Bettors have a four-game NHL slate tonight, and after dropping my best props this morning on the Puck Props stream, I’m loading up on a trio of power-play points.
The Caps and their Double-D PP are rolling, and the Blackhawks are facing a goalie making his first NHL start.
These are my three favorite NHL player props for Wednesday, January 8.
NHL prop picks and best bets for January 8
Bertuzzi PP point (+450 at theScore Bet)
Colton PP point (+650 at bet365)
Sergachev PP point (+350 at bet365)
Picks made on 1-8 at 12:30 p.m. ET.
Editor's note: Flames/Kings has been postponed. Kopitar PP point has been replaced.
Today’s NHL prop picks and best bets
Prop bet #1: Tyler Bertuzzi PP point
The Chicago Blackhawks are not a great offense, but they have a couple things going for them today vs. the Colorado Avalanche.
First is Colorado playing netminder Trent Miner, who will be making his first NHL start. That is a huge difference as Mackenzie Blackwood has been playing out of his mind of late. Miner owns a .903 SV% in the AHL this year over 16 games, which isn’t impressive. He is a former seventh-round pick that has also played a ton in the ECHL, which is below the AHL in the minor-league system.
On top of the good goalie matchup, the Hawks are one of the most top-heavy scoring teams in hockey. Connor Bedard (seven-game point streak) and Tyler Bertuzzi have combined for 14 goals over the last 13 games, which accounts for 38% of the team's goals. That’s not even a full line — just two skaters. They’ve combined for nine PP points over that time, too.
Bedard is +265 for a PP point, which isn’t a bad price, but Bertuzzi at +450. I can’t pass up that price in this matchup with his role. Bertuzzi has eight points over his last eight games, and a PP point in two of his last three.
Prop bet #2: Ross Colton PP Point
I've already hit one PP point in Chicago, but there is a lot of value in Ross Colton and his +650 PP point today with Jonathan Drouin out. The Avs held an optional skate so there is no confirmation what Colton's role will be, but it is either him or Artturi Lehkonen jumping up to PP 1 and at that price, it's worth it to take a shot.
If Colton is the PP1 newcomer, his true price should be around +250 — +650 is unheard of for a PP1 skater and especially not one on one of the best power plays in hockey.
The Hawks actually have a decent PK but it has slipped of late and with the Avs starting Trent Miser (first NHL start) there could be some back-and-forth today in terms of two-way scoring.
It's a risk, but at +650, it's worth it in my opinion.
Prop bet #3: Mikhail Sergachev PP point
The final power-play point I like is in Utah, where the Utah Hockey Club has the No. 4 power play over the last 30 days at a very impressive 32.4% clip. It has accounted for 32% of the team’s goals over the last 10 games, as the 5-on-5 scoring has dried up.
The Florida Panthers are coming back from altitude after a 3-1 loss to the Avs on Monday. Florida is hitting a wall in terms of output as this has been a .500 team over its last 12 games, or 33% of the season to date.
The PP target from Utah is a guy who touches the puck the most and is paying +350 for a PP point, and that’s Mikhail Sergachev. The D-man plays nearly 26 minutes a game and quarterbacks this under-the-radar power play, where he had six PP points over an eight game stretch before the Christmas break.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the Panthers went with Spencer Knight in net, which would help. When you’re trying to figure out which guy to get on the power play, get the guys who touch the puck the most, and that’s the D-man and the two flanks.
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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