Ryan Hodges
Show Bio
There are 3 games on the docket for Wednesday night’s continuation of the opening round of the NHL playoffs. The first puck drops at 7:00 pm ET with the Bruins visiting the Maple Leafs followed by the Golden Knights taking on the Stars. Ending the night will be the Kings battling the Oilers in Edmonton. The Stars and Kings are looking to even their respective series before heading to Vegas and Los Angeles, while the Bruins and Leafs are both vying for a big 2-1 series lead. Here are our best NHL player prop bets for today, and you can also find our NHL predictions for each of today’s games.
Auston Matthews, TOR, Over 1.5 points (+120)
After a quieter Game 1, Auston Matthews showed out for Game 2. Matthews tallied a goal and 2 assists in the Maple Leafs’ 3-2 win over the Bruins on Monday. Before that game, Toronto had dropped 8 consecutive games to Boston. The Maple Leafs would have been in trouble going down 2-0 in this series. In a big game on the road looking to exercise some demons, Matthews dominated. There is still plenty of urgency as the Leafs will want to take control of this series and get a big win at home.
The Maple Leafs do have home-ice advantage in what has now effectively become a best-of-5 series. Naturally, Matthews and the Leafs will get a bit of a jolt playing in front of their home crowd. If Matthews can bring even part of his stellar performance from Monday into Game 3, the Leafs have a good chance tonight, as do his props. Matthews has produced against the Bruins all season long and will be looking to build off of a big game.
Roope Hintz, DAL, Over 0.5 points (-125)
If the Stars are going to take this series, they will need Roope Hintz to be a key producer. Hintz centers the Stars’ top line between Jason Robertson and Joe Pavelski. He also centers the top power play with Robertson, Pavelski, Jamie Benn and Miro Hesikanen. He is a very good player who plays with fellow great players every time he touches the ice. The opportunity is there and then some for Hintz to be in a position to produce.
Hintz was held to a quiet night in Game 1, which yielded no points or even shots on goal. He finished the regular season with 30 goals and 65 points, which was good for 4th on this Stars team that scored the 3rd-most goals in the NHL this season. Hintz is also no stranger to the NHL playoffs, as he has 64 career playoff games under his belt at just 27 years old. Last year, Hintz had 24 points in 19 playoff games. It should only be a matter of time before Hintz gets on the scoresheet in these high-leverage games that he will be leaned on.
