Today’s NHL Prop Picks and Best Bets: Maccelli Leaps to Coyotes' Top Line

Prop bet #1: No succor for Senators

My favorite auto bet gets another go today as the Winnipeg Jets are facing the Ottawa Senators, and that’s bad news for the Ottawa offense but good news for our wallets.

The Jets have been on a wild defensive run. The last time they allowed four or more goals was on November 4 — a stretch of 33 games or 77% of the season to date. Their 1.91 GAA is the best in hockey over that stretch, as is their 25-8 SU record.

The real actionable information is on their opponents’ team total Under 2.5, which is being priced at +120 today.

The Jets have held their opponent to two or fewer goals in 13 straight games, in 21 straight games in regulation, and in 25 of their last 28 overall. They have the Vezina Trophy odds betting favorite in Connor Hellebuyck and despite the Sens putting up five goals in their last game, this is an Ottawa team that ranks 31st in goals per game since November. The Sens will struggle to score when chasing a deficit vs. one of the best defensive teams in hockey.

It has been a gift of late and there is no need to get off it today, especially at plus money.

Senators prop: Team total Under 2.5 (+120 at Bet99)

Prop bet #2: Big Pappi

It’s always important in betting to have buy-points for certain bets and at -105 or better, that’s when I’m on board for an anytime Auston Matthews goal.

With the way he is playing right now, there is always a better than 50% chance that he scores. No. 34 has an incredible 23 goals over his last 21 games, including a goal in 14 of those 21 contests. He has also put together multiple-goal efforts eight times for the Toronto Maple Leafs over that stretch.

Vancouver has loaded up their top line, has been scoring in bunches, and a trailing game script would work great here for Matthews as he sees more ice time when playing from behind.

Vancouver Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko has allowed just one goal over his last two starts but he has played Arizona and Buffalo over those two starts. In his eight games before that, he posted a 3.22 GAA and a .900 SV%, which is well below the league average.

These Auston Matthews odds have been as short as -140 at times this year, and getting it at +100 is an easy decision.

Auston Matthews prop: Anytime goal (+100 at Bet99)

Prop bet #3: Moving on up

Hockey is a game of fluidity as players are constantly moving up and down into different offensive opportunities. With the Arizona Coyotes' Matias Maccelli getting the bump to the top line with Clayton Keller (-200 for a point) as well as the top power-play unit, getting the young winger to record a point at +100 in the Matias Maccelli odds is a no-brainer to add to the card.

Arizona is not the highest-scoring team in the league at 2.6 goals per game since the break, but the top line gets big minutes and the majority of the best scoring opportunities. Keller has eight points over his last six games and hitching the betting wagon to him at even money is a good deal. 

Injuries are creating more minutes for the top line, and the Nashville Predators are sitting in the bottom half of the league in goals allowed per game at 3.20 since the break. Additionally, with the afternoon start and having to face a Yotes that's struggled since December, Maccelli and the offense might see backup Kevin Lankinen, who has a GAA north of 3.00 and a sub-.900 SV%. 

Finding guys who move up to top lines and PP1 are some of my favorite ways to bet NHL player props.

Matias Maccelli prop: Over 0.5 points (+100 at Bet99)