One play from each contest in Friday’s three-game NHL slate gives us a nice three-leg parlay which prices out at +520 on FanDuel. Let’s dive into the logic behind each selection.
Be sure to visit the OddsShopper tool for more NHL best bets.
Best NHL Parlay Bet | Dec. 2
Columbus Blue Jackets versus Winnipeg Jets Over 6.5 -112:
This has been the highest scoring season in recent history in the NHL as games are averaging a combined total of 6.4 goals per game thus far, and this matchup projects to be closer to seven.
Columbus has continued to play some of the highest scoring hockey in the entire league, and throughout a sample dating back to the beginning of last season has been absolute money to the over. The Blue Jackets have averaged seven goals per game this season and gone 14-6-1 to the over.
Over the last three contests we have somewhat randomly seen a dip in Columbus game totals but getting close to plus money to back a Blue Jackets game to get over 6.5 projects to continue to be a winning proposition moving forward, especially in what is a steady matchup for a higher scoring game.
Patrik Laine making his return is wonderful for the over, as Laine is treacherous defensively but is very capable of helping his side generate offence. The Blue Jackets still hold some very capable scorers and a number of young talents who should trend upwards offensively moving forward this season.
David Rittich starting versus Joonas Korpisalo is a quality goaltending matchup for the over as well, and this is not a spot to look away from the trend of Blue Jackets games averaging well past 6.5 goals.
Roman Josi Over 3.5 Shots on Goal -135 (Predators vs Islanders):
Josi continues to be a shot generating machine for Nashville, and tonight’s matchup with the Islanders presents as a great spot for the Predators captain to skate big minutes yet again as it projects to be a spot where Nashville will be trailing a close game much of the time.
Under new head coach Lane Lambert, New York is playing a considerably more up-tempo style, and while the results have been excellent overall, it has led to the once painfully low event Isles actually becoming a plus shot target for shot on goal props.
The Islanders have allowed 32.89 shots against per 60 this season, which is the 9th highest mark league wide.
Josi has averaged 5.5 shots on goal per game over the last six outings and has cashed this number in five of those six. His play has gone to another level in an attempt to get his Predators side moving in the right direction this season and counting on another 24+ minutes of heavily involved play from Josi tonight makes sense.
A price of -135 suggests this proposition has a 57.4% chance of hitting the over. In 20 contests this season Josi has cashed the over 13 times, good for a 65% clip. That mark by all indications should be sustainable moving forward, and in a livable matchup versus the Isles this is a good price to go back to the well with this chalky prop.
Drake Batherson Over 0.5 Points -112:
Ottawa has a treacherous start to the season and is 8-13-1 due in part to what has been a surprisingly poor start offensively with just a 17th best goals for per game rating of 3.05.
Defensively the Senators project to struggle all season long, but offensively the group is far more talented than that number suggests, and the underlying analytics suggest as much.
In the month of November Ottawa’s xGF/60 of 3.71 was the fourth best mark in the entire league, and a fifth lowest shooting percentage has kept the Senators quietly solid offensive play under wraps.
Batherson and Alex Debrincat in particular have underachieved but are due for better results moving forward if they stick with the process and now is a good buy-low time with Batherson at nearly 2/1 to record a single point.
The Senators powerplay has looked considerably better over the last four outings, and Batherson plays a key role on that unit as well.
Moving forward this season it is still quite realistic to project Batherson recording a single point in closer to 60% of games, and this is a good price to get involved now.
