Mark Lammey
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Friday night provides a solid 6-game slate to get the weekend started. It’s a perfect way to transition into a huge Saturday, so let’s build our bankroll to use throughout the weekend. We’ve got some of the best teams in action, along with some of the worst. With that in mind, it can be difficult to find value in predicting sides. Thankfully, we have the player prop market. We’ve targeted the best matchups for individual skaters to perform without having to pay for big money line favorites.
Along with our player props, be sure to check out all of our NHL picks for today’s action. Let’s take a closer look at my 2 favorite player props for Friday.
Jonathan Marchessault over 2.5 shots on goal (-160)
We’re getting things started with the first game of the night, which is actually a surprising one. Games out in Vegas are usually the last games on the board, but the Anaheim Ducks and Golden Knights are going at it nice and early. It will be a late afternoon local puck drop, and the Knights should be excited about not having to wait long to get this game started. The Ducks have struggled in just about every aspect this season, and are currently 1-5-1 to begin the season. Therefore, it’s no surprise that they’ve allowed the most shots per game and the 3rd-most goals per game.
We’re going to focus on the shots aspect of their weaknesses for this prop. Vegas has a few skaters that can capitalize on that, but our target is Jonathan Marchessault. With the Knights losing Max Pacioretty over the offseason, that provides more shot opportunities for the Vegas center. After taking 251 shots in 76 games last season (3.3 per game) with Pacioretty alongside him, he looks set for even more this year. He has 25 shots on goal in 8 games so far, and the Ducks are a perfect matchup. They’re allowing nearly 40 shots per game, and Marchessault already feasted on them last season. In 4 meetings, he hit this prop in 3 of them. That included an 8-shot performance in Vegas, so expect him to roll the dice and take his chances tonight as well.
Be sure to check out our Anaheim Ducks vs Vegas Golden Knights predictions
Kyle Connor over 3.5 shots on goal (+115)
The actual last game of the night is where we’re headed for your other play. This will be the second night in a row that the night cap features the Winnipeg Jets, but this is more about picking on the Arizona Coyotes. They rival the Ducks in terms of weaknesses, and finished last season as the worst team in the NHL last year. They’re in last place in the Central Division once again, and have looked the part. They’ve suffered all of their losses by final scores of either 6-2 or 6-3 and continue to allow shots as well.
It’s pretty ironic that their ranks are simply flip-flopped with the Ducks. Arizona has allowed the 3rd-most shots per game, while allowing the most goals per game. We’re again going to focus on the shots aspect, especially the shot-takers on the Jets. Kyle Connor has been one of the leaders of the entire NHL in that regard. His 317 were the 4th-most in the league last season, and he had his sniping prowess on full display against the Coyotes. Winnipeg faced Arizona 4 times last season, and Connor accumulated 20 shots across those games. He actually had exactly 5 shots on goal in each one. With that type of consistency and Arizona looking just as poor defensively, Connor should cruise through the Coyotes tonight.
Be sure to check out our Winnipeg Jets vs Arizona Coyotes predictions
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