NHL Player Props Today: Best Bets & Anytime Goalscorer Picks (Oct. 17)
By Chris Amberley in NHL Hockey
Published:
- Saturday’s 14-game NHL slate offers prop value from Tampa Bay’s afternoon game through the late West Coast puck drops
- Lane Hutson boasts a six-game point streak against the Sabres
- Read below for my NHL player props today, best bets and anytime goalscorer picks
Saturday’s 14-game NHL schedule is loaded with player prop options. I’m targeting a mix of shots, assists and points markets, backed by recent production and head-to-head history.
I’ve also added an anytime goalscorer pick from Tampa Bay’s 4 p.m. ET home date with Vancouver. All four of my NHL player props and best bets are in the table below, followed by the case for each.
NHL Player Props Today
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Best NHL Player Prop Bets
Brandon Hagel Over 3.5 Shots on Goal
- Brandon Hagel Over 3.5 Shots (+120 at theScore Bet)
My first NHL player props target is Brandon Hagel’s shot volume against Vancouver. He’s cleared 3.5 shots on goal in three straight games against the Canucks, averaging 4.67 shots in that stretch.
He also feasts on weaker teams. Hagel has gone over 3.5 shots in four of his last five games against opponents with losing records, averaging 5.2 shots in those games. Vancouver comes in at 2-6-1.
Vancouver allows 32.44 shots and 4.56 goals per game, giving Hagel a favorable matchup. I’ll gladly take plus money at +120, about a 45.5% implied chance.
Jack Hughes Over 0.5 Assists
- Jack Hughes Over 0.5 Assists (-124 at Caesars Sportsbook)
My NHL assist prop targets Jack Hughes, who has been setting up teammates at a high clip lately. He has an assist in four straight games, averaging 1.5 assists per game during that run.
His overall production has been just as strong, with 1.75 points per game across a four-game point streak. At -124, or roughly a 55.4% implied probability, I like Hughes to set up at least one goal in Washington. Claim the Caesars Sportsbook promo code to tail this wager.
Lane Hutson Over 0.5 Points
- Lane Hutson Over 0.5 Points (-200 at Caesars Sportsbook)
I’m turning to the Montreal blueline to wrap up my best NHL prop bets. Lane Hutson is a Norris Trophy odds contender, and has a point in six straight games against Buffalo, averaging 1.5 points per game in those meetings.
He’s also been reliable after a loss, recording a point in 12 of his last 15 games following a defeat. That’s an 80% hit rate, well above the 66.7% implied by the -200 price.
Buffalo allows 3.5 goals per game with an .853 team save percentage. That’s a favorable opponent for this NHL points prop, and Hutson only needs a goal or an assist to cash. At this price, I’m leaning on that matchup alongside his sustained production against the Sabres.
NHL Anytime Goalscorer Picks
- Jake Guentzel Anytime Goal (+115 at theScore Bet)
My NHL anytime goalscorer pick stays in Tampa Bay. Hagel and Nikita Kucherov are both +110, but I already have Hagel’s shots.
Jake Guentzel is projected alongside Brayden Point on Tampa Bay’s second line. Scoring from close range is his calling card. Last season, Guentzel ranked tied-third in high-danger goals (26) and third in high-danger shots (116).
Vancouver has stumbled to a 2-6-1 start, and +115 gives Guentzel about a 46.5% implied chance to find the net. I’ll take that price on a proven finisher against a struggling defense.
If you’d rather trade on game outcomes than bet player props, our guide to prediction market apps covers that separate option.
Sports Writer
As SBD's resident Swiss Army Knife, Chris covers virtually every sport including NFL, PGA, NBA, MLB, NCAAB, NCAAF and the Olympics. A true grinder, he'd rather pick off small edges in the player props market than swing for the fences with a 5-leg parlay.
