It's not easy combing over a 14-game slate, so today with 28 teams in action and coming off a profitable day with power-play points, today I'm going to highlight my three favorite PP point looks for Thursday.
There is a buzz in Montreal where Patrik Laine is creating a very formidable power play, the Washington Capitals and their Double-D power play get a great matchup vs. the Columbus Blue Jackets, and the Philadelphia Flyers could get some offense with the man advantage.
These are my three favorite NHL player props and NHL picks for Thursday, December 12.
NHL prop picks and best bets for December 12
Laine PP Point (+375 at bet365)
Chychrun PP point (+280 at bet365)
Couturier PP point (+500 at bet365)
Picks made on 12-12 at 11:25 a.m. ET.
Today’s NHL prop picks and best bets
Prop bet #1: Patrick Laine Over 0.5 power-play points
The Montreal Canadiens' power play has been rejuvenated with Patrik Laine suiting up and Lane Hutson getting promoted to the top unit. Laine has a power-play goal in three of his four games while Hutson has assisted on each. Laine is a great look for a PP point at +375 tonight — as is Hutson at +425.
I’m happy to split a unit between the two and bet 0.5 units on both, which would be at the minimum a +1.375-unit profit if one of them gets a PP point and four units if they both hit.
The matchup against the Pittsburgh Penguins is a great one, too.
The Pens are playing better hockey of late after arguably one of the roughest stretches of any team this year, but Pittsburgh still has the fourth-worst GAA over the last 10 games at 3.60. Goaltender Tristan Jarry has allowed 3+ goals in eight of his 11 games this year and sports a sub-900 save percentage since returning to the lineup a month ago. Backup Alex Nedeljkovic has been even worse with a 3.91 GAA and a .868 SV% since November 7.
The Bell Centre will be buzzing tonight as the feel around this Montreal team has changed over the last week.
Prop bet #2: Jakob Chychrun Over 0.5 power-play points
The Columbus Blue Jackets have allowed a power play point in 14 straight games and will be starting their No.3 AHL goalie tonight in Jet Greaves. The penalty kill has given up 19 goals over that stretch and is killing penalties at a league-worst 63%. The Washington Capitals could score multiple PP goals tonight, which is something Columbus has allowed in 40% of its last 10 games.
Greaves did not have great numbers in the AHL. No goalies have been injured for the home side tonight, it’s just been that bad in net for the BJs.
Washington has been going with a Double-D power play with Jakob Chychrun and John Carlson on the first unit. It’s Chychrun I want for a PP point tonight at +280, which is longer than Carlson but shouldn’t be.
The Washington defenseman has 12 points (6G, 6A) since returning to the lineup 14 games ago, and over a stretch of the Caps taking 13 of a possible 14 points, the D-man has eight points with five coming with the man advantage.
I love the Caps to run up the score tonight and they have the best PP matchup on Thursday night.
Prop bet #3: Sean Couturier Over 0.5 power-play points
The Detroit Red Wings own the second-worst penalty kill in hockey and the Philadelphia Flyers’ power play has been changing bodies giving some big value to the two players.
Bobby Brink (+575) and Sean Couturier (+500) are both being priced too high for a great PP matchup. Brink just moved to the top unit last game and recorded an assist. He only played 14:41 during the game but got 2:59 on the top power play, making 20% of his total ice time with the man advantage. He needs to take advantage of this new role.
Couturier is also a great price at +500 as he is the center and plays all his shifts with Travis Konecny, who joins Calder betting favorite Matvei Michkov on that top unit.
Cam Talbot will be making his first start in over a week for the Wings. Before he went down, he was 1-4 SU with a GAA of 3.32 and a save percentage below .900. Philly can score tonight and hopefully it comes with the man advantage. I’m splitting up a unit on both skaters but I prefer Couturier if you have to choose one.
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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