Ryan Hodges
Show Bio
The NHL scriptwriters have robbed fans a little bit this year as the games have not been particularly close. Vegas and Edmonton keep running up the score on each other while Florida took a commanding 3-0 (now 3-1) series lead. Fans have come to expect the unexpected in these playoffs, so who knows what Friday will bring? If nothing else, there is a ton of star power suiting up for what should be appointment television.
Here are my favorite NHL player prop bets for Friday’s schedule. You can also check out our NHL picks for each of today’s games.
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Auston Matthews over 1.5 points (+130)
The Maple Leafs get at least 1 more game in their 2022-2023 campaign having staved off the Panthers in Game 4. The do-or-die situation now returns home where the Leafs can feed off the crowd. Home ice has not been good to the Maple Leafs in this postseason and that is a trend they will be anxious to change. During the regular season, Toronto was the 3rd-best home team in the NHL in terms of points and point percentage. They scored the 5th-most goals in the NHL at home and allowed the 5th-fewest. In a win-or-go-home game, they can give the Panthers their biggest test yet. Arguably no one on the Leafs is scarier with added effort to already dangerous skillset than Auston Matthews.
Toronto is in a good spot to win this game and make this an interesting series. That being the case, Matthews is all but a formality to be involved. He has no goals and 2 points in the series. Matthews is due and could kick into his highest gear in another elimination game. His line with Mitch Marner and Calle Jarnkrok will see plenty of ice time as Sheldon Keefe will need his best players out there as much as possible. Matthews and Marner have combined for 25 points in 20 games this postseason. Their career numbers speak for their talent and they would like to shake their current playoff reputations. Look for a huge effort and performance by Toronto led by Matthews.
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Ryan Nugent-Hopkins anytime goalscorer (+160)
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins finally tucked away his first goal of the playoffs in Game 4. He has been quiet, but still has 8 points in 10 games of these playoffs including 4 points in 4 games of this series. Maybe it just took playing the Golden Knights to get him back on track. With a goal and an assist on Wednesday, Nugent-Hopkins now has 2 goals and 11 assists in 8 games against Vegas between the regular season and playoffs. If he can catch fire and be the true supplement to Connor McDavid and Leon Draisasitl that he was during the regular season, then the remaining teams are in trouble. Nugent-Hopkins is playing well and no longer has the monkey on his back.
The Oilers are still the McDavid and Draisaitl show, but Nugent-Hopkins had career year by a long way, tallying 37 goals and 104 points in all 82 regular-season games. Having not missed a game so far (hopefully no jinx) and still logging 1.22 points per game, this guy is just plain reliable. Obviously, it does not exactly hurt that he is on the Oilers’ top line with McDavid and Zach Hyman. He also centers the top power play with McDavid, Hyman, Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard. These teams have run up the score on each other all series. If they can continue to produce, Nugent-Hopkins is in as good of a spot as anyone to be a contributor. He has shown the ability to do so plenty this season and +160 is fantastic value.
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