Rejoice, hockey fans and bettors! The NHL has nine games on the Thursday night schedule, meaning there are plenty of NHL betting opportunities.
Lace up those skates, buckle that chinstrap, and bust out that bankroll, as we’ve once again highlighted five NHL prop bets to consider. And as was the case Tuesday, we’ve got you covered from the opening face-off on the East Coast to the last puck-drop on the West Coast.
Odds courtesy of DraftKings and updated as of 1:30 p.m. ET Oct. 28.
Tampa Bay Lightning: C Brayden Point
The Prop: Score anytime goal (vs. Arizona)
The Odds: +140
The Lightning haven’t been the offensive powerhouse to begin the season many expected after their back-to-back Stanley Cup wins. However, Tampa Bay’s goal scorers should put on a clinic for the home crowd against the winless Arizona Coyotes, who are giving up a league-worst 4.83 goals per outing.
Point’s three goals this season are tied with Ondrej Palát for third on the team, trailing only Alex Killorn and Steven Stamkos (four each). However, Point is also second among Tampa Bay forwards in shots (17), and the Lightning have more high-danger chances with Point on the ice (27) than any other Bolts forward.
Colorado Avalanche At St. Louis Blues
The Prop: First period money line
The Odds: Avalanche +160/Draw +170/Blues +215
Despite having the highest-scoring offense in the league (5.00 goals per game), the Blues have only scored four first-period goals this season; the Avalanche have scored six.
However, in the previous meeting between the two teams (Oct. 16), St. Louis scored the first period’s lone goal on the way to a 5-3 victory.
Offensive production figures to be even higher in this rematch, as the Avalanche will have snipers Nathan MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog in the lineup this time.
However, Colorado’s gains on offense could be offset by losses on defense, as blue line staples Samuel Girard, Devon Toews, and Valeri Nichushkin are out. Then again, maybe not, since St. Louis will be without center Ryan O’Reilly and left wing Brandon Saad, both of whom are in COVID-19 protocol.
Given the return of MacKinnon and Landeskog, the loss of O’Reilly and Saad, and the way both teams have performed in the first period thus far, a money-line bet on Colorado seems like a strong play.
Anaheim Ducks C Trevor Zegras
The Prop: Score anytime goal (vs. Buffalo)
The Odds: +280
Zegras is one of the top young players in the league and is among the favorites to win the 2022 Calder Trophy as the league’s best rookie. He finally broke through with his first goal of the season Tuesday night against Winnipeg.
The fact Zegras ranks second among forwards in shots (21) and third in both time on ice and power-play time on ice means Anaheim is making it a point to feed the puck to their young gun and let him create offense.
Zegras has 11 points in 15 home games in his career and just five points in 16 road contests. With the Ducks (four straight defeats) in desperate need of a win, expect Zegras to get plenty of chances to light the lamp.
Vancouver Canucks
The Prop: 3.5 team goals in regulation (vs. Philadelphia)
The Odds: Over +140/Under -170
Like with the Avalanche and Blues, we’ve already seen Philadelphia and Vancouver face off this season, a 5-4 shootout win for the Canucks in Philly on Oct. 15.
Veteran goaltender Martin Jones is confirmed as the starter for the Flyers, and although he picked up a win against Boston eight days ago, he still allowed three goals on 40 shots.
Last season, Jones had the fifth-worst goals saved above average in all situations (-11.77); the goaltenders behind him were then-Flyers teammates Carter Hart (-22.64) and Brian Elliott (-13.98), the latter of whom is now with Tampa Bay.
Philadelphia is allowing the fourth-most shots on goal per game (34.2) this season, and with an-always shaky Jones manning the net, Vancouver could be in for a big offensive night.
Winnipeg Jets
The Prop: 3.5 team goals scored in regulation (at Los Angeles)
The Odds: Over +170/Under -210
This is a prime example of a chance to capitalize on an opponent’s misfortune. Kings defenseman Drew Doughty is out for the next eight weeks with a lower-body injury, while fellow defender Sean Walker will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL and MCL.
Since Doughty’s injury last Friday, the Kings have allowed 10 goals in two contests (7 and 3, in back-to-back games at St. Louis). Walker was injured in Monday’s 3-0 loss.
Meanwhile, Winnipeg is averaging four goals per game and has scored four or more goals in each of its past four contests. Look for that trend to continue here.
