Mark Lammey
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It’s finally Saturday, which means a loaded NHL slate. It also means early afternoon hockey. We’ve got a jam-packed 12-game slate, with multiple early games and action all through the night. That means tons of skaters to look at and see how they match up with the opposition. Thankfully, we’ve done the digging for you and found the best spots to target. After just 1 play last night with the small slate, we’re back with a bonus prop tonight, so let’s dive in.
Along with our player props, be sure to check out all of our NHL picks for today’s action.
Brad Marchand over 0.5 assists (-135)
When we have afternoon hockey, it’s only right to have our first play from one of the early games. We’re targeting the best team in hockey with the Boston Bruins sitting at an incredible 28-4-3. Not only that, they’ll be at home, where they’re a ridiculous 18-0-2. One of the reasons for their success has been their goal-scoring, led by the trio of Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak and Patrice Bergeron. The latter two are the primary shot-takers, and we’re backing Marchand to send a helper to one of them to find the back of the net.
The Buffalo Sabres are the opposition, and are one of the few teams that can keep up with the Bruins offensively. That should put more pressure on Marchand and company to score. They were able to do so in their defeat of the Sabres earlier in the season, where Marchand had 2 assists. Not only that, he feasted on Buffalo last season, recording 2 assists in 3 of 4 meetings, and 1 in the other for a total of 7 assists across 4 games. The Sabres offensive is explosive as well, but it’s had to be as they allow the 10th-most goals per game. After the Bruins have had to face a stingy New Jersey Devils defense in 2 of their last 3 games, this should be a welcomed change for Marchand and the boys.
Be sure to check out our Buffalo Sabres vs Boston Bruins prediction
Steven Stamkos over 1.5 points (+165)
We can roll over our afternoon winnings into an earlier evening game down in Tampa Bay. The Lightning are welcoming in an Arizona Coyotes squad riding high on their recent win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. However, the Lightning just won home games on back-to-back nights, and do not play down to their competition. They swept the ice with the Canadiens in a 4-1 defeat, and have been dominant in Tampa. They’re scoring the 3rd-most goals per game at home and the 5th-most since the start of December. In that same span, the Coyotes have allowed the 5th-most and have also allowed the 6th-most on the road.
With the Lightning likely to light up the scoreboard, veteran Steven Stamkos should play a big role. We’ll also be playing Nikita Kucherov with the same points prop, but let’s focus on Stamkos. Although Tampa has yet to face Arizona this season. Stamkos was able to record multiple points in both meetings last season, including 3 goals in the process. Of his 8 multi-point games this season, 7 have come at home. Feel free to take a flier on his goal-scoring prop as well, but we’re backing Stamkos and Kucherov to link up with one another more than once to both record multiple points.
Be sure to check out our Arizona Coyotes vs Tampa Bay Lightning prediction
Joe Pavelski over 0.5 assists (-105)
Let’s transition back to another assist prop for one of the later evening matchups. There’s no shortage of veteran names for our NHL player props tonight, but we have no problem backing the experience. Joe Pavelski and the Dallas Stars have an absolutely ideal matchup on home ice. Before we dive in, we also love Jason Robertson to record multiple points. Pavelski skates alongside the young stud, and should feed him an apple at some point tonight. That’s because the Stars are hosting the San Jose Sharks, who have been awful in terms of goaltending.
They just allowed 4 goals at home to a weak Philadelphia Flyers team and allowed 6 to the Vancouver Canucks the game prior. Therefore, it’s no surprise that they’ve been the worst goaltending team in the NHL through December, allowing 4.18 goals per game this month. It certainly doesn’t hurt that Dallas is the 4th-highest scoring team at home, just behind the Bruins and Lightning. Pavelski was held pointless in the Stars most recent game, but his 34 points in 37 games indicate that hasn’t happened often. Of those 34, 23 have been assists, one of which came against the Sharks earlier this season. That game was in San Jose, so tonight’s home contest should be even better for Pavelski and the Stars to shine bright.
Don’t miss out on our NHL mega parlay at +1028 odds for today’s action!
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