A four-game slate on the NHL schedule can still yield value for those seeking NHL player props.
Tonight's action includes a pair of forwards with PP1 potential and rock-solid odds plus the Kings' team total we fully expect to go Under on Wednesday, October 16.
NHL prop picks and best bets for October 16
- Kings team total u2.5 (+100 at bet365)
- Ross Colton Over 0.5 points (-110 at DraftKings)
- Barrett Hayton Over 0.5 points (+100 at BetMGM)
Picks made on 10-16 at 10:30 a.m. ET.
Today’s NHL prop picks and best bets
Prop bet #1: Kings team total Under 2.5
The Los Angeles Kings might be coming off the highest-scoring game of the year in an 8-7 loss to the Senators on Monday, but the Toronto Maple Leafs are going to be a problem for opposing offenses this year. Through three games, the Buds rank first in expected goals against/60 at all strengths and have yet to allow a team to score more than two goals. Auston Matthews has zero points but he has also been a shutdown top-line center.
Before the seven-goal outburst, LA managed just three non-empty-net goals over its first two games with two coming at 5-on-5. There is some young talent in LA but it's a fringe playoff team in transition.
If Toronto can get up early, play well on the PK, and continue to get good goaltending, the Kings will struggle to create chances vs. a team that was a good defensive unit last year and working on becoming an elite and gritty roster under new bench boss Craig Berube.
Prop bet #2: Ross Colton Over 0.5 points
The start of the season has been a disaster for the Colorado Avalanche as they are 0-3 SU and have played in three straight track meets with the Over a perfect 3-0. They are missing bodies yet again on the wing as Jonathan Drouin and Artturi Lehkonen are out. This gives Ross Colton a chance to play with the big boys on the top line and PP1.
Colton played a season-high 21:07 in a 6-2 loss to New Jersey and although he went pointless in that game, he had a goal and a helper in the previous match — a 6-4 loss to the Blue Jackets. Colorado will bring its best tonight vs. the Boston Bruins and I expect a lot of scoring at altitude where the Avs had the No.1 offense by a large margin last year at 4.20 goals per game.
In addition to the Over 0.5 points, Colton's Over 2.5 shots on goal is live at plus money, as are his PP point at +375 and 2+ points at +450. I really would love a shootout tonight in Denver.
Prop bet #3: Barrett Hayton Over 0.5 points
If you've followed my NHL picks, you might be sick of seeing Barrett Hayton on my prop sheet, but I have to keep hitting him at this price.
He is a first-line center who leads the Utah Hockey Club's PP1. He gets 18+ minutes of ice time per game with the best offensive opportunities a skater can have. His linemates are -225 and -160 for a point. Hayton is a buy for me in his current spot at -135 or better. That's what his opportunities are worth and I'd do the same thing for any skater who also centers L1 and PP1.
Hayton has pointed in three of four games this year and has multi-point efforts in two of them.
This price should be down to -135 by now, especially in this matchup. Yes, the Anaheim Ducks have played better than expected out of the gates with just three goals allowed and one shutout (vs. the Sharks), but this is still a Bottom-5 team in the league that gave up the third-most goals per game a season ago and had the No.31 penalty kill.
I'm also on Hayton's 2+ points at +475.
Today’s NHL games
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