A pair of Western Conference clashes are on the Wednesday schedule, and the Edmonton Oilers can punch their ticket to Round 2 with a home win over the Los Angeles Kings.
In the other bout we're targeting for NHL player props, the Dallas Stars and Vegas Golden Knights are tied 2-2 in their opening-round series, and the road team has won each of the first four games. Dallas will look to snap the trend with a home win at American Airlines Center on Wednesday.
The two home teams are the favorites in the NHL odds, and our free NHL picks have you covered for both games on Wednesday, May 1.
NHL prop picks and best bets for May 1
- Karlsson Under 0.5 points (-154 at BET99)
- Fiala Over 2.5 shots (-120 at BET99)
- Skinner Over 26.5 saves (-110 at BET99)
Picks made on 5-1 at 9:45 a.m. ET.
Read full analysis of each pick.
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Today’s NHL prop picks and best bets
Prop bet #1: William Karlsson Under 0.5 points
Vegas Golden Knights center William Karlsson missed three consecutive practices ahead of Game 4, which suggests he’s nursing an undisclosed injury. The veteran center also hasn’t recorded a point during the series and is skating with the second power-play unit. He's averaged just 38 seconds per game with the man advantage during the series, as the return of Mark Stone and addition of Tomas Hertl have cut into Karlsson’s ice time.
Additionally, Karlsson has only been on the ice for a single goal at five-on-five during the series, and he’s spent over half his 5-on-5 ice time opposite Dallas Stars No. 1 defenseman Miro Heiskanen while sparingly playing against Dallas’ fourth line. Finally, these William Karlsson odds have my attention because of his undisclosed injury and decreased ice time. He logged 17:36 per game (2:34 with the man advantage) during the regular season compared to just 16:15 in Round 1.
William Karlsson prop: Under 0.5 points (-154 at BET99)
Prop bet #2: Kevin Fiala Over 2.5 shots
Los Angeles Kings winger Kevin Fiala is up to 14 shots and 34 attempts through four games against the Edmonton Oilers, and he respectively ranks second and first on the Kings in the two statistics during the series. Fiala also sports a rock-solid 56.9 Corsi For percentage at five-on-five and is third in ice time (18:43 per game) among Los Angeles forwards.
I’ll continue to target these Kevin Fiala odds as long as he’s trading at a 2.5-shot total without a high vig because he’s regularly traded at a 3.5 total over the past two seasons. Plus, he’s recorded three or more shots in seven of his past eight games dating back to the regular season.
Kevin Fiala prop: Over 2.5 shots (-120 at BET99)
Prop bet #3: Stuart Skinner Over 26.5 saves
The Kings have averaged 31 shots and 69 attempts through four Round 1 games, and I’m anticipating more of the same with them facing elimination on the road against the Edmonton Oilers. Pucks on net early and often has been the game plan for the Kings all series, and Oilers starter Stuart Skinner has averaged 28.5 saves per game with a .919 save percentage during the series.
Of course, Skinner has been even better across the past two, with just a single goal allowed on 61 shots. I’m also turning to these Stuart Skinner odds because Los Angeles has driven five-on-five possession with a 56.5 Corsi For percentage during the series, and he’s cleared this save total in three of the four games.
Stuart Skinner prop: Over 26.5 saves (-110 at BET99)
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