Best NHL Player Props Today (4/21/26)

In this article, Canada Sports Betting’s Nick Martin breaks down the two best NHL player prop picks that provide value at online sportsbooks today (4/21/26).

Our first player prop guide of the postseason was a success, as we earned a profitable split with our selection on Egor Chinakhov to record over 2.5 shots on goal getting home at +175. These guides are now up 10.24 units across 179 selections this season, good for a +5.72% ROI.

We will target two of the NHL’s better goal scorers Tuesday, after each offered a highly impressive in their respective series opener’s on Sunday.

Tage Thompson Over 3.5 Shots on Goal: -128 (Play to -135)

The first playoff game of Thompson’s career was a massive success, as he scored two goals late in the third to knot the game at two and was all over it all night long. Thompson finished with seven shots on goal and 11 attempts on target. Buffalo’s top line of Thompson, Alex Tuch, and Peyton Krebs finished with a 66.3% expected goal share and outshot Boston 8-3.

The Bruins were one of the best teams in the NHL at preventing rush chances this season, but they were also shaky defensively in their own zone and do not drive possession effectively overall.

Game 1 did feature a perfect game script for Thompson to rack up shots on goal with the Sabres trailing for the vast majority of the matchup. Still, this appears to be a fairly ideal series for Thompson to continue spending plenty of time attacking in the offensive zone, and he should skate in some very winnable matchups once again in Game 2 with Lindy Ruff still possessing last change.

The Bruins will try their best to keep the Sabres to the perimeter in this matchup, and attempt to prevent the type of chances Swayman cannot save. That strategy should continue to mean Thompson trying his hand from distance.

At -128, this seems to be a good spot to keep it simple and ride with Thompson to pour shots on target after a dominant showing in the series opener.

Dylan Guenther to Score: +180 (Play to +170)

While the Utah Mammoth ultimately suffered a 4-2 loss in Game 1 versus the Vegas Golden Knights, it was an encouraging showing for a side featuring six skaters making their playoff debuts. Among those making their postseason debuts were critical forwards Dylan Guenther and Logan Cooley, arguably the two best Mammoth skaters.

Utah’s top line of Clayton Keller, Nick Schmaltz, and Lawson Crouse really struggled in their head-to-head minutes versus Jack Eichel’s line. While Guenther’s line had a fantastic showing, it still seems most logical that John Tortorella will continue to try and stick with the best-on-best matchup he targeted in Game 1.

That should keep Guenther’s unit in more livable matchups, and they were able to dominate the Knights’ depth lines in Game 1. Guenther had four shots on goal and 0.56 individual expected goals in Game 1, including some point-blank looks, which, on average, the 40-goal sharpshooter would be expected to finish.

It seems logical to expect another strong showing from Utah’s second unit in Game 2, and Guenther will likely take advantage if he is able to generate a comparable output of scoring chances.

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