Action Network NHL betting analyst Nick Martin breaks down his top player props for Wednesday's NHL Playoffs slate.
Chris Kreider Anytime Goalscorer
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Rangers
7 p.m. ET · ESPN
Many regard Kreider as the Rangers true locker room leader, and if there’s one guy we can count on bringing a big Game 5 performance from this Rangers team — it’s him.
Kreider has been spectacular all season long, finishing the regular season with a shocking 52 goals.
This is a spot where I think New York will manage three or more goals from Louis Domingue and the Penguins, and I like our chances that Kreider comes through with one of them.
Pick: Chris Kreider Anytime Goalscorer +120 (Play to +110)
Jonathan Huberdeau Over 2.5 Shots on Goal
Washington Capitals vs. Florida Panthers
7:30 p.m. ET · ESPN2
Huberdeau has hit this prop in two of four games in the series, while averaging three shots on goal. Therefore, one might look at this heavily juiced number and ask how there could be value here.
Huberdeau had the most time with the puck in Game 4 yet again, and he clearly passed up several shooting opportunities. Even though Huberdeau's best asset is his passing ability, I am confident that — given time to review some of those plays from Game 4 — Huberdeau will take on more of a shooting mentality in Game 5.
That many touches inside of the home-plate area of the ice makes less than three shots very rare, and I think tonight he hits this number. On top of that, I actually tracked three shots on goal myself in that game, and the loss in that game on this prop was somewhat of a bad beat in turn.
I'm also not huge on home-and-road splits to help decipher shots on goal bets, because longterm they tend to average out evenly for most. Nevertheless, for that crowd, Huberdeau has averaged 4.11 at home during his last nine games and hit this mark in seven of nine.
Pick: Jonathan Huberdeau over 2.5 shots on goal -145 (Play to -155)
Evgeny Kuznetsov Over 2.5 Shots on Goal
Washington Capitals vs. Florida Panthers
7:30 p.m. ET · ESPN2
Kuznetsov was always going to need to be in top-form for the Capitals to have any chance in this series, and he has been a whole lot better than a stat-line of just two goals may suggest.
Similar to Huberdeau, he’s not a shot-first guy but will likely play big minutes tonight, especially if the Capitals are trailing late, which is obviously possible.
Kuznetsov has hit this line in three of four games in this series, averaging three shots on goal and 4.5 attempts per game.
I think it’s been far from a fluke Kuznetsov has cashed this line at a profitable rate, and I’m definitely happy to ride it out for Game 5 at a plus number.
Pick: Evgeny Kuznetsov over 2.5 shots on goal +105 (Play to -105)
Elias Lindholm Over 2.5 Shots on Goal
Dallas Stars vs. Calgary Flames
9:30 p.m. ET · ESPN
Lindholm hasn’t put nearly as many pucks on the net as we might expect, but I do not expect his lower average on net to hold up in Game 5.
He is on Calgary’s top-line and top-powerplay, and the Flames have heavily dominated the series during Lindholm's time on the ice.
Lindholm has a tremendous release using one of the whippier sticks in the league, and his 40 goals this season affirm his willingness to fire when possible.
His average of 4.25 attempts on goal per game in this series is solid. But, given how Johnny Gaudreau is driving play, and given Lindholm’s shooters mentality, it is an anomaly that Lindholm hasn’t smashed this line in the series.
Playing Gaudreau to go over 2.5 shots at a heavily juiced number is still reasonable, but I feel this is a good buy-low spot on Lindholm and a better way to get at the Flames dominant top-trio.
Pick: Elias Lindholm over 2.5 shots on goal -120 (Play to -130)
