Join Canada Sports Betting’s Nick Martin as he handicaps the best NHL player prop bets available from Tuesday’s nine-game slate.
Best bet – Andrei Svechnikov over 2.5 shots on goal: +115
Andrei Svechnikov over 2.5 shots on goal
After a highly disappointing start to the season, Svechnikov has been much more involved recently and has seemingly gotten himself back into head coach Rod Brind’Amour’s good books. Over the last three games, Svechnikov has averaged 18:04 of ice time, producing four points while mainly playing alongside Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis on the Carolina Hurricanes’ top line.
Over the last six games, Svechnikov has recorded 24 shots on goal from a total of 38 attempts. He’s looked to be in much better form himself recently, but playing alongside Aho and Jarvis hasn’t hurt either, and in 35.5 minutes of even-strength play, the trio has generated 3.55 xGF/60 and 79.47 shot attempts per 60.
The Washington Capitals have been fairly average defensively of late, having allowed 3.43 xGA/60 over the last 10 games. Tonight’s divisional matchup should be fairly closely contested, and I like the chances that Tuesday’s matchup offers a game script in which Brind’Amour is forced to offer a fairly standard workload to his top unit.
Best bet – Adam Fantilli over 0.5 points: +115
Adam Fantilli to record a point
Connor Bedard and Leo Carlsson have shown why they went before Fantilli in what was considered to be a loaded 2023 draft this season. However, Fantilli did have one of his best games of the season last night in Edmonton, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he is able to elevate his level of production in the near future if he can continue to hold down a spot on the Columbus Blue Jackets’ top line alongside Kirill Marchenko and Dmitri Voronkov.
Fantilli recorded a goal and an assist in Monday’s matchup and was notably involved all over the ice. In 12:17 of even-strength play, the Blue Jackets’ top unit out-attempted the Oilers 19-6 and held a 76.9% expected goal share. In 370.7 minutes together last season, Marchenko, Fantilli, and Voronkov scored 3.40 goals per 60 and outscored opponents 21 to 8.
The Seattle Kraken have allowed 3.26 xGA/60 over the last 10 games and provide a slightly worse than average matchup for production. However, it is possible that the Kraken will start highly ineffective goaltender Philipp Grubauer in tonight’s matchup, which would then make this a more favourable matchup for this player prop.
Either way, I see value in backing Fantilli to record a point at a price of +115 following last night’s strong performance, given his offensive upside and excellent role on what has been a highly effective top line historically.
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