Each day, I publish 1-2 pieces on props I like. See my master list of 2019 prop bets for more information.
In this piece, I’ll highlight my favorite NHL player props for Game 2 of the Carolina Hurricanes-Boston Bruins series. NOTE: I might update this piece as more lines are released.
I should mention that early in 2019, I wasn’t particularly sharp on hockey — that’s reflected in my year-to-date NHL record below — but in the postseason I’ve had some prop-betting success.
Since I started making my own projections and publishing postseason NHL prop articles, I'm a more respectable 14-9-2 (+3.84).
Perhaps it’s easier to project ice time and usage in the playoffs. Or maybe I’ve just had a good sense of the matchups we’ve seen over the past couple of weeks.
Regardless, I like some of the player props for today’s game. For up-to-the-minute lines, check out our live betting odds page.
For more daily player props, follow me in The Action Network app.
740-562-42, +103.57 Units
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Carolina Hurricanes at Boston Bruins Betting Odds
- Hurricanes: +135
- Bruins: -150
- Over: 5.5 (+110)
- Under: 5.5 (-130)
- Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
- TV: NBC
Carolina Hurricanes
Hurricanes LW Andrei Svechnikov: Under 2.0 Shots on Goal (+100)
This one could easily end in a push, but I’m leaning toward the under. During the regular season, the rookie had no more than two shots in 50 of 82 games (60.98%).
In Game 1 against the Bruins, Svechnikov had just one shot. I have him projected for 1.81 shots and would bet the under to -110.
Hurricanes LW Nino Niederreiter: Over 2.0 Shots on Goal (-140)
Like the Svechnikov prop, this one has a lot of push potential, but I have Niederreiter projected for 2.53 shots, so I like the over.
For the postseason, Niederreiter’s shot average has dropped to exactly two per game, but in the regular season he had a mark of 2.86. I expect some progression and would bet the over to -155.
Hurricanes C Jordan Staal: Over 1.5 Shots on Goal (-150)
In the regular season, Staal fired off two-plus shots in 36 of 50 games (72.0%). In the playoffs, though, he’s averaged just 1.25 shots, and in Game 1 vs. the Bruins he took only one shot.
But I anticipate that he will progress toward his seasonal mark of 2.42 and have him projected for 2.16. I’d bet the over to -180.
Boston Bruins
Bruins LW Brad Marchand: Under 3.0 shots (+110)
Get ready for a parade of unders. I'm not betting the under on literally every Bruin in the market — but it's pretty close to that.
During the regular season, the Hurricanes held opponents to the third-fewest shots on goal per game at 28.6, and in the playoffs they have somehow lowered that mark to 27.8.
The Bruins are an aggressive team and have fired 35.1 shots per game in the playoffs, but the Hurricanes have the type of defensive unit that can limit any team.
In Game 1, the Bruins were held to just 28 shots.
In his 93 games this year (including playoffs), Marchand has averaged exactly three shots per game, so there’s a decent chance this ends in a push.
But I have him projected for 2.79 shots and will take the plus money. I’d bet the under to -110.
In the FantasyLabs NHL Props Tool, we have the Marchand under graded with a bet quality of 10.
Bruins C Patrice Bergeron: Under 3.5 shots (-115)
Bergeron is second on the team in shots per game, but he still has a mark of just 3.27 this year (including the postseason). Given his matchup, he seems unlikely to surpass his average.
Bergeron has a projected shot total of 2.99, and I’d bet the under to -150.
Bruins RW David Pastrnak: Under 3.5 shots (-115)
Pastrnak leads the Bruins with 3.56 shots per game (including playoffs). He's aggressive, and early in the regular season, he had a nine-shot game against the Hurricanes.
He has the potential to crush the over.
But in Game 1, he had just two shots, and I have him projected for just 3.12. I'd bet the under to -140.
Bruins LW Jake Debrusk: Under 2.5 shots (-115)
Debrusk has averaged 2.93 shots per game in the playoffs, but in the regular season he had just 2.29, and the matchup is tough.
I’m expecting continued regression for Debrusk — in Game 1 he had just one shot — and I'm projecting him for 2.05. I’d bet the under to -145.
Bruins C David Krejci: Under 2.0 shots (-105)
In the regular season, Krejci averaged 1.72 shots per game. In the postseason, he has 1.5. Against the Carolina defense, I’m doubtful he’ll get off more than two shots: In Game 1, he had just one attempt.
In his 14 playoff games this year, he’s had more than two shots just once. I have him projected for 1.47 and would bet the under to -155.
Bruins LW Marcus Johansson: Under 2.0 shots (-130)
Johansson isn't much of a shooter. In his 10 regular season games with the Bruins (after joining the team via trade), he had 1.2 shots per game. In his 12 playoff games, he has 1.83.
In the postseason he's had more than two shots only three times.
I'm projecting him for 1.36 and would bet the under to -170.
Bruins C Charlie Coyle: Under 2.0 shots (-105)
In his 35 games this year (including playoffs), Coyle has 1.94 shots per game. With the tough matchup, he seems unlikely to exceed two shots on goal.
In his 14 playoff games, he’s had more than two shots just thrice. He’s projected for 1.70 shots, and I’d bet the under to -135.
Bruins D Torey Krug: Under 2.5 shots (-125)
Krug is the most aggressive of the Bruins defensemen, averaging 2.35 shots on goal per game this year (including playoffs). But the matchup is challenging, and he’s had fewer than 2.5 shots in 10 of his 14 playoff games (71.4%).
In Game 1, he took zero shots.
I have Krug projected for 2.07 and would bet the under to -140.
Matthew Freedman is the Editor-in-Chief of FantasyLabs. He has a dog and sometimes a British accent. In Cedar Rapids, Iowa, he’s known only as The Labyrinthian.
