It’s Thursday, which means another big slate of NHL action, with 10 games on tap. And that, of course, also means another opportunity to cash in with Thursday NHL props!
Tuesday’s effort resulted in a mixed bag. The shots on goal props featured a frustrating series of near misses, but a pair of goals from Jakub Vrána (who was +150 to deposit one in the net) and a Roman Josi assist saved the day.
Let’s take another stab at the Holy Grail — a 5-for-5 effort — with Thursday NHL props.
Odds from FanDuel and DraftKings, updated 3 p.m. ET on March 24.
Florida Panthers: F Claude Giroux
The Prop: Score anytime goal (at Montreal)
The Odds: +165
Arguably the crown jewel of the 2022 trade deadline, Claude Giroux had virtually full control of his final destination. After 1,000 games with the Philadelphia Flyers, Giroux heads south to the first-place Florida Panthers hoping to win his first Stanley Cup title.
Giroux is an interesting fit on this loaded Panthers roster — in fact, he likely will see a decrease in minutes. He averaged more than 19 minutes per game with the Flyers but could play anywhere between the first and third line in Florida. He also can plug in at either center or wing.
Early reports are that he’ll start on the first line with Carter Verhaeghe and Aleksander Barkov. If that’s the case, he should get plenty of scoring opportunities Thursday against a Canadiens team allowing a league-worst 3.76 goals per game. While Giroux had just one goal in his last five games with Philly, it came against the Canadiens on March 13.
Bank on Giroux to put the puck in the net in his Panthers debut.
Detroit Red Wings: D Moritz Seider
The Prop: 0.5 total assists (at N.Y. Islanders)
The Odds: Over +138/Under -170
If you haven’t been watching Moritz Seider this season, you’ve been missing out on the NHL’s next star defenseman.
Seider is the favorite to win the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie this season, and he looks like one of the most complete defensive prospects of the last five years. His puck movement in all zones has drawn comparison to Red Wings legend Nicklas Lidström, and his strong physical play is reminiscent of Niklas Kronwall.
MORITZ SEIDER DEMOLISHES WALLMAN! This kid is a menace. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/LtRhJwePtp
— Ryan Hana (@RyanHanaWWP) March 23, 2022
Seider leads all rookies with 37 assists and is fourth in points at 42. On Thursday, he’ll take on an Islanders club that has been much better as of late but still allows more than 30 shots per game at home and has lost both of their previous meetings with Detroit this year. In fact, Seider picked up an assist on the power play the last time he faced the Isles.
With just one helper in his last eight contests, Seider is way overdue. Grab the Over here.
St. Louis Blues: C Brayden Schenn
The Prop: Score anytime goal (vs. Philadelphia)
The Odds: +165
At the risk of turning Thursday NHL props into a “Former Flyers Special,” Brayden Schenn looks like a great bet to score against his old club Thursday. Schenn has flown somewhat under the radar for most of the season, but he’s caught fire lately with eight points in his past five games.
Schenn-sational! Brayden Schenn sticks with the play and scoops up his own rebound for a goal.
Stream: https://t.co/DXigBmPOsz#stlblues pic.twitter.com/0Fn42DgeU7
— Bally Sports Midwest (@BallySportsMW) March 23, 2022
Schenn has only found the back of the net in seven of 22 home games this season and 16 of 46 overall. But don’t let those numbers scare you. The veteran is starting to shoot the puck more often, firing five shots on goal against the Washington Capitals on Tuesday.
The Flyers have allowed three goals or more in six of their last seven games. What’s more, Schenn scored in his previous meeting with the Flyers this year — that gives him three goals in six games since being traded from Philadelphia to St. Louis.
Edmonton Oilers: D Darnell Nurse
The Prop: 2.5 total shots (vs San Jose)
The Odds: Over +118/Under -158
Edmonton’s all-gas, no-brakes offensive system has been much maligned over the past few seasons. Darnell Nurse has been somewhat the victim there, with impressive offensive numbers but questionable play in his own end.
This season, Nurse is averaging more than three shots per game. However, in his last five contests, he’s alternated efforts of three and five shots with three outings where he failed to put the puck on net even once.
If you believe in mini-trends, Nurse should have no trouble eclipsing this prop number Thursday. But there are additional stats to support that stance. For instance, Nurse has gone Over this number 16 times in 28 games against Western Conference opponents and 18 times in 29 contests (62.07%) at home.
The Sharks are around the middle of the pack in shots allowed on the road (average of 32 per game). San Jose has also permitted an opposing defenseman to record at least three shots in each of its last five games. On two of those occasions, at least two defensemen hit that mark against the Sharks.
The Over at plus money is a great value here.
Los Angeles Kings: C Phillip Danault
The Prop: 0.5 total points (vs. Chicago)
The Odds: Over -106/Under -114
Known more for his strong two-way play than being a heavy point producer, Phillip Danault looks to be settling into his role in the Kings’ system.
Despite a brutal schedule in the past 10 games against powerhouse clubs like the Avalanche and Panthers — plus three games against rival San Jose — Danault has managed to pick up six points. He has a golden opportunity to add to that total Thursday against — you guess it — his former club.
Trevor Moore is having career-season for sure. 40 points in 65 games. On other hand, don't overrate it, Moore played most minutes with Phillip Danault, who is making every teammate better everytime. So Moore is very good complementary player for Danault, it's great for the Kings. pic.twitter.com/sjKW9bzA7F
— Andy & Rono (@ARHockeyStats) March 23, 2022
The Blackhawks have been in a free-fall all season and have just four wins in their past 10 games. Their 3.42 goals-against per game is ninth-worst in the league, and that number would be worse if not for the play of starting goaltender Marc-André Fleury. Make that former starting goaltender Marc-André Fleury, who was traded to the Minnesota Wild this week.
Kevin Lankinen (4-8-4, 3.42 GAA, .891 save percentage) projects as Thursday’s starter. He’ll have his hands full trying to contain Danault, who has picked up at least one point 19 times in 27 games (70.37%) when the Kings are favored, as they are on Thursday.
Add Danault Over 0.5 assists to your Thursday NHL props betting slip.
