There are two games in tonight's NHL playoff state, and the theme is staying alive for the Colorado Avalanche and Carolina Hurricanes.
Colorado is in danger of falling behind 3-1 in its series with the Dallas Stars if it can’t pick up a win at home, while Carolina, who just fought off a sweep with a win over the Rangers in Game 4, will have to escape MSG with a victory to push things to a Game 6.
That playoff pressure has created plenty of intriguing NHL player props worth considering, and we’ve whittled them down to our three favorites.
Read on for my free NHL picks for Monday, May 13.
NHL prop picks and best bets for May 13
- Nathan MacKinnon anytime goal (-110 at BET99)
- Artemi Panarin Over 1.5 pts (+155 at BET99)
- Sebastian Aho Over 0.5 assists (+110 at BET99)
Picks made on 5-13 at 2:30 a.m. ET.
Read full analysis of each pick.
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Today’s NHL prop picks and best bets
Prop bet #1: Return of the MacK
It’s been a quiet series for Nathan MacKinnon, who picked up an assist in the Colorado Avalanche’s 4-1 loss to the Dallas Stars at home in Game 3.
After opening with a goal and an assist against the Stars in a 4-3 OT win in Game 1, the second-leading scorer in the NHL this season has just a single point to show over the last two games. He’s been a minus player in both contests; not surprisingly, Colorado was on the losing end in both.
MacKinnon has yet to go without a goal in three straight games in these playoffs.
In fact, he’s been consistently lighting the lamp against Dallas. Including the playoffs, MacKinnon has had eight goals in his last 12 games against the Stars.
His shot production hasn’t wavered, as he’s registered at least three shots on goal in every game of this series, so as long as MacKinnon continues to generate chances, he’s too talented not to break through. With their backs against the wall, it's time for him to solve Dallas goalie Jake Oettinger.
Nathan MacKinnon prop: Anytime goal (-110 at BET99)
Prop bet #2: Get that bread, man
After piling up multi-point scoring efforts in three of his previous four playoff games, Artemi Panarin was held off the scoresheet for the first time in Round 2 against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Carolina won 4-3 in OT, and Panarin was on the ice for three of those goals against, just the second time he’s been a minus player in the playoffs. He only registered one shot on net after putting at least four on goal in three of his previous four games.
The Madison Square Garden crowd should give him some extra juice, as the New York Rangers look to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second time in three seasons.
Panarin — the fourth leading scorer in the NHL’s regular season with 120 points — has been a standout on home ice in this series.
He scored a goal in the 4-3 Rangers’ win in Game 1 and then picked up assists on three New York goals in Game 2.
Artemi Panarin prop: Over 1.5 points (+155 at BET99)
Prop bet #3: TEASER
Despite trailing their series 3-1, Sebastian Aho has had himself a series against the Rangers.
He picked up a goal in Carolina’s Game 4 win to help avoid elimination, giving him points in all four games. Aho leads the Canes in scoring, doing much of his damage as a playmaker, with seven of his 10 playoff points being assists.
He did plenty of setup work in Carolina’s last visit to MSG, logging a pair of assists in Game 1’s 4-3 loss before upping that with three helpers in Game 2.
And in the Hurricanes’ two trips to New York in the regular season, Aho had an assist in each of those games.
I like his chances of finding the scoresheet with an assist again in Game 5.
Sebastian Aho prop: Over 0.5 assists (+110 at BET99)
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