It’s a star-studded slate in the NHL tonight with plenty of opportunity to cash in on some player props as the Tampa Bay Lightning, Edmonton Oilers and Colorado Avalanche all hit the ice in some favorable matchups on the NHL odds board.
Nikita Kucherov, Leon Draisaitl and Mikko Rantanen will highlight tonight’s NHL picks as I look for them to light up the score sheet.
Keep reading to find out the best NHL player props for Tuesday, October 17.
NHL prop picks and best bets for October 17
- Kucherov Over 1.5 pts
- Draisaitl to score
- Rantanen to score
Picks made on October 17 at 12:15 p.m. ET.
Read full analysis of each pick.
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Today’s NHL prop picks and best bets
Prop bet #1: Nasty Nikita
The Tampa Bay Lightning have not gotten off to the best start this season, going 1-2-0 through their first three games while losing to the Red Wings and Senators — a couple of non-playoff teams last year. However, Nikita Kucherov has done his job so far with a team-leading four points in those contests.
The star winger opened the season with back-to-back multi-point outings after putting up two assists vs. Detroit and two goals against Nashville. He’ll have another good chance to put up at least two points tonight as the Lightning take on the Buffalo Sabres, who have yet to earn a win this season.
Kucherov terrorized Buffalo in 2022-23 with nine points in four meetings, putting up at least three points in two of those contests. It’s still early but the Sabres have looked awful defensively through two contests, allowing eight goals.
If Kucherov is on — and he usually is — he should have a productive night in Buffalo.
Nikita Kucherov prop: Over 1.5 points (+100 at SIA)
Prop bet #2: Draisaitl's favorite target
The Edmonton Oilers are one of just five teams still in search of their first win of the season after dropping consecutive games to the Canucks to start the campaign. It hasn’t been due to a lack of effort from their stars, though, as Leon Draisaitl has found the back of the net in both contests while averaging 4.5 shots on net.
Draisaitl will certainly need to keep scoring if his club is going to have a chance at the win given that Edmonton ranks dead last in team defense so far.
The Oilers star has historically feasted on the Nashville Predators, registering three goals and 10 points across three meetings in 2022-23 and five goals over three meetings in 2021-22. In fact, Draisaitl has scored in nine of his last 11 games vs. Nashville, recording 20 goals in those contests thanks to eight multi-goal contests, including a hat trick and a four-goal performance over that span.
With Edmonton looking to break through in the win column, Draisaitl could very well lead the team to two points tonight against one of his favorite opponents.
Leon Draisaitl prop: Anytime goal (+105 at SIA)
Prop bet #3: Going off on a Rantanen
Last but not least, we’ll look for Mikko Rantanen to pot a goal as the Colorado Avalanche visit the Seattle Kraken for their home opener.
Rantanen was held pointless last season against Seattle over three meetings and has amassed just one assist through five regular-season meetings in his career, but the Avs star did find a chink in the Kraken’s armor during the first round of the 2023 playoffs.
Rantanen tallied an eye-popping seven goals and 10 points in their seven-game series, finding the back of the net in five of those contests to tie Leon Draisaitl for the most goals during the opening round of the 2023 postseason.
The winger had a hot start to this year as well, notching two goals and four points against the Kings in the season opener. He was held off the score sheet in the Avs’ second game against San Jose thanks to a 51-save performance from Sharks goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood, but I suspect Rantanen will get back on track with a goal vs. a club he’s found success against in the recent past.
Mikko Rantanen prop: Anytime goal (-110 at SIA)
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