Freedman: Hurricanes-Bruins Game 1 NHL Player Props I’m Betting

Each day, I publish 1-2 pieces on props I like. See my master list of 2019 prop bets for more information.

In this piece, I highlight my favorite NHL player props for Game 1 of the series between the Carolina Hurricanes and Boston Bruins.

I should mention that early in 2019, I wasn't particularly sharp on hockey — that's reflected in my NHL record below — but in the postseason I've had some prop-betting success. Perhaps it's easier to project ice time and usage in the playoffs. Or maybe I've just had a good sense of the matchups we've seen over the past couple of weeks.

Regardless, there are a lot of player props I like for tonight's game. For up-to-the-minute lines, check out our live betting odds page.

For more daily player props, follow me in The Action Network app.

2019 Year-to-Date Record

720-543-40, +105.06 Units

• NFL: 21-13-0, +11.72 Units
• NBA: 362-270-7, +46.76 Units
• NHL: 67-80-7, -6.57 Units
• MLB: 44-52-12, -12.89 Units
• Golf: 9-8-2, +3.30 Units
• NASCAR: 11-17-0, -5.77 Units
• NCAAB: 125-70-12, +38.82 Units
• NCAAF: 0-1-0, -1.00 Units
• Exotic: 79-32-0, +30.50 Units
• Horse Racing: 1-0-0, +0.04 Units

Carolina Hurricanes at Boston Bruins Betting Odds

• Hurricanes: +130
• Bruins: -150
• Over: 5.5 (+124)
• Under: 5.5 (-141)
• Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
• TV: NBCSN

Carolina Hurricanes

Hurricanes LW Andrei Svechnikov: Under 2.0 Shots on Goal (+110)

This one could easily end in a push, but I'm leaning toward the under. During the regular season, the rookie had no more than two shots in 50 of 82 games (60.98%).

I have him projected for 1.76 shots and would bet the under to +100.

Hurricanes RW Teuvo Teravainen: Under 2.5 Shots on Goal (-115)

Again, I like the under. Although Teravainen has averaged 2.9 shots per game in the postseason, during the regular season he shot fewer than 2.5 in 59 of 82 games (71.95%).

I expect some regression and have him projected for 2.20 shots. I'd bet the under to -135.

Hurricanes LW Nino Niederreiter: Over 2.0 Shots on Goal (-140)

Like the Svechnikov prop, this one has a lot of push potential, but I have Niederreiter projected for 2.57 shots, so I like the over.

For the postseason, Niederreiter's shot average has dropped to 2.09 per game, but in the regular season he had a mark of 2.86. I expect some progression and would bet the over to -155.

Hurricanes D Dougie Hamilton: Over 2.5 Shots on Goal (-145)

Although he's a defenseman, Hamilton is a shooter. In his 93 games this year (including postseason), he's averaged 3.13 shots per game.

I have him projected for 2.94 and would bet the over to -155.

Hurricanes C Jordan Staal: Over 1.5 Shots on Goal (-140)

In the regular season, Staal fired off two-plus shots in 36 of 50 games (72.0%). In the playoffs, though, he's averaged just 1.27 shots per game.

I anticipate that he will progress toward his seasonal mark of 2.42 and have him projected for 2.16. I'd bet the over to -160.

Boston Bruins

Bruins C Sean Kuraly: Over 1.5 shots (-140)

This line just seems way off. In the regular season, Kuraly averaged 1.89 shots per game, and in the postseason, he has blasted three per game, hitting two-plus shots in every contest but one.

He doesn't have a great matchup — more on that later — but I still have Kuraly projected for 1.93 shots and would bet the over to -155.

Bruins LW Brad Marchand: Under 3.0 shots (+110)

Get ready for a parade of unders. During the regular season, the Hurricanes held opponents to the third-fewest shots on goal per game at 28.6, and in the playoffs they have somehow lowered that mark to 27.8.

The Bruins are an aggressive team and have fired off 35.7 shots per game in the playoffs, but the Hurricanes have the type of defensive unit that can limit any team.

In his 92 games this year (including playoffs), Marchand has averaged three shots per game, so there's a decent chance this ends in a push.

But I have him projected for 2.86 shots and will take the plus money. I'd bet the under to +100.

Bruins LW Jake Debrusk: Under 2.5 shots (+110)

Debrusk has averaged 3.08 shots per game in the playoffs, but in the regular season he had just 2.29, and the matchup is tough.

I'm expecting regression and projecting him for 2.06. I'd bet the under to -140.

Bruins C Patrice Bergeron: Under 3.5 shots (-105)

Bergeron is second on the team in shots per game, but he still has just 3.26 shots per game this year (including the postseason). Given his matchup, he seems unlikely to surpass his average.

Bergeron has a projected shot total of 3.05, and I'd bet the under to -140.

Bruins C David Krejci: Under 2.0 shots (-130)

This song has several verses. In the regular season, Krejci averaged 1.72 shots per game. In the postseason, he has 1.54. Against the Carolina defense, I'm doubtful he'll get off more than two shots.

In his 13 playoff games this year, he's had two-plus shots just once. I have him projected for 1.48 and would bet the under to -155.

Bruins C Charlie Coyle: Under 2.0 shots (-105)

In his 34 games this year (including playoffs), Coyle has 1.94 shots per game. With the tough matchup, he seems unlikely to exceed two shots on goal.

In his 13 playoff games, he's had more than two shots just thrice. He's projected for 1.68 shots, and I'd bet the under to -135.

Bruins D Torey Krug: Under 2.5 shots (-115)

Krug is the most aggressive of the Bruins defensemen, averaging 2.38 shots on goal per game this year (including playoffs). But the matchup is challenging, and he's had fewer than 2.5 shots in nine of his 13 playoff games (69.2%).

I have Krug projected for 2.08 shots and would bet the under to -140.

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Matthew Freedman is the Editor-in-Chief of FantasyLabs. He has a dog and sometimes a British accent. In Cedar Rapids, Iowa, he’s known only as The Labyrinthian.