5 | Total: 6
- Panthers vs. Hurricanes | Spread: Hurricanes -1.5 | Total: 5.5
- Rangers vs. Lightning | Spread: Rangers -1.5 | Total: 6
- Coyotes vs. Red Wings | Spread: Red Wings -1.5 | Total: 6.5
- Senators vs. Blue Jackets | Spread: Senators -1.5 | Total: 6.5
- Bruins vs. Canadiens | Spread: Bruins -1.5 | Total: 6.5
- Maple Leafs vs. Flyers | Spread: Maple Leafs -1.5 | Total: 6
- Ducks vs. Wild | Spread: Wild -1.5 | Total: 6
- Devils vs. Stars | Spread: Stars -1.5 | Total: 6.5
- Golden Knights vs. Flames | Spread: Golden Knights -1.5 | Total: 6.5
- Capitals vs. Kraken: Spread: Kraken -1.5 | Total: 5.5
Thursday’s NHL player props
Cole Caufield Over 3.5 shots on goal vs. Bruins (-140 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Cole Caufield has been consistently firing shots at the net, exceeding 3.5 shots on goal in six consecutive games and 15 out of 16 games since the All-Star break. In fact, he has recorded at least four shots in 19 of his last 21 games since January 18, even managing to do so in a game against Boston.
Earlier this week, the Bruins limited the St. Louis Blues to only 21 shots, which is 10 shots below their season average of 31.3. The Bruins rank 10th in the league for allowing the most shots on average per game.
Caufield is expected to take many shots against one of his team’s top rivals. In his last 20 games, he has averaged six shot attempts and 4.4 shots on goal per game.
With odds of -140, there is a 58.33% probability of winning. Caufield has been hitting at that exact rate this season and has been performing well recently. Consider placing a $14 bet to potentially win a $10 profit.
Alex Lyon Over 2.5 goals against vs. Coyotes (-130 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Alex Lyon played a key role in propelling the Detroit Red Wings into a playoff position earlier this season. However, both Lyon and the team have struggled recently, losing six consecutive games and falling out of playoff contention.
During their six-game losing streak, the Red Wings have given up a total of 32 goals. Lyon, in five starts, allowed 21 of those goals. One of the losses was a 4-0 defeat to the Arizona Coyotes last week.
In 22 out of 33 games this season, Lyon has conceded over 2.5 goals. The odds of -130 suggest a 56.52% chance of this happening, which is quite reasonable.
Additionally, the Coyotes are favored to score over 2.5 goals at -150. Despite the possibility of the third goal being an empty-netter, Arizona is expected to find the back of the net at least three times against the struggling Red Wings team.
Thursday’s NHL game picks
Sharks +1.5 vs. Penguins (+104 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐
The Penguins are not justified in being such heavy favorites, even against the weakest team in the league. Recently, Pittsburgh has struggled to score, with only two goals in their last four games and one goal or less in six of their past eight matches.
Conversely, San Jose has shown a recent propensity for danger. Despite only securing one victory in their last 11 games, the Sharks have been competitive, narrowly losing to the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 and forcing overtime against the Dallas Stars on two occasions. Additionally, they suffered a close one-goal loss to the Minnesota Wild.
In the last 10 games, both teams rank in the bottom seven in expected goals share at 5-on-5. Additionally, the Penguins have a record of 13-24 against the spread as favorites this season.
The Sharks have a good chance of keeping this game competitive, and they may be worth a small bet on the moneyline as significant underdogs.
Golden Knights vs. Flames Over 6.5 (-120 via Caesar) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Both the Golden Knights and Flames have goalies who were previously considered contenders for the Vezina Trophy, but Adin Hill and Jacob Markstrom have not lived up to those expectations recently.
In his last five games, Hill has faced 155 shots and let in 20 goals, resulting in a save percentage of .871. Markstrom, who might not play on Thursday because of an injury, has given up 12 goals in his last three games, with five coming in his most recent match against the Florida Panthers.
Both teams have strong offensive capabilities. Vegas has scored a total of five goals in their last two games, while Calgary has had success putting the puck in the net before facing tough opponents in a recent dry spell.
The best NHL bets were placed on Thursday at noon ET.
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Related pages
- Best Sports Betting Sites | Best Underscoreg Promos (U.S. only)