Join Canada Sports Betting’s Nick Martin as he handicaps the best NHL player prop bets available from Wednesday’s five-game slate.
Best bet-Jason Robertson/Roope Hintz 1+ Points Each: +125
Robertson/Hintz points parlay
It was pretty surprising to see numerous online sportsbooks open this game with a juiced total of 5.5 Tuesday afternoon, and it makes sense to see that the total has moved all the way up to 6.5 (over +100).
The Dallas Stars have been struggling mightily to keep the puck out of their net during their six-game losing skid, but still feature a quick-strike offense capable of making the most of scoring opportunities and the league’s second most effective power-play unit.
Those strengths could be prevalent Wednesday night, as they take on a shorthanded Washington Capitals side that has been struggling defensively of late. Over the last 10 games, the Capitals have allowed 3.81 xGA/60 and 4.20 goals against per game where it counts.
Last season, the Capitals’ “second” unit of Pierre-Luc Dubois, Tom Wilson, and Aliaksei Protas was among the best defensive trios in the league, and now with Wilson and Protas also sidelined, none of the Capitals’ top three defensive forwards are in the lineup.
Justin Sourdif has done an excellent job filling Dubois’ role as the team’s second-line centre, but the Capitals’ offensive core and depth down the middle still look to be a concern currently, and the Stars’ excellent second line of Roope Hintz, Jason Robertson, and Mavrik Bourque should skate in some very winnable matchups in this game.
Since being arguably the most notable snub from any Olympic roster, Robertson has remained highly productive with six points over the last three games. Given that he has 52 points in 43 games this season, it doesn’t necessarily mean we have to say that he’s been motivated by the snub more than a desire to finally lead his team to another win, but either way, Robertson has been in great form offensively entering this matchup, which could be somewhat of a shootout.
Hintz has not been nearly as productive as Robertson recently, but it seems logical to believe in the near future he will start to rack up points at a higher rate once again playing alongside Robertson at even strength and on the top power-play unit. As a result, I’m liking the value of adding Hintz to record a point alongside Robertson at the price of +130.
Robertson has also recorded a point in 20 of the 23 games in which Hintz has recorded a point this season. The two have proven to be a highly correlated point stack. Robertson, Hintz and Bourque have scored 4.06 goals per 60 in 88.7 minutes of play this season and generated 3.25 xGF/60, which are appealing numbers ahead of this matchup.
Best bet-Adrian Kempe to Record Over 3.5 Shots on Goal: +140
Adrian Kempe over 3.5 shots on goal
It’s been somewhat of a disappointing season offensively for Kempe, who’s tallied 15 goals and 34 points in 41 games, though those marks are good for first on a Los Angeles Kings side that has been quite flat offensively.
Kempe’s recent shot volume is highly encouraging, however, especially considering the elite defensive teams he has faced off against. Over the last four games, Kempe has recorded 17 shots on goal, and those matchups have come versus the Colorado Avalanche, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Minnesota Wild (twice).
A matchup in which the Kings are massive favourites versus the San Jose Sharks does suggest a greater possibility that head coach Jim Hiller will not need to lean on Kempe’s unit quite as heavily. However, the Kings have had a hard time creating much separation versus even the weakest NHL sides this season, and it wouldn’t be surprising if Kempe still receives heavy usage in this matchup.
When Kempe’s unit is on the ice in this matchup, it should have a great chance of creating some scoring opportunities versus a thin Sharks roster on home ice. San Jose has allowed 30.95 shots against per 60 this season, which is the second-highest mark in the NHL.
Anze Kopitar is day-to-day ahead of this matchup, and if he is to miss the game, that shouldn’t be the worst thing for this prop. Quinton Byfield would then likely bump into Kopitar’s role on the top unit, and I don’t believe that hurts Kempe’s chances of generating shots on target, while it could also force greater reliance on the top line given the lack of depth further down the lineup card.
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