Ryan Hodges
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Thursday marks the night we wave goodbye to the 2023-24 NHL regular season. This is the final night that fans of non-playoff teams can watch their favorite team play until the fall. Although the playoffs are already set, tonight still brings plenty of intrigue. There are 2 potential playoff previews, Connor Bedard’s final game of his rookie campaign, and a head-to-head matchup between a couple of Hart Trophy candidates. Hopefully you can get your obligations out of the way and soak in the final night of the regular season. Here are our best NHL player prop bets for today, and you can also find our NHL predictions for each of today’s games.
Tomas Hertl, VGS, Over 0.5 points (-140)
After being acquired by the Golden Knights while on the injured list, Tomas Hertl returned to the ice. He has now played 5 games as a Golden Knight and has tallied 2 goals and 4 points. He is rounding into his usual, productive form at a very good time for Vegas. Hertl is currently slotted as the second-line center, as well as the center of the top power play.
Hertl and the Golden Knights get a very favorable matchup to end the season. The Ducks have lost 16 of their last 19 games and 15 of their last 20 played against the Golden Knights. Unless the Golden Knights completely mail it in, they should be able to win somewhat comfortably. That being the case, look for them to continue to ramp up Hertl’s workload entering the playoffs and for Hertl to continue to reward that trust.
Read our Oilers vs Avalanche Same Game Parlay at +500 odds for tonight’s matchup on ESPN
Kevin Fiala, LAK, Over 0.5 goals (+145)
This has been another season that cannot end fast enough for the Blackhawks. Chicago enters this game winless in their last 5 games by an average of 3 goals per game. The Kings should be able to run up the score and enter the playoffs with 6 wins in 8 games. If Los Angeles takes care of business, there is a good chance Kevin Fiala will be involved offensively.
Fiala’s 29 goals are second on the Kings and his 73 points are tied for the most on the team. He enters this game in solid form as he has 2 goals and 3 points in his last 3 games. Fiala has averaged a point per game for his last 16 games and has collected 8 goals during that stretch. This has become a very reliable forward on a playoff team. With a very favorable matchup tonight, Fiala will look to get his 30th goal for his second 30-goal season of his nearly 10-year NHL career.
