Mark Lammey
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Shifting from a 14-game slate down to 3 certainly provides fewer opportunities in terms of sides and totals. Thankfully, there is still plenty of value to be found in the player prop market. Let’s focus on a Blue Jackets team welcoming in a Canadien club and an Avalanche team trying to secure a top playoff seed. Along with our player props, be sure to check out our full game previews for tonight’s matchups.
Mikko Rantanen over 0.5 goals (+130)
When it comes to the Avalanche, it can be difficult to find value. They are a team full of all-stars and their player props to simply record points are far too expensive. However, betting on Mikko Rantanen to score a goal does offer value. Outside of Nathan MacKinnon, Rantanen arguably has the next-best stick skills. The Avs have also been without key skater Gabriel Landeskog, putting even more responsibility on Rantanen. He’s lived up to it, recording 86 points in his 69 games, 35 of which are goals.
The last outing against the Oilers was his first without a point in the last 8 games. Colorado now faces the Kings, who come into Denver on the 2nd night of a back-to-back. This offers a great opportunity for Rantanen to start a new point streak with a goal. Former Olympian Jonathan Quick was in net last night. This leaves backup Cal Petersen to try and guard the back of the net against the Avs. That will be a tough ask against the offensive output of Colorado. Looking back at the last meeting between these 2 in mid-March, Rantanen should be licking his chops. He recorded 2 points, both a goal and an assist. There’s no reason to believe he can’t repeat that performance tonight.
Be sure to check out our full game preview for the Los Angeles Kings vs Colorado Avalanche.
Patrik Laine over 0.5 goals (+100)
The Blue Jackets were forced to start the season without Patrik Laine and it showed; they found themselves in the bottom half of the standings early on. His return has ignited the team and he is personally electrifying to watch. While Columbus may not be in the postseason, Laine has certainly been doing his part. Since his return, he’s played in 54 games in which he has 53 points, 25 of them goals. Even with nearly 20 less games, he’s still 3rd on the team in shots with 160. It’s safe to say he’s not holding back from taking his chances.
It’s true he hasn’t scored in quite some time, but the Canadiens provide the perfect opportunity to remedy that. Their goaltending is absolutely awful, allowing the 2nd most goals per game in the league at 3.79/game. That average gets even worse on the road, up to 4 goals allowed per game. Looking back at his 2 games against the Canadiens this season, Laine should be very excited. He recorded 2 goals in the 1st matchup and a goal and an assist in the 2nd. Carey Price has not miraculously returned for the Habs so there’s no reason to think Laine can’t repeat those performances.
Be sure to check out our full game preview for the Montreal Canadiens vs Columbus Blue Jackets
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