Today’s NHL Prop Picks and Best Bets: Niederreiter Capitalizes Against Depleted Sharks

Prop bet #1: Chilly return for Granlund

The injury-depleted San Jose Sharks are expecting to receive a slight boost on Wednesday when Mikael Granlund returns from an upper-body injury. 

However, I’m not expecting the center's return to action to go too smoothly at Canada Life Centre against the hometown Winnipeg Jets. Not only are the Jets allowing the fewest goals per game (2.5), but they drop to just 2.35 per on home ice, and Winnipeg has a little extra motivation to play a tidy game on Wednesday. Topping the Pittsburgh Penguins 2-1 on Saturday snapped a five-game losing streak, and Winnipeg is also down to third place in the Central Division.

Connor Hellebuyck is expected to start for Winnipeg, the netminder boasts a .925 SV% on home ice. Meanwhile, the Sharks have scored the second-fewest goals per game on the highway (2.0).

Granlund projects to center Anthony Duclair and Fabian Zetterlund, and the trio have connected for a run-of-the-mill 2.77 goals per 60 minutes and an underwhelming 45.7 Corsi For percentage at five-on-five.

Mikael Granlund prop: Under 0.5 points (-120 at Bet99)

Prop bet #2: Shot trio for Nino

The Sharks allow the most shots (35.04) and attempts (71.02) per 60 minutes, and Jets winger Nino Niederreiter ranks second in shots (14) and third in attempts (25) on the club through the past five games.

Niederreiter sits fourth in both statistics per 60 minutes for the campaign, and his recent uptick in shot volume aligns with returning to a line with Adam Lowry and Mason Appleton. The trio has dominated possession during the highlighted five-game stretch with a 59.4 CF% at five-on-five, and they should see favorable matchups most of the night against San Jose. The Sharks sport a league-low 42.2 CF% at 5-on-5, after all.

There is also value in Niederreiter's odds because he’s the go-to shooter on his line, and San Jose is down top centers Tomas Hertl (knee) and Logan Couture (groin). 

Nino Niederreiter prop: Over 2.5 shots (+145 at Bet99)

Prop bet #3: Zuc zeroed in desert

The Minnesota Wild have loaded up their No. 1 line with their top-three players, and winger Mats Zuccarello is the odd man out. With Joel Eriksson Ek centering Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy at five-on-five, Zuccarello projects to skate with Marco Rossi and Marcus Johansson on Wednesday.

This is rare territory for Zuccarello because he’s skated with at least one of those big three for all but 30:10 of his ice time this season, and while the sample is small, he hasn’t been on the ice for a single goal. Additionally, the Arizona Coyotes have been sneaky at Mullett Arena this season with a 15-10 record and they drop from 3.31 goals against per game on the highway to 2.96 per on home ice.

Add the Desert Dogs looking to snap a six-game losing streak, and these long Zuccarello odds are inviting given the line swaps in Minny. The veteran winger has also missed the scoresheet in two of the past three contests and six of 15 since returning from an upper-body injury in early January. 

Mats Zuccarello prop: Under 0.5 points (+160 at Bet99)