NHL Best Player Prop Bets (Nov. 18)

Join Canada Sports Betting’s Nick Martin as he handicaps the best NHL player prop bets available from Tuesday’s eight-game slate.

Best Bet-Roope Hintz and Jason Robertson each to record a point: -115

Roope Hintz has been in fantastic form since returning from the IR, recording eight points and at least one point in all six of his games for the Dallas Stars. Hintz’ return to the lineup has helped Jason Robertson trend into top form after a slower start to the season, as Robertson has put up 12 points over the last six games, with at least one point in five of those matchups. Robertson enters off of a hat trick versus the Flyers, and all three goals were assisted by Hintz.

The Stars are a nightmare for opposing head coaches, given that Mikko Rantanen and Wyatt Johnston have also been extremely productive on what is, on paper, the team’s top line. Dallas offering two elite lines should make life particularly tough for the New York Islanders, as while the top defensive pairing of Matthew Schaefer and Ryan Pulock has been convincing, the other two units are quite a concern.

Over the last 10 games, the Islanders have allowed 3.98 xGA/60, which is the third-worst mark in the NHL. In a small sample of 46.6 minutes of play, the Stars’ newly-formed second line of Hintz, Robertson, and Tyler Seguin has scored 6.44 goals per 60, and will present a very difficult test for an Islanders side that has been much more shaky defensively recently than their record suggests.

Robertson and Hintz also both skate on the Stars’ top power-play unit, which has succeeded on 33.3% of opportunities this season. Playing all three of Hintz, Robertson, and Seguin to get one point is an option at +230, but I prefer taking the worst price for just Robertson and Hintz to get a point considering the top power-play unit’s recent effectiveness.

Best Bet-Jordan Kyrou over 2.5 shots on goal: +105

Trying to buy low on one of the NHL’s more dynamic offensive skaters as he takes on his struggling hometown side looks pretty appealing to me. Kyrou has fallen out of favour with head coach Jim Montgomery at times this season, but his play-driving numbers are still elite, as he already holds a +7.5 expected goals above replacement rating this season.

Obviously, Montgomery isn’t basing his thoughts off of that data, but if Kyrou has his legs early in this matchup, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him garner more minutes than we have typically seen, and Kyrou’s play has generally been impressive since he was made a healthy scratch for November 6th’s matchup versus the Buffalo Sabres.

Kyrou has recorded three points and 12 shots on goal over the last four matchups. As was the case for the Blues offence as a whole, Kyrou was quiet in Saturday’s matchup versus a desperate Vegas Golden Knights side, but a matchup versus a depleted Leafs side offers a great get-right spot.

Over the last 10 games, the Leafs have allowed 34.12 shots against per 60. Even when healthy, Toronto’s bottom six and defensive core as a whole have gotten carved up this season, and its lineup for tonight’s game looks particularly poor with numerous key skaters missing. Head coach Craig Berube will demand a high level of desperation in tonight’s matchup, but simply trying harder likely won’t be enough to entirely clean up the horrific defensive play we have seen from the Leafs recently. Even at their best over the last two seasons, the Leafs have given up a lot of shots against because Berube’s tactical approach revolves around limiting true defensive breakdowns and not necessarily around controlling possession.

Kyrou should get some very winnable matchups in this game, and we should see the Toronto native get his share of attempts on goal.

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