Despite just four games on this Wednesday NHL schedule, there is plenty of value on the board worth targeting. Let’s dive in and find the most valuable NHL player props with the help of OddsShopper.
NHL Player Props | Nov. 30
*Odds for NHL player props come from FanDuel
Dylan Larkin Anytime Goal Scorer (+154)
Dylan Larkin and the Detroit Red Wings take on the visiting Buffalo Sabres tonight, and while this one to be a high-scoring affair, there is some serious value here with Larkin to find the back of the net.
The Sabres have dropped 10 of their last 12 games and have surrendered an average of 4.25 goals per game during that time. They’ve allowed at least five goals in six of those 12 games and now find themselves sitting 27th in overall defense and 28th on the penalty kill. For good measure, they also are 21st in expected goals against per 60 minutes at five-on-five.
Additionally, with Eric Comrie sidelined, it could be Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen getting tonight’s start for the Sabres, and he’s been torched to the tune of 4.28 goals against average and .845 save percentage on the season. He just surrendered six goals on just 25 shots (.760 save percentage) in an overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday.
Regardless of goaltending, this Sabres team has just been unable to keep the puck out of its net, and Larkin should be able to capitalize. He has nine goals on the season across 21 games, a healthy 35-goal pace across a full 82-game season. He shoots the puck plenty, with 3.57 shots per game on the season, so he should have a good shot at scoring against Luukkonen if he can continue to get pucks on goal.
Michael Bunting Over 0.5 Assists (+174)
The Maple Leafs are 11-1-4 over their last 15 games and have won four straight games in regulation entering this one tonight. At the same time, despite the Sharks handing the Montreal Canadiens a 4-0 shutout loss last night in Montreal, this is clearly an extremely tough back-to-back for them.
With two goals and 5 points over his last two games, Auston Matthews is heating up. His positive regression on his shooting rate appears to be kicking in as his 10.7% mark for the season remains well below his 16.1% career mark and will undoubtedly continue to rise as the season moves along. At the same time, William Nylander has a goal in each of his last three games.
Michael Bunting skates with this duo on the Leafs top line, and he also gets some second-unit power play reps. Bunting has been a key cog in his linemates scoring goals of late, recording four assists over his last three games. Remember, this is a guy who recorded 40 assists in 79 games alongside Matthews for much of last season.
The Sharks actually haven’t been too bad on the back end this season, a change from the previous handful of campaigns. That said, this has more to do with the back-to-back situation against a Maple Leafs team that’s found its groove offensively, scoring four times in each of its last four games.
Jesse Puljujarvi Anytime Goal Scorer (+310)
Jesse Puljujarvi has an excellent shot to get on the board tonight against the host Chicago Blackhawks.
The Oilers are known to mix their top six up quite a bit, but it appears Puljujarvi is going to at least start alongside Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid on the Oilers top line, in addition to some time on the second power play. Nevermind the power play; the even-strength opportunity at hand is fantastic.
Sure, Puljujarvi has just one goal and 5 points in 22 games on the season with just 32 shots on goal. However, that still equates to a minuscule 3.1% shooting rate, a tiny number for any forward, struggling or not. Of course, the opportunity against this Blackhawks back end is elite.
The Blackhawks are 29th in overall defense but also 31st in both shot attempts against per game and expected goals against per 60 minutes at five-on-five. Additionally, their penalty kill checks in at 26th, in case Puljujarvi gets some minutes on that second unit.
There are some other Oilers props to target, such as Draisaitl over 3.5 shots on goal (+110), but there is substantial value here for a player skating alongside perhaps the two best players in the world. After all, Puljujarvi has skated at least 16:42 in three of his last four games, a notable increase from his 13:38 average for the season.
Head coach Jay Woodcroft is clearly looking to get Puljujarvi going, and what better opportunity to pot his second goal of the season given his linemates and opposition tonight in Chicago?
