Thursday night hockey always brings several exciting matchups in the NHL. With teams like the Canucks, Panthers, Golden Knights, Lightning, and more hitting the ice, there’s no shortage of betting opportunities to take advantage of.
If you're looking to get in on the action, player prop bets are one of the most fun and strategic ways to add a bit more excitement to the night.
Here are five of the best prop picks based on who’s hot and who’s not. You’ll want to load up your bet slip with these gems before the puck drops.
Odds: +250
Evan Rodrigues has been on fire for the Florida Panthers! This is especially true when playing at home.
With a goal in four of the Panthers' last five home games, Rodrigues is becoming a consistent scoring threat.
The Vancouver Canucks' defense has been a bit shaky since the start of the season, giving up 4.0 goals per game. This ranks them near the bottom of the league (25th).
Rodrigues thrives in these situations, making the +250 odds for him to score at any time tonight a great value pick.
Florida will look to take advantage of Vancouver’s struggling defense, and Rodrigues is likely to benefit.
Odds: +255
On the other side of the ice, Conor Garland has quietly been a bright spot for the Canucks. He found the back of the net in three of their last four games.
His current form is pretty solid, and the Panthers' defense, while respectable, isn’t necessarily impenetrable.
With +255 odds, Garland is a sneaky pick for an anytime goal.
The Canucks will need Garland to step up if they want to keep pace with a high-scoring Panthers squad, and his recent performances make us believe that he’s up to the challenge.
Given his knack for timely goals, he’s worth considering for your bet slip.
Odds: -125
Jonathan Marchessault has been a shot machine for the Vegas Golden Knights. He’ll likely continue firing against a Tampa Bay Lightning team that leads the league in shots against, allowing 24 per game. That’s the sign of a poorly managed defense.
Marchessault’s aggressive playstyle has seen him take 4+ shots in several games this season, and the Lightning's struggles to limit shots on the net make the
Over 3.5 shots a smart bet at -125. Expect Marchessault to get plenty of chances, especially on the power play, where Tampa’s penalty kill ranks middle-of-the-pack at 81.8%. With these odds, you won’t make as much money but we think this is an easy win.
Odds: +1000
Sam Reinhart has yet to score the first goal this season, but the odds at +1000 make him a high-reward option to strike first in tonight's game. Of course, this is a long shot, but if it hits, the payout will be excellent!
Reinhart is averaging over 18 minutes of ice time per game and is heavily involved in Florida’s offense.
With the Canucks' defense ranking 25th in goals against, this could be the perfect opportunity for Reinhart to break his first-goal drought.
As we said, it's a longshot, but at these odds, it’s a risk that could pay off big. Florida will be pressing early to get ahead, and Reinhart could be the one to deliver. He’s due for a first goal.
Odds: -125
Sam Bennett is a gritty forward who contributes in various ways for the Panthers, but assisting on goals hasn’t been his strong suit lately.
He’s managed just one assist in five games this season, and with Vancouver's solid penalty kill (83.3%) and Bennett's recent struggles in making the plays, the Under 0.5 assists line at -125 feels like a strong bet.
The Canucks are likely to focus on containing Florida’s top lines, and Bennett may find it tough to rack up assists against a team that’s been able to limit opportunities on special teams.
These five prop picks highlight a mix of strong stat trends and good value based on matchups. We wanted to give you a mix of long shots and sure shots so you can mix up your bet slip heading into Thursday Night Hockey.
Whether you're looking for a consistent scorer like Rodrigues or an under-the-radar player like Garland, there's plenty of opportunity to find value in tonight's slate of NHL games.