Thursday NHL Player Props: 5 PrizePicks Plays for Alex Ovechkin, Connor McDavid, More
Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images. Pictured: Connor McDavid.
We have a stacked 12-game slate of NHL hockey games Thursday, with an abundance of options to pick through on PrizePicks. Below, I give out five PrizePicks flex plays.
For those unfamiliar with PrizePicks flex plays, getting 5/5 correct registers a 10x payout, 4/5 correct registers a 2x payout, and 3/5 correct registers a 0.4x payout.
You can also take these plays and do smaller parlays with just two or three props for lower payouts.
What is PrizePicks? A daily fantasy operator — meaning they’re available in more states (30) than sports betting is! — PrizePicks offers a unique opportunity for action on player props in which you parlay two or more plays together.
Thursday NHL Props
Alex Ovechkin – Over 0.5 Goals
The Metropolitan Division's fourth-place Washington Capitals travel to Toronto to take on the Atlantic Division's second-place Maple Leafs. Ovechkin has been on a heater lately as he has scored in four straight and in 10 of his last 13 games.
Jack Campbell is the projected starting goaltender for Toronto and has been in poor form recently. Campbell has now allowed three or more goals in eight of his last nine appearances in the crease, posting a mere 0.863 save percentage over that span.
Over their last four games, Toronto is giving up an average of 4.25 goals scored per contest. I would not play this total if It jumps from 0.5 to 1.
Nathan MacKinnon – Over 0.5 Goals
The Central Division's first-place Colorado Avalanche host the Metropolitan Division's seventh-place New Jersey Devils in what is expected to be a high-scoring game as the total currently sits at 6.5 with the juice on the over.
If we get a high-scoring game, then MacKinnon will most likely be involved as he has now scored in four straight games including a hat trick in last night's tilt against the Los Angeles Kings. MacKinnon draws a favorable matchup against the Devils and projected starting goaltender Nico Daws.
Daws has been pretty brutal between the pipes lately as he has allowed three or more goals in eight of his last 11 starts, posting a lowly 0.870 save percentage over that stretch. Earlier this season, he tended twine against Colorado and allowed a goal to MacKinnon.
I would not play this total if it jumps from 0.5 to 1.
Juuse Saros – Under 3 Goals Allowed
We have an important game tonight in regards to the playoff picture as the Central Division's fourth-place Nashville Predators host the Pacific Division's second-place Edmonton Oilers. In his one start against Edmonton this season, Saros went under this total as he stopped 44 of 46 shots for a stellar 0.957 save percentage.
I believe Saros can repeat this performance on home ice as he boasts a 0.932 save percentage this season at Bridgestone Arena. Saros has been one of the league's best netminders all season as he ranks 10th amongst starting goaltenders in five-on-five goals saved above expected per 60 minutes (GSAx).
The defense in front of Saros has also been exceptional as the Predators currently rank sixth in the league in five-on-five expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA). Meanwhile, Edmonton's offense has dried up recently as they are averaging just 1.75 goals scored over their last four games.
I would not play this total if It drops from 3 to 2.5.
Connor McDavid – Under 0.5 Goals
This play has a good correlation with the Saros pick because if he shuts down Edmonton, then It is entirely possible that McDavid does not find the back of the net. While Connor is always a threat to score, he has been blanked in two consecutive games despite putting up 10 combined shots on goal.
It is extremely difficult to go into Bridgestone Arena against Juuse Saros, and I think we are getting value in this number due to McDavid's name. As I said above, Edmonton's offense has dried up recently and this is not a matchup where I envision them figuring It out.
Leon Draisaitl – Under 0.5 Goals
I am continuing my fade of the Oilers' offense in this pick. As I mentioned in the Saros section, he shut down the Oilers' offense in his lone start against them this season in a game where Draisaitl failed to record a goal.
Draisaitl has not been scoring to his usual standard recently as he has failed to score in two of his last three and three of his last five games. There is no doubt that both McDavid and Draisaitl are dangerous guys to fade, however, I expect we get another masterclass from Saros on home ice in a big game for the Predators.
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