There are three games on the ice tonight, and the status of Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid looms over the slate.
McDavid is a game-time decision with a lower-body injury against the visiting Vegas Golden Knights, and because McDavid is one of the few players capable of having a major impact on the NHL odds, I’m focusing on the two other contests this evening.
The St. Louis Blues and Vancouver Canucks are both respective home favorites over the Chicago Blackhawks and Arizona Coyotes, and I’m expecting the visiting offenses to have trouble finding the back of the net.
Here are our free NHL picks and NHL player props for Wednesday, April 10.
NHL prop picks and best bets for April 10
- Blackhawks Under 2.5 goals (-135 at Bet99)
- Schmaltz Under 0.5 points (+100 at Bet99)
- Coyotes Under 2.5 goals (-125 at Bet99)
Picks made on April 10 at 10:00 a.m. ET.
Read full analysis of each pick.
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Today’s NHL prop picks and best bets
Prop bet #1: Blues tidy up at Enterprise
The Chicago Blackhawks are much weaker offensively on the road, with just 1.89 goals per game compared to 2.46 on home ice. Chicago has also generated the fewest expected goals per 60 minutes (2.09) and ranks last in Corsi For percentage (44.2%) at five-on-five away from the United Center.
So, even with backup Joel Hofer in goal for the St. Louis Blues, I expect goals to be difficult to come by for Chicago. St. Louis also allows 2.87 goals per game at the Enterprise Center compared to 3.25 on the highway, and Hofer is turning in a respectable first-full season with a .918 SV% and 2.64 GAA through 16 appearances out of the holiday break.
The final piece of the puzzle is St. Louis hasn’t been mathematically eliminated from the postseason, so I’m expecting the Blues to show up on Wednesday. Having the last-change advantage should also ensure they have the proper matchups set against Blackhawks star Connor Bedard.
Blackhawks prop: Team total Under 2.5 goals (-135 at Bet99)
Prop bet #2: Canucks shut down Schmaltz
The Arizona Coyotes will be without center Nick Bjugstad (undisclosed) again Wednesday, and their already thin center corps will again be even weaker for this back-to-back road game against the first-place Vancouver Canucks.
Bjugstad’s absence was filled by Alex Kerfoot on the No. 1 line during Tuesday’s 5-0 loss to the Seattle Kraken, and while Kerfoot, Nick Schmaltz, and Clayton Keller have had five-on-five success with a flat-out dominant 60.8 CF%, they’ve only turned the sterling possession numbers into 1.96 goals per 60 minutes across 152:49 of ice time.
Still, it’s more the tough matchup against Vancouver that I value in these Nick Schmaltz odds. The Canucks have surrendered the second-fewest goals per game (2.41) on home ice this season, and they’re still playing for something with home-ice advantage up for grabs throughout the postseason, and the President’s Trophy within reach.
Nick Schmaltz prop: Under 0.5 points (+100 at Bet99)
Prop bet #3: Vancouver quotes Coyotes
This is a tough schedule spot for the Coyotes, and as discussed, the Canucks have been a defensive juggernaut on home ice all season. The Canucks also held the Coyotes to just a single goal at Mullett Arena last Wednesday, and Vancouver dominated play with a 58.0 CF% and 56.3 expected goals percentage at five-on-five.
Again, the Coyotes missing Bjugstad is a massive blow. His 57.8 goals-for percentage at 5-on-5 paces Arizona forwards, and he’s also been on the ice for the most defensive-zone faceoffs. With Vancouver allowing the second-fewest goals per 60 at 5-on-5 at home, the matchup becomes all the more difficult for Arizona without Bjugstad.
Finally, I’m also anticipating Vancouver tidying up defensively after allowing nine goals over the past two games to the playoff-bound Los Angeles Kings and Vegas Golden Knights. The Coyotes are a huge downtick in class, and the Canucks battening down the hatches defensively will be a priority Wednesday.
Coyotes prop: Team total Under 2.5 goals (-125 at Bet99)
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