We have a stacked nine-game slate on Thursday’s NHL card, with an abundance of options to pick through on PrizePicks. Below, I give out five PrizePicks flex plays.
For those unfamiliar with PrizePicks flex plays, getting 5/5 correct registers a 10x payout, 4/5 correct registers a 2x payout, and 3/5 correct registers a 0.4x payout.
You can also take these plays and do smaller parlays with just two or three props for lower payouts.
What is PrizePicks? A daily fantasy operator — meaning they’re available in more states (31) than sports betting is! — PrizePicks offers a unique opportunity for action on player props in which you parlay two or more plays together.
Thursday NHL Props
Nikita Kucherov — Over 0.5 Goals
The Atlantic Division's third-place Tampa Bay Lightning travel to Columbus to take on the Metropolitan Division's sixth-place Blue Jackets in what is expected to be a blowout, as the Lightning are almost three-dollar favorites on the moneyline.
Kucherov has been on fire recently, scoring 13 goals over his last 13 games, and should be able to keep It going against a struggling Columbus squad. Having just scored against the Blue Jackets on Tuesday, I like Kucherov to get the job done once again.
This season, Columbus ranks just 31st in the league in five-on-five expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA). Columbus' special teams will also have trouble containing Kucherov and the rest of Tampa Bay's first power-play unit, as the Blue Jackets rank just 20th in the league in penalty kill percentage.
I would not play this total if It jumps from 0.5 to 1.
David Pastrnak — Over 0.5 Goals
We have an Atlantic Division tilt as the fourth-place Boston Bruins host the fifth-place Buffalo Sabres. Despite missing some time with injury, Pastrnak has been in great form when he has been in the lineup as he has registered six goals over his last eight games.
Pastrnak has scored in two of his three games against Buffalo this season, a trend I expect to continue. This season, Buffalo ranks just 19th in the league in five-on-five expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA).
Over their past 10 contests, the Sabres have surrendered an average of 3.5 goals per game.
I would not play this total if It jumps from 0.5 to 1.
Dustin Tokarski — Over 3.5 Goals Allowed
Dustin Tokarski is the confirmed starting goaltender for Buffalo and has struggled this season as he possesses a 0.901 save percentage and 3.25 goals allowed average. Tokarski enters this game in a slump as he has allowed three or more goals in six straight appearances between the pipes, posting a mere 0.886 save percentage over that span.
He certainly will have his hands full with a dangerous and motivated Boston offense. In their three games against Buffalo this season, Boston is averaging 4.33 goals scored per contest.
I would not play this total if It jumps from 3.5 to 4.
Linus Ullmark — Over 2 Goals Allowed
I am fading the other goaltender in this matchup as well. Linus Ullmark is the confirmed starting goaltender for Boston, and while he has been good, this number is just too low as he goes against one of the hottest offenses in the month of April.
Over their last 17 contests, the Sabres are averaging an excellent 3.65 goals scored per game. Ullmark has now allowed at least two goals in 12 of his last 16 games.
I would not play this total if It jumps from 2 to 2.5.
Alex Tuch — Over 0.5 Points
The last play I am making in this game is for Buffalo forward Alex Tuch to record at least one point. This play has a strong correlation with the Ullmark prop because if Tuch can just get one point, then Ullmark would only have to allow one more goal to reach at least a push.
Likely to be Buffalo's next captain, Tuch enters this matchup in good form as he has registered 12 points over his last 14 games. Tuch has been a crucial piece in the top-six of Buffalo's forward grouping, a grouping that has been on fire since the Eichel trade.
In his lone game against Boston this season, Tuch racked up two points and should be able to find the scoresheet once again.
I would not play this total if It jumps from 0.5 to 1.
