NHL Betting: Kings’ Kopitar, Islanders’ Lee Highlight Thursday’s Top Props

Anze Kopitar #11 of the Los Angeles Kings skates against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena on May 13, 2021 in Denver, Colorado.
(Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)

Not a bad effort with Tuesday’s NHL prop bet selections, as Martin Necas and Connor McDavid both scored goals, and the first goal in the Seattle Kraken-Vegas Golden Knights game came at the 4:49 mark.

The two misses were close, too: Elias Lindholm led the Flames with five shots but couldn’t find the back of the net. And our recommendation on first-period tie between the Blues and Jets was looking great until St. Louis scored with two minutes remaining before the first intermission. 

With 11 games to choose from Thursday, we’ve got you covered with five NHL prop bets ranging from early East Coast action to late-night West Coast battles. 

Odds courtesy of DraftKings and FanDuel, and updated as of 3 p.m. ET Nov. 11.

Los Angeles Kings: C Anze Kopitar

Anze Kopitar #11 of the Los Angeles Kings skates against the Montreal Canadiens during the first period at Centre Bell on November 9, 2021 in Montreal, Canada.
Image Credit: Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images

The Prop: Anytime Goal Scored (at Ottawa)
The Odds: +160

Kopitar is the Kings’ leading scorer this season with seven goals and eight assists in 13 games. While Alex Iafallo, Adrian Kempe, and Arthur Kaliyev are all driving offense this season as well, Kopitar is the biggest threat the Senators will have to deal with Thursday.

Filip Gustavsson is the confirmed starter in net for Ottawa, and he’s sporting a team-best .911 save percentage. However, he’s been shaky at times, which explains his 3.20 GAA.

Gustavsson also has the lowest average goal distance on the team at 20.87 feet, meaning that while he’s stopping shots from long range, his danger zone is in front of the net. And that’s where Kopitar thrives. 

New York Islanders: LW Anders Lee

Anders Lee #27 of the New York Islanders in action against the Boston Bruins at Nassau Coliseum on March 09, 2021 in Uniondale, New York.
Image Credit: Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images

The Prop: 0.5 Total Points (vs. New Jersey Devils)
The Odds: Over +110/Under -134

Lee scored a goal in the Islanders’ season opener at Carolina, then was held off the scoresheet for the next six games. However, the veteran forward found the net three times in the last two games. Here’s the issue, though: Those four goals are Lee’s only points, as he’s yet to record a single assist. 

That’s surprising, given Lee is someone who plays big minutes and is on the first power-play unit. Then again, Lee (188 career goals, 136 career assists) has always been more of a goal scorer than a set-up guy.

One possible reason Lee has yet to notch an assist: Teammate Josh Bailey, who lines up on the opposite wing, has recorded just six shots on goal this season. However, in 55 career games against the Devils, Bailey has a career 11.3 shooting percentage. 

It’s only a matter of time before Lee picks up that long overdue first assist. But even if that time isn’t Thursday, if he can extend his goal-scoring streak to three in a row, that would be enough to cash the Over on this prop.

Washington Capitals At Detroit Red Wings

Washington Capitals forward Alexander Ovechkin skates toward the puck during a game
Image Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

The Prop: First Team to Score in Regulation (60 minutes)
The Odds: Washington Capitals -125/Detroit Red Wings +100/No goal +2000

The Capitals have scored first eight times in 12 games, including in their first meeting with Detroit this season on Oct. 27 (a game the Red Wings went on to win, 3-2). Meanwhile, Detroit has conceded the first goal in six of its last eight contests dating to last month’s clash against Washington.

Neither team has had a game go completely scoreless through 60 minutes, so rolling the dice on the long-shot “no goal” doesn’t seem wise. Rolling the dice with the Capitals at a reasonable price? That one definitely has some value. 

Vancouver Canucks: J.T. Miller

J.T. Miller #9 of the Vancouver Canucks celebrates after scoring during their NHL game against the Anaheim Ducks at Rogers Arena November 9, 2021 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Image Credit: Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images

The Prop: Anytime Goal Scored (at Colorado)
The Odds: +280

Whenever you can get a team’s leading goal scorer at +280 odds to put the biscuit in the basket, it’s worthy of consideration. Miller has scored five goals in his last four games and is second on the team with nine assists. 

Miller should have a great chance to keep his goal-scoring streak going Thursday, as the Avalanche could be without some of their best defensive players (Cale Makar, Samuel Girard, and Valeri Nichushkin are all on the injury report). Also, Colorado’s best player, Nathan MacKinnon, is out of the lineup.

Finally, Darcy Kuemper is the Avs’ confirmed starter in goal, and he’s been mediocre at best this season with a 2.89 goals-against average and .908 save percentage.

Anaheim Ducks

Anaheim Ducks center Trevor Zegras skates toward the puck during a game
Image Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

The Prop: 2.5 Total Goals in Regulation (at Seattle)
The Odds: Over +116/Under -148

Anaheim ranked dead last in goals scored in 2020-21 with 126 in 56 games, good for a paltry 2.25 per contest. This season, however, has been a different story for the Ducks:

Not only does Anaheim rank eighth in the league at 3.21 goals per game, but the Ducks have tallied three goals or more in each of their last nine outings. Meanwhile, Seattle has allowed three goals or more in four of its last five contests.