Join Canada Sports Betting’s Nick Martin as he handicaps the best NHL player prop bets available from Tuesday’s seven-game slate.
After splitting our props Monday, these NHL betting guides are now up 14.32 units across 109 selections this season. We’ve got three slates left to work with before the Olympic break, and I’m excited to outline my two favourite props from Tuesday’s card below.
Egor Chinakhov Over 2.5 Shots on Goal: +155
Chinakhov over 2.5 SOG
There are numerous Columbus Blue Jackets forwards that are currently looking as though they were held back by former head coach Dean Evason, and it seems fair to include Chinakhov on that list, though his recent turnaround in form comes from a change of scenery and not a new coach.
Chinakhov looks to be a savvy pickup and is seemingly loving life playing alongside future Hall of Fame countryman Evgeni Malkin. Chinakhov has recorded four goals and six points over the last six games, playing on what has been a highly effective second line alongside Malkin and Thomas Novak.
The trio has played to a 58.2% expected goal share across 109.1 minutes of play and generated 3.91 xGF/60, which is the highest mark of any Penguins line that has skated over 100 minutes together this season.
The most common take from Penguins observers regarding Chinakhov has been that they are surprised over how quick and heavy his release is. Over the last three games, he has 18 shot attempts and 12 shots on goal, and it seems likely that he will remain a volume shooter considering his current role and offensive skillset.
It does seem likely that Tuesday’s matchup versus the New York Islanders will feature a playoff feel, and potentially be fairly tight-checking. That is a concern for me regarding this prop, but in general, I’m convinced that Chinakhov’s recent volume is sustainable, and therefore am still happy to take a stab because of the long price of +155 for three or more shots on goal.
Cutter Gauthier Over 3.5 Shots on Goal: +125
Gauthier over 3.5 SOG
We’ll go from a skater who is emerging as a volume shooter to one that has consistently been on the radar of every shot prop bettor over the last two seasons in Gauthier, who’s attempted more shots per 60 than any other skater this season.
It’s certainly not news to oddsmakers that Gauthier is a volume shooter, but it still seems as though his volume is not getting enough respect, given his price of +125 to record four or more shots in Tuesday’s matchup versus the Seattle Kraken.
Over the last 10 games, Gauthier has recorded over 3.5 shots on goal seven times, and as we touched on when we bet Gauthier to record over 3.5 shots in the Ducks’ last matchup versus the Kraken, one of the times he did not record over 3.5 shots on goal recently was when he skated only 8:54 after seemingly returning to the lineup from illness too quickly.
The Kraken have looked much more respectable defensively during their current four-game winning streak, but it’s still hard to see how this prop is now up at +125, when it was at +105 the last time these teams met. Gauthier recorded seven shots on goal from nine attempts in that game and has averaged 7.4 shot attempts over the last five games.
He managed only three shots on goal in Sunday’s win over the Vegas Golden Knights, but the Knights suppress scoring chances quite effectively and were pressing to erase a three-goal deficit for most of the evening.
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