Ryan Hodges
Show Bio
Thursday’s NHL slate is a treat for hockey fans. We get an absolutely packed 12-game slate that features playoff contending teams, teams in the race for Connor Bedard, division rivals and some very good inter-conference matchups. There is great hockey on from dinner time through bed time. This great schedule should be a great bridge to the end of the week with just Friday to go.
If you are looking to have some action, here are our favorite NHL player props for Thursday. Also, be sure to also check out our NHL picks for each of today’s games.
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Mitch Marner Over 1.5 points (+115)
The Maple Leafs are playing great hockey yet again after a recent stretch of 1 win in 4 games. Go figure; Mitch Marner continues to light it up and be a key contributor in Toronto’s attack. He scored a late game winning goal last night and has a good chance to stay hot against the Red Wings on Thursday. Toronto has beat Detroit in both head to head matchups this season, most recently on Saturday, by a combined score of 8-3. Marner has 3 points in 2 games against Detroit continues to produce at more than a point per game pace. The Red Wings have 4 wins in their last 14 games. They rank 22nd in the NHL in goal prevention and are vulnerable yet again in this one.
Marner is skating right now with John Tavares and Calle Jarnkrok on Toronto’s top line as Auston Matthews is nursing a day-to-day injury. On the Leafs top power play, Marner also skates with Michael Bunting, William Nylander, and Morgan Reilly. Marner’s more than 21 minutes of ice time per game are played with fellow top players complementing his elite form. Toronto has scored 4 goals in each game against Detroit this season and has shown that it can produce against any team in the league. Detroit is no exception. A favorable, familiar matchup for the Maple Leafs indicates they can run up the score against the Red Wings. That being the case again, there is a good chance Marner is part of the production.
Be sure to check out our full analysis of Thursday night’s slate.
Cale Makar Over 1.5 points (+140)
Although they are currently on the outside looking in, the expectation is for the Avalanche to ascend in the standings and be a force yet again entering the playoffs. They still have key players injured but are starting to get a few back. The assumption that Colorado surges up in the standings to make the playoffs indicates that they will go on a run starting any day now. Why not start on Thursday against the worst team in hockey? When Colorado hits its stride, Cale Makar will be a key driver. That’s not to say Makar hasn’t had a good season; he has 38 points in 39 games. But this team has another gear and Makar is a top player in the world that is looking to produce even more.
The Avalanche won 5-2 in their only game against the Blackhawks this season, which is a result that could very well repeat. Chicago is in the cellar of the league with 10 wins and 24 points, and are by all means a doormat this season. There may not be any better matchups in hockey for Makar and the Avs to run up the score. Makar has 4 point in his last 3 games, and with a multi-point game would be back over a point per game pace. He logs more than 27 minutes per game with Devon Toews, Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Ranatanen among other strong Avs players. A matchup as favorable as this one looks great for Colorado and a superstar like Makar to light up the scoreboard.
Be sure to check out our fulls Colorado Avalanche vs Chicago Blackhawks predictions.
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