Saturday features a stacked 15-game NHL slate, offering plenty of player props to choose from.
I’ve compiled my three best NHL player props for Saturday. As always, monitor the odds and available pricing, as the play prop market is constantly changing.
Here are my free NHL picks in the player prop market for Saturday, January 18.
NHL prop picks and best bets for January 18
Artemi Panarin 1+ goals (+123 at BetRivers)- Chris Kreider 1+ goals (+170 at BetRivers)
Connor McDavid Over 0.5 power play points (+120 at bet365)
Picks made on 1-18 at 10:52 a.m. ET.
Today’s NHL prop picks and best bets
Prop bet #1: Artemi Panarin 1+ goals
The New York Rangers host the Columbus Blue Jackets in a Metropolitan Division tilt on Saturday evening. Oddsmakers are expecting a high-scoring affair, with the total set at 6.5.
With New York hovering around the -200 mark on the moneyline, it is fair to assume they are going to score a few goals. There may not be a better candidate to do so than winger Artemi Panarin, who leads the team in both goals and power-play goals.
Panarin enters this contest in particularly good form, scoring three goals over the past four games. This success is likely to continue against Columbus, a team Panarin has scored 13 goals against over the past 17 meetings.
Furthermore, goaltender Elvis Merzlikins is slated to guard the cage for the Jackets. He possesses a .890 SV% through 29 starts this season.
Not that Merzlikins is dealt a particularly good hand, given that Columbus ranks 20th in xGA/60.
Prop bet #2: Chris Kreider 1+ goals
My thinking here is simple: I am confident that at least one of Panarin and Chris Kreider scores in this game, which guarantees a profit. If both score, all the better.
They skate together on the first power play unit, making them well-positioned to exploit Columbus’ weak penalty kill. The Blue Jackets rank in the bottom half of the league in both penalty minutes taken per game and penalty kill percentage.
While Panarin leads the team in power-play goals, Kreider is second. Kreider recently returned to the lineup this week, and he and Panarin combined for three goals in Thursday’s game against the Utah Hockey Club.
Prop bet #3: Connor McDavid Over 0.5 power-play points
Sticking with this theme of fading poor special teams, we are going to look at Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid to record a power play point in tonight’s nightcap against the Vancouver Canucks. This season, Vancouver ranks 26th in penalty minutes taken per game.
Going on the kill is typically a death sentence against Edmonton, especially with McDavid leading the way. He leads the Oilers with 19 power-play points through 42 games this year.
Furthermore, goaltender Thatcher Demko is slated to start between the pipes for the Canucks. He’s struggled since returning to the crease, posting a 2-3-3 record with a .872 SV% through nine starts.
McDavid has recorded at least one power-play point in 11 of his last 13 games against Vancouver when Demko is in the net.
NHL odds today
Here are the full NHL odds for all of today’s matchups.
Not intended for use in MA.
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