With a solid four-game slate of playoff hockey throughout Sunday, there is an abundance of NHL odds to choose from.
I’ve compiled my three best NHL player props for today’s action. As always, make sure you shop around and look for the best prices.
Here are my free NHL picks in the player prop market for Sunday, April 21.
NHL prop picks and best bets for April 21
- MacKinnon Under 1.5 Points (+100 at Bet99 — 0.5 units)
- Nichushkin Under 0.5 points (+125 at Bet99 — 0.5 units)
- Ovechkin Under 0.5 points (+125 at Bet99)
Picks made on April 21 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: Big MacKinnon letdown
The first game of the late window features Game 1 between the Winnipeg Jets and Colorado Avalanche. Oddsmakers are expecting a low-scoring affair with the total set at 5.5, mainly because goaltender Connor Hellebuyck is slated to guard the cage for Winnipeg.
The Vezina Trophy frontrunner, Hellebuyck is 37-19-4 with a commanding .921 SV% and 2.39 GAA. He has also dominated Colorado, posting a 6-1 record with a remarkable .942 SV% and 1.95 GAA over the past seven meetings.
That brings us to Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon, who recorded one or fewer points in four of those seven outings. MacKinnon is extremely likely to lift the Hart Trophy on the same night as Hellebuyck takes the Vezina, but two points from a player of any caliber is a lot to ask for against this netminder.
Additionally, nearly 35% of MacKinnon’s point production this season has come on the power play. This is worth noting because the Jets rank eighth in the league in penalty minutes taken per game.
Nathan MacKinnon prop: Under 1.5 points (+100 at Bet99 — 0.5 units)
Prop bet #2: Nada for Nichushkin
Not only is Hellebuyck extremely difficult to beat, but he plays behind a defensively talented group. Suppressing high danger scoring chances at a high rate, Winnipeg ranks 10th in expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60).
As mentioned above, the Jets also do a great job at staying out of the box. That is bad news for Valeri Nichushkin, who has been a power play specialist when healthy this year with 16 of his 28 goals and 21 of his 53 points coming on the man-advantage. Therefore, it is not surprising that he has generally struggled against the Jets, failing to record a point in 11 of his 21 career games against them.
Lastly, he enters this series in poor form and has failed to record a point in six of his past eight games.
Valeri Nichushkin prop: Under 0.5 points (+125 at Bet99 — 0.5 units)
Prop bet #3: Putting the "O" in Ovechkin
Another game with the total set at 5.5, it’s the New York Rangers hosting the Washington Capitals this afternoon. Goaltender Igor Shesterkin will take the crease for New York, and he will be a tough guy to beat.
Through 55 starts, Shesterkin is 36-17-2 with a .912 SV% and 2.58 GAA. This success is likely to continue against Washington, a team he is 8-4 against in his career with a .916 SV% and 2.59 GAA.
Alex Ovechkin has failed to record a point in five of the past nine meetings between these two teams. He also slowed down toward the end of the regular season, getting blanked in two of his final three games.
At this age, Ovi pretty much just sits at the circle and waits for one-timers on the power play. While that shot remains lethal, it may not get much of an opportunity against a New York team that ranks third in penalty-kill percentage.
Alex Ovechkin prop: Under 0.5 points (+125 at Bet99)
Not intended for use in MA.
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