There are 10 games on Thursday’s NHL slate. What a glorious thing. To enhance tonight’s action, we are taking a closer look at 2 matchups and rolling with a pair of player props that we think have a solid chance of hitting. Along with these props, don’t forget to check out our full game previews for each NHL matchup.
Now let’s get to it.
Sidney Crosby over 1.5 points (+160)
Odds available at FanDuel at time of publishing
The Pittsburgh offense is on an absolute tear right now, and Sidney Crosby is a big reason why. The Penguins are riding a 6-game winning streak, and Crosby has collected 10 points (6 goals, 4 assists) in that stretch. During their current streak, the Pens have scored 5 goals or more 4 times. They are coming off a game in which they scored 6 goals against the Coyotes, and Crosby chipped in for 3 points (1 goal, 2 assists). On the season, Crosby is up to 34 points (11 goals, 23 assists) in 30 games. Tonight Crosby and the Penguins take on the Seattle Kraken, which is a matchup that seems to bode well for Pittsburgh.
In short, the Kraken have been allowing a ton of goals this season. In fact, the Kraken are allowing 3.60 goals per game, which is the 3rd-worst mark in the league. They have not had consistent goaltending from either Philipp Grubauer or Chris Driedger, who both have save percentages below .900. With the way they are rolling right now, it would not be surprising if the Penguins scored 5 or 6 goals themselves. Crosby is playing with a ton of confidence right now, and he should be able to fill the score sheet once again tonight.
Be sure to check out our full game preview for Seattle Kraken vs Pittsburgh Penguins.
Tim Stutzle under 0.5 points (-120)
Odds available at FanDuel at time of publishing
Tim Stutzle and the Ottawa Senators go up against the Carolina Hurricanes tonight. It may be an uphill battle for Stutzle and company. The Hurricanes are one of the most well-rounded teams in the NHL, and they possess a very strong defensive unit. On the season, Carolina is giving up the fewest amount of goals per game (2.41), and they have the best penalty kill in the league, killing off 88.6% of their opponents’ man-advantages. They are also allowing the fewest shots per game to their opponents (28.1). All in all, scoring could be tough for the Senators as a whole tonight.
Stutzle is definitely a talented offensive player, but he has not been lighting up the score sheet this season. He has 20 points (7 goals, 13 assists) in 34 games, and his 20 points rank 4th on his own team in that category. So far in January, Stutzle has 5 points (2 goals, 3 assists) in 7 games. As a 2nd-year player he is still learning his way around the league, and the stingy Carolina defense may be too much to handle tonight. Consider taking the under.
Be sure to check out our full game preview for Carolina Hurricanes vs Ottawa Senators.
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