Today’s NHL Prop Picks and Best Bets: Can Anderson Extend Mini Point-Streak?

Prop bet #1: Joel stays cold

Two teams who have been in good form recently square off as the Minnesota Wild host the Montreal Canadiens. Particularly carrying Montreal’s performance is goaltender Sam Montembeault, who's confirmed to get the nod between the pipes on Thursday evening.

Through 14 appearances in the crease this season, Montembeault is 7-4-2 with a .911 SV% and 2.80 GAA. He's saved .727 goals above expected per 60 minutes at 5-on-5, which is the third-highest mark in the league among goaltenders to have played in at least 14 games.

This success is likely to continue against Minnesota, or at least Joel Eriksson Ek. He's failed to score in four straight games and was held pointless in three of those outings.

The last time he scored a goal was an empty netter against the Kraken, otherwise, he'd have just one point over his past five games. He's also failed to record a point in six of his nine career games against the Habs. 

Joel Eriksson Ek prop: Under 0.5 points (+165 at Bet99)

Prop bet #2: Icy hot

Sticking with the same game, we are going to target a Montreal player who's been trending in the opposite direction. Josh Anderson had the worst start to a season of his career, but his 2-goal, 6-shot performance against the Islanders last week has seemingly gotten the monkey off his back.

He scored in the next game as well, now owning three goals and an assist over his past two games. What's even more impressive is that all three of those goals came at even strength.

Not only is Anderson producing at 5-on-5, but he's scored against some of the league’s better netminders in Connor Hellebuyck and Semyon Varlamov. This success could continue against Filip Gustavsson, who's slated to guard the crease on Thursday.

Gustavsson just allowed four goals on 30 shots for a .867 SV% against the Penguins and is now tasked with going against a team he's struggled against. Through three career starts against the Canadiens, he's 0-2-1 with a .885 SV% and 3.95 GAA.

Josh Anderson prop: Over 0.5 points (+155 at Bet99)

Prop bet #3: No dice

Our last player to target on Thursday is forward Robert Thomas, who'll attempt to help the St. Louis Blues pull off the upset against the Florida Panthers. However, that'll be a tall task considering that Florida is north of two dollars on the moneyline.

Oddsmakers have the Panthers as heavy favorites for a good reason — they're one of the best two-way teams in the league. Florida’s defense is often overshadowed, but this is one of the better blue lines in hockey.

At 5-on-5, it ranks sixth in expected goals against per 60 minutes. Backing up this blue line is goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, who's the confirmed starter on Thursday.

He's certainly held up his end of the bargain this season as well, posting a 14-8-1 record with a .911 SV% and 2.49 GAA through 23 starts. While Thomas is the Blues’ leader in points, anyone can struggle against this combination of defensive play and goaltending.

He's never scored against Florida and has been held off the point sheet altogether in three of his past five games against the Panthers. Additionally, Thomas has failed to record a point in three of his past five games overall.

Robert Thomas prop: Under 0.5 points (+110 at Bet99)