Let’s dive into the top betting angles from the NHL’s eight-game Thursday slate, which offers several enticing plays on player prop markets, as well as a side. For more of the best NHL bets and NHL props, be sure to check out the OddsShopper tool.
NHL Bets for Tonight | Dec. 22
Matt Boldy Shots on Goal -110 (Minnesota Wild versus San Jose Sharks):
Minnesota enter this contest in the midst of a six game winning streak and 12-3-0 tear. There could be some merit to backing the Wild as a side at -165, but getting Matt Boldy at -110 to record over 2.5 shots in a middle of the pack matchup is a far better play.
Boldy has generated 2.93 shots on goal per game this season and has cashed the over 2.5 in 19 of 32 games played this season which is good for 59.37%. At -110 (52.4% implied probability) there is a ton of value if Boldy continues cashing this 59% of the time moving forward, and the logic dictates he should.
Boldy was spectacular in Minnesota’s win over the Ducks last night, generating a goal, two assists, and six shots on goal from 19:15 time on ice. Ryan Hartman’s return to the lineup has bolstered Minnesota’s second line, and Boldy, Hartman, and Frederick Gaudreau have controlled play to a 60% expected goals share throughout a small sample size of 12.9 minutes.
San Jose has taken a step back defensively in the month of December, and has allowed an 11th highest SA/60 average of 31.6.
All the numbers suggest this is an excellent play, and that is far from surprising considering Boldy’s form has looked wildly dominant to the eye over Minnesota’s recent heater as well.
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Andrew Mangiapane Anytime Goalscorer +270 (Calgary Flames versus Los Angeles Kings):
Much like the rest of Calgary’s lineup thus far, Mangiapane has taken a massive step back this season with just seven goals in 33 games after scoring 35 in 82 a year ago.
Bettors will be quick to flock to Dillon Dube props tonight, who has thrived on Calgary’s top unit alongside Elias Lindholm and Tyler Toffoli, and he certainly is another option in that increased role and would be my second target.
However, Mangiapane has skated nearly an identical amount to Dube over the last two contests, and his unit alongside Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman generated 18 attempts on goal at five on five last game and owned the play with a 94.6% shot share.
Flames coach Darryl Sutterloves to reward dominant play, and a similar performance that trio tonight in what will likely be somewhat of a close high scoring game should result in strong usage. The trio should also draw some more favorable matchups, and presents a quietly strong DFS option as well.
Mangiapane obviously proved to be a capable scorer last season, and is still generating 0.90 expected goals for per 60 minutes of play. That rate could realistically rise if he remains alongside Backlund and Coleman, and this could be a great time to buy low on a quality goal scoring threat.
Washington Capitals Versus Ottawa Senators (Capitals Moneyline -120):
Washington has completely turned it’s once shaky form from the start of the season, and has posted a 10-3-1 record over it’s last 14 games. During that span the Capitals has played to a 58.91% expected goals share, which is the second best mark in the entire league during that span.
Part of the causation has been obvious, as the Capitals have seen some important pieces return it’s lineup and are now skating at closer to full health, while its also clear that the urgency level has clicked up greatly as the Capitals look to avoid a rare playoff miss.
Ottawa is realistically still somewhat an underrated side themselves entering this contest sitting last in the Atlantic division themselves despite strong underlying numbers, but it’s recent form has still been a far cry from Washington’s level of dominance.
Particularly with Tim Stützle set to remain out of the lineup, and Derrick Brassard attempting to fill that void as top Center. Stützle’s strong play alongside Claude Giroux and Brady Tkachuk was a big part of one of the Senators greatest strengths being it’s elite top unit, and his absence from that unit and the top powerplay is meaningful.
That concludes our best NHL bets for Dec. 22, make sure to visit Stokastic’s NHL DFS projection tools and OddsShopper’s compare bets tools for the latest trends.
