The NHL's three-game Wednesday slate is offering some solid prop betting options, with two star players from sides in key showdowns and a top prospect making his debut for the Calgary Flames.
NHL Player Props For Wednesday, April 12
Bo Horvat Over 2.5 Shots on Goal (-130)
| Canadiens vs. Islanders | Islanders -355 |
| Puck Drop | 7 p.m. ET |
| Best Line | DraftKings |
The Islanders will skate with a playoff berth on the line Wednesday at home versus the Canadiens and should likely carry much of the play while skating all of their star players big minutes. Similar to the Penguins vs. Blackhawks matchup yesterday, I believe this is a pretty ideal spot to target Isles' stars in this market.
Bo Horvat is beginning to take a lot of heat for his 19-goal pace since arriving in Long Island, and if the Islanders were to blow this contest, he would be wearing much of the blame. He pushed hard for offense Monday in Washington, generating five Shots on Goal on eight attempts.
The Canadiens will likely find a way to hang around and make this game competitive, but the Isles will hold more of the play. That's the exact game script we want here, and Horvat is my favorite target with his ability to generate shots on the top unit and top powerplay.
Brock Nelson would be my favorite pivot if you are unable to get a price near -130 on Horvat as he is another strong option.
Pick: Bo Horvat Over 2.5 Shots on Goal |
Roope Hintz Over 2.5 Shots On Goal (+118)
| Stars vs. Blues | Stars -165 |
| Puck Drop | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| Best Line | BetRivers |
80 games into the season, we have a good sample on Roope Hintz and know what to expect on average. Hintz continues to dominate on Dallas' incredible top line alongside Jason Robertson and Joe Pavelski, and he is capable of creating his own shot off the rush as well as off of the cycle in the offensive zone.
Hintz has cashed over 2.5 Shots on Goal in 10 of 20 matchups and generated an average of 2.75 Shots on Goal. Getting the extra 18 cents on the dollar past plus money means we just have to ride it out with Hintz here in a very favorable matchup.
The Stars are still competing for the division title, and this is an important game for them as a side. The Dallas top line will have a variety of favorable matchups against a relatively weak defensive team in St. Louis, and Dallas will likely carry much of the play.
Pick: Roope Hintz Over 2.5 Shots on Goal |
San Jose Sharks Team Total Under 2.5 (-115), Dustin Wolf Shutout +1000
| Sharks vs. Flames | Flames -250 |
| Puck Drop | 10 p.m. ET |
| Best Line | bet365 |
It arguably might be coming 40 games too late considering Calgary's goaltending struggles, but the Flames will turn to top prospect Dustin Wolf to see how he fares at the NHL level their final game of the season.
Wolf has played to a ridiculous .932 save % and 2.08 Goals Against Average in 53 appearances at the AHL level this season. He certainly has the potential to be a quality option in the NHL right now.
There is obviously a jump to the NHL level, but the Flames should be able to insulate him very effectively tonight against a Sharks side which has generated just 2.88 goals per game this season and gone under 2.5 goals in eight of its last 15.
Wolf making his first NHL start should give Calgary motivation to play game 82 with a high level of intensity, despite the team missing the playoffs in heartbreaking fashion with a season which has been quite unlucky.
When true to form, Calgary has continued to defend very well this season, and overall it holds the ninth-best Expected Goals Against per 60 in its 81 games — despite that strength not always shining through with its middling goaltending.
Calgary really has nothing to play for except to get its star netminder off on the right foot, and I think this is a great spot to target a weak Sharks offense to score fewer than 2.5 goals at -115. A sprinkle on a shutout at +1000 doesn't hurt either.
