Mark Lammey
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Sunday’s NHL slate provides early matinee games and more all through the evening. While we are given heavy prices for some home favorites, there are still ways to find value in the player prop market. There are a few teams returning home from road trips that are looking to make a push for their best possible playoff seeding. Specifically, the Penguins and Predators are returning to their respective cities and attempting to avenge some tough road losses. Along with our player props, be sure to check out our full game previews for tonight’s matchups.
Sidney Crosby over 1.5 points (+135)
The Penguins captain was held pointless on his last outing in New York against the Rangers’ great goaltender Igor Shesterkin. Prior to that game, Crosby had recorded a point in 13 of his last 14 games, and 20 of his last 22. Now back in Pittsburgh, he and the Pens face the league’s 3rd-worst goaltending of the Detroit Red Wings. They allow an abysmal 3.69 goals per game, and that increases to the 2nd-worst in the league at 3.9 goals allowed per game on the road. Detroit has allowed 6 or more goals 4 times this month alone, including 9 goals to the league-worst Coyotes. If Arizona was able to do that while Detroit was at home, Crosby and the Penguins should be provided with plenty of opportunities in this one.
Sid the Kid missed a portion of the season due to injury, and has played in only 54 of the team’s 66 games. Despite missing those 12 games, he still leads Pittsburgh in points with 66. He’s also averaging just under 3 shots on goal per game, which is what allows him to be such a threat to both score goals and record assists. The fact that Crosby is surrounded by other superstar talent also lends to these opportunities. Evgeni Malkin, Jake Guentzel, Bryan Rust, and Kris Letang are all-star caliber players who can finish when Crosby dishes out assist chances, and can also find him to score himself. Lastly, Crosby faced Detroit at the end of January and recorded 2 assists in that matchup. We should see a similar outing as he bids to bounce back from a rough last game.
Be sure to check out our full game preview for the Detroit Red Wings vs Pittsburgh Penguins.
Roman Josi over 1.5 points (+150)
The Predators are returning back to Nashville after a rough end to their west-coast road trip. In their past 2 games, they recorded just 1 goal each against the Golden Knights and the Kings. However, even in 1-goal games, Josi recorded a point in both of them. The Preds now face the Flyers, a much more appetizing matchup for goalscoring. Philadelphia allows nearly 3.5 goals per game, sitting 8th-worst in the NHL. The Flyers have allowed 6 goals in 2 of their past 3 games, and 4 or more goals 6 times this month. Josi has proved he can record points even in the most difficult of matchups.
Regardless of how their latest blowout losses have gone, he still averages 25 minutes of ice time. The sheer volume of opportunities he gets with that much play is encouraging. Josi has recorded multiple points in 21 games this season, including 4 games with 4 points each. Not only does his extremely high ice-time provide opportunities, he also plays alongside 2 other skaters averaging more than a point per game. Filip Forsberg and Matt Duchene have been major factors in providing opportunities for the Predators captain to record his points. While Josi records the majority of his points as assists (61 of his 79), he still has the potential for goals. He leads the Preds in shots on goal by a wide margin with 227 in 63 games (3.6 per game). Now back in Nashville against a struggling Flyers team, we should expect the Predators to put up several goals and for Josi to be a part of them.
Be sure to check out our full game preview for the Philadelphia Flyers vs Nashville Predators.
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