Today’s NHL Prop Picks and Best Bets: These Sharks Lack Bite

Prop bet #1: Rittich rights royal ship

For all the struggles the Los Angeles Kings have had during their dark 2-8-6 stretch, goalie David Rittich’s play has been a bright spot. He’s only lost once in regulation and has posted a .919 save percentage while allowing two goals or fewer in five of his past seven starts.

Los Angeles remains an excellent defensive club, too. The Kings have surrendered just 2.43 goals and 2.33 expected goals per 60 minutes at 5-on-5, and they boast a top-ranked 87.0 penalty-kill percentage. Add a third-ranked 55.8 Corsi For percentage and a second-ranked 56.1 expected goals percentage at 5-on-5, and Los Angeles checks out in front of Rittich.

Additionally, the Nashville Predators have been held to two goals or fewer in five of their past seven games, and they lack true offensive firepower to go head-to-head with the Kings. I also value these David Rittich odds because this game total is carrying a higher vig on the Under 6.0 and even trading at 5.5 through some sportsbooks, so it projects to be a low-scoring contest.

David Rittich prop: Under 2.5 goals against (-105 at Bet99)

Prop bet #2: Sharks sink in back-to-back spot

The bottom-feeding San Jose Sharks are tied with the Chicago Blackhawks for the fewest goals per game (2.08) in the league and rank last in goals per 60 minutes (1.69) at 5-on-5. San Jose is also missing a handful of key contributors in center Mikael Granlund (upper body), No. 1 defenseman Mario Ferraro (lower body), and leading scorer Tomas Hertl is questionable with a lower-body injury.

This is also the second game in consecutive nights for the Sharks, while the Anaheim Ducks have been off since topping the Minnesota Wild 3-2 on the road Saturday.

By no means is Anaheim a defensive juggernaut, but the Ducks have been better on home ice with 3.24 goals against per game and a 47.5 Corsi For percentage at five-on-five compared to 3.63 and 45.7% marks on the highway. Additionally, this recommendation is more about the Sharks than the Ducks. I expect San Jose to sink after pulling off a 2-0 upset win over the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday.

San Jose Sharks prop: Team total Under 2.5 goals (-110 at Bet99)

Prop bet #3: Still counting out Couture

As discussed, I don't expect many offensive fireworks from the Sharks tonight, and captain Logan Couture has missed the scoresheet in four consecutive contests — and four of five — since returning from a lower-body injury that cost him the first 45 games of the season.

Couture has been caved in at 5-on-5 with a 40.9 Corsi For percentage, and his supporting cast lacks proven scorers. He skated on a new-look line with wingers Mike Hoffman and Fabian Zetterlund against the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday, and the trio generated a single high-danger scoring chance and just four shots on six attempts at 5-on-5.

The Ducks are susceptible while shorthanded, and they've taken the most minor penalties at 5-on-5 in the league, so special teams could be the deciding factor. Still, the cast of characters jumping the board with the man advantage for the Sharks is hardly a who’s who of go-to scorers.

Simply put, these Logan Couture odds are mispriced. He’s no longer a consistent scorer who is capable of carrying bottom-six wingers and generating consistent scoring chances while matching up against the opposition’s top players.

Logan Couture prop: Under 0.5 points (+110 at Bet99)