NHL Player Props & Best Bets for Today, October 8: Slick Oil

Leon Draisaitl will continue to make the most of skating alongside Connor McDavid, as we like the Oilers star forward to pot a goal as part of our NHL player props.

Neil Parker - Analyst at Covers.com
Neil Parker • Betting Analyst
Oct 8, 2025 • 09:59 ET • 4 min read
Leon Draisaitl Edmonton Oilers NHL
Photo By - Imagn Images. Oilers F Leon Draisaitl (29) skates during 2025 preseason action.

The action continues on the ice with four more games on the docket on Wednesday, October 8, including an Original Six showdown between the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs, and a pair of tape-measuring matchups in the Pacific Division.

Here are my top NHL player props for tonight.

Best NHL player prop bets today

Player Bet99
Maple Leafs Matias Maccelli Over 0.5 points +125
Capitals Aliaksei Protas Over 0.5 points +100
Oilers Leon Draisaitl anytime goalscorer -105

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Our best NHL player props for Wednesday, October 8

Take a look at our best bets and expert analysis below.

Prop #1: Matias Maccelli Over 0.5 points

+125 at BET99

All eyes will be on Toronto Maple Leafs winger Matias Maccelli, with him receiving a top-line nod alongside Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies. Maccelli picked up four assists across four training-camp games, and he’s a year removed from pacing the Arizona Coyotes in points per 60 at 5-on-5. 

The Montreal Canadiens allowed the 10th-most goals per game and ninth-most expected goals per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 on the road in 2024-25, too.

  • Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: Sportsnet ONE

Prop #2: Aliaksei Protas Over 0.5 points

+105 at BET99

Washington Capitals winger Aliaksei Protas finished third in the NHL in points per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 last season, and he’s pencilled in to open the year on the No. 1 line with Dylan Strome and Alex Ovechkin

The Boston Bruins also allowed the seventh-most goals per game (3.3) last season, including the second-most on the highway (3.76), so the matchup checks out.

  • Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: TNT

Prop #3: Leon Draisaitl anytime goalscorer

-105 at BET99

The Edmonton Oilers are loading up their No. 1 line with Leon Draisaitl set to skate with Connor McDavid in all situations in the season opener.

The duo has clicked for an otherworldly 8.2 goals and 6.76 expected goals per 60 minutes while driving 5-on-5 possession with a 60.0 Corsi For percentage the past three seasons, and Draistail has scored the second-most goals in the league during the span, too.

  • Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: Sportsnet ONE

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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Neil Parker - Covers
Betting Analyst

Neil Parker is, first and foremost, a sports fan. A huge supporter of the Cowboys, Cubs, and Maple Leafs, he has managed to parlay his passion into writing gigs at some of the top websites in the industry.

Neil takes a numbers-based approach to his handicapping and complements his in-depth statistical analysis with a keen eye on the markets to provide the best available odds. He loves to lean on his rolodex of idioms to offset his inner nerd. When it comes to wagering, he throws down on anything that catches his eye at bet365, Betway and BetVictor. He also keeps a close eye on CoolBet because the polar bear brand often has outlier NHL and NFL moneyline prices.

Neil graduated with honors from St. Thomas University in 2007 before completing his BEd at Acadia University in 2010. After teaching a myriad of courses and subjects, he found a groove delivering fun lessons to exceptional learners in non-traditional classroom environments. If his decade-plus teaching run taught him anything about sports betting, it’s to stay the course and use the summer – or offseason – to refresh and prepare to be better in the year to come.

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