NHL Player Props and Best Bets Today for 12-16: Kings of Leon

Neil Parker breaks down his three favorite NHL player props for December 16, including a pair of Oilers and a Capitals player having a breakout season.

Neil Parker - Analyst at Covers.com
Neil Parker • Betting Analyst
Dec 16, 2024 • 14:46 ET • 4 min read
Leon Draisaitl Edmonton Oilers NHL
Photo By - Imagn Images.

There’s a trio of games on the ice tonight, and our top NHL player props have you covered for the action.

Edmonton Oilers stars Leon Draisaitl and Stuart Skinner headline our top NHL picks, with Washington Capitals breakout winger Connor McMichael rounding out the trifecta for Monday, December 16.

NHL prop picks and best bets for December 16

Picks made on 12-16 at 2:30 p.m. ET.

Today’s NHL prop picks and best bets

Prop bet #1: Leon Draisaitl Over 2.5 shots

-110 at bet365

Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl has recorded three or more shots in 18 of 30 games this season and 11 of 16 during Edmonton’s 12-3-1 run. 

Additionally, his 6.94 shots and 13.27 attempts per 60 to start the year have climbed to respective 9.53 and 15.36 marks over the past 16 contests. It’s clear there’s a concentrated effort to put more pucks on net from Draisaitl, and I also think we’re landing a great number because the Florida Panthers allow the sixth-fewest shots per game. 

That’s a warning sign for the majority of NHLers, but Draisaitl is in the 95th percentile for offensive zone time at even strength, 94th percentile for shots on goal, and sports an elite 59.7 CF% at 5-on-5.

Prop bet #2: Stuart Skinner Over 27.5 saves

+100 at bet365

The Florida Panthers average the fourth-most shots per game (30.8) and rank second with a 54.5 Corsi For percentage at five-on-five, so I’m anticipating Edmonton Oilers starter Stuart Skinner to see plenty of rubber Monday.

Of course, Skinner is also dialed in. 

He has won five of his past six starts with a league-best .942 save percentage, 1.68 GAA, and 1.28 goals saved above average per 60 during the stretch.

Additionally, I also expect Florida to be even more committed to shooting the puck tonight because they’ve only scored a single goal across the first three games of their current road trip.

Prop bet #3: Connor McMichael Over 2.5 shots

+115 at bet365

While Washington Capitals winger Connor McMichael has only recorded three or more shots once across his past five games, unlucky shooting efficiency is the primary reason. He’s converted just 11 of his 27 attempts into shots (40.7%), which is well below the 58.5% ratio he converted through the first 24 games of the season. 

Also, while the Dallas Stars are an excellent possession team and shot suppressor overall, McMichael is receiving top offensive minutes as the go-to shooter on the top line and skates with the No. 1 power-play unit. He ranks in the 92nd percentile for shots on goal, too.

NHL odds today

Here are the full NHL odds for all of today’s matchups.

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Betting Analyst

Neil Parker is, first and foremost, a sports fan. A huge supporter of the Cowboys, Cubs, and Maple Leafs, he has managed to parlay his passion into writing gigs with Sportsbook Review, USA TODAY, theScore, DraftKings Playbook, and RotoWire, among many others. He also co-hosted the Daily Fantasy Edge podcast and can now be seen offering expert golf and hockey advice on Covers’ Before you Bet broadcast.

Neil takes a numbers-based approach to his handicapping and complements his in-depth statistical analysis with a keen eye on the markets to provide the best available odds. He loves to lean on his rolodex of idioms to offset his inner nerd. When it comes to wagering, he throws down on anything that catches his eye at bet365, Betway and BetVictor. He also keeps a close eye on CoolBet because the polar bear brand often has outlier NHL and NFL moneyline prices.

Neil graduated with honors from St. Thomas University in 2007 before completing his BEd at Acadia University in 2010. After teaching a myriad of courses and subjects, he found a groove delivering fun lessons to exceptional learners in non-traditional classroom environments. If his decade-plus teaching run taught him anything about sports betting, it’s to stay the course and use the summer – or offseason – to refresh and prepare to be better in the year to come.

Neil’s top pieces of advice for recreational bettors are to stay within your means and to remember sportsbooks aren’t bank accounts. Don’t be afraid to pull those winnings and treat yourself to a lifetime experience courtesy of a big win.

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