It's Monday and I'm back with another run of NHL player props on today's three-game set where I like a lot of scoring across the trio of matchups.
I'm taking a D-first approach in all three games as there are some great power-play opportunities that these blueliners can all take advantage of for plus money.
Here are my three favorite NHL picks for Monday, December 9.
NHL prop picks and best bets for December 9
Power o0.5 assists (+140 at bet365)
Vlasic o0.5 points (+186 at FanDuel)
Hutson o0.5 assists (+125 at bet365)
Picks made on 12-9 at 1:10 pm ET
Today’s NHL prop picks and best bets
Prop bet #1: Owen Power Over 0.5 assists
Rasmus Dahlin has hit the sidelines and is looking to return to the lineup on Saturday meaning it will continue to be Owen Power taking on a bigger role tonight for the Buffalo Sabres.
The former first-overall pick has played over 52 minutes in the two games without Dahlin and has taken over the top power-play QB duties. He gets an elite matchup tonight vs. the Detroit Red Wings, who own one of the worst penalty kills in all of hockey.
The Wings are also stuck in a losing rut, having dropped five straight games and now No. 1 goalie Ville Husso is 0-6 SU on the season with a 3.39 GAA and a .889 SV%. The Sabres are mixing up their lines to generate some offense, but this game could see plenty of scoring due to the form of both teams and the lack of quality goaltending each club is getting.
Power is paying +140 for an assist and +400 for a power play point. Both are good looks tonight but I’ll always choose a plus-money assist prop over the PP point.
Prop bet #2: Alex Vlasic Over 0.5 points
The Chicago Blackhawks continue to juggle lines under new bench boss Anders Sorensen but I’m targeting a big-minute defenseman to get a point for the fifth time in six games.
Alex Vlasic is the power-play QB and is logging more minutes under his new coach — 24+ minutes compared to his season average of just over 23. He has three power-play points over his last eight games and should continue to get some solid PP minutes tonight vs. the New York Rangers, who are short-handed at the fourth-highest rate per game since November 1.
If the Chicago power play can’t get it done, Vlasic will still have an opportunity to record a point at even strength as the Rangers have the worst GAA in the league at 5-on-5 at 3.66.
Vlasic is +550 for a power play point, +230 for an assist, and +186 for a point. With goals in back-to-back games and a big point price, I’ll gladly take his Over 0.5 points as the best way to fade the Rangers tonight.
Prop bet #3: Lane Hutson Over 0.5 assists
Sticking with defensemen, there is no better matchup for blue-liners than the Anaheim Ducks, and Lane Hutson is getting action from my end. The rookie D-man is QB’ing the Montreal Canadiens power play and the Ducks rank dead last in expected goals/60 at all strengths.
Montreal can score goals but it also has the second-worst GAA in the league, so two-way scoring is very possible tonight.
Hutson has been on fire with assists in six straight games, two of which came on the power play. Unlike Vlassic, Hutson is not a skater I’m worried to bet his assist market vs. his point market as he has a 0:18 goal-to-assist ratio on the season over 27 games. His o0.5 assists can still be found as long as +125, which is still a good price and one I’d buy to +105/+110.
In this matchup, I might even go to even money as the Ducks are God’s gift to opposing defensemen and there aren’t many hotter than Hutson heading into the holidays.
NHL odds today
Here are the full NHL odds for all of today’s matchups.
Not intended for use in MA.
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