Mark Lammey
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All but 4 teams in the NHL are on the ice tonight to provide us with plenty of action before the entire league is off on Thanksgiving Thursday tomorrow. Although we don’t have any early afternoon games, there are still plenty of matchups to break down. So many of them can seem overwhelming, but that’s where we can help. Specifically, I’ve targeted my favorite spots on today’s slate for NHL prop bet picks.
Along with our best NHL player props, be sure to check out all of our NHL picks for today’s action.
Kyle Connor over 0.5 goals (+130)
Over 0.5 goals (+130) available at time of publishing. Playable to +115.
One of the first puck-drops of today’s slate takes place in Tampa Bay, but rather than focusing on the Lightning, I’m targeting a skater on the visiting Winnipeg Jets. Kyle Connor has always been a volume shooter, and he’s been more efficient than ever this season. His 14 goals are tied with Auston Matthews for the most in the NHL, and he now has a prime matchup. That may sound strange going against the Lightning, but without their elite goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy in net, they haven’t been nearly as strong defensively this season.
Tampa Bay is allowing the 6th-most goals per game this season, while Connor has led the Jets to becoming the 5th highest-scoring team in the league. Even when Vasilevskiy was in net when these teams played last season, Connor was able to find the net. As if that wasn’t enough, he’s been as hot as ever this month, scoring 9 goals through 8 games. The Jets haven’t been on the road in a while now, but last time they were, Connor scored twice, and I’m backing him to do so at least once today.
Connor Bedard over 0.5 goals (+140)
Over 0.5 goals (+140) available at time of publishing. Playable to +125.
That’s right – I’m buying into the rookie hype! The 18-year-old phenom Connor Bedard has lived up to it and then some. He’s already recorded 15 points this season, with 9 of those being goals. After the Chicago Blackhawks’ game against the Florida Panthers in mid-November, he was on pace for a ridiculous 57-goal season. For perspective, the record for a skater under the age of 19 is 45, and even a 40-goal season is something veteran goalscorers strive for.
Bedard should be able to find the net tonight in Columbus, as the Blue Jackets continue to be one of the worst goaltending teams in the NHL. After allowing the 2nd-most goals per game last season, they’re allowing the 5th-most this season. While the ‘Hawks may not be the most explosive offense overall, Bedard is a highlight reel. He has yet to face the Jackets in his young career, but he recently had back-to-back 2-goal nights against the Lightning and Panthers, so he can certainly capitalize on a weak Columbus team.
