Understanding the Best NHL Prop Bets to Make

NHL prop betting offers specific wagering opportunities on individual player performances and game statistics. These bets focus on particular outcomes within a game rather than picking which team wins. Player props include goal scoring, assists, shots on goal, and point totals. Understanding how to evaluate these markets requires examining player form, matchup history, and statistical patterns.

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Reading Between the Numbers

Alex Ovechkin, Leon Draisaitl, and Sam Reinhart each have 15 goals through the early portion of the 2024–25 season. Seven other players sit within three goals of this mark. This tight scoring race creates betting opportunities when examining anytime goal scorer markets. Players near the top of these rankings often carry shorter odds, while those trailing by a few goals might offer better value despite similar scoring rates.

Nathan MacKinnon and Kirill Kaprizov lead the league in total points. Nineteen players currently project to reach 100 points this season based on their scoring pace. Point total props for these high-performing players require careful consideration of their recent games and upcoming opponents. A player averaging two points per game might face a strong defensive team that typically limits opposing scorers to half their usual production.

Goaltending Tells Its Own Story

Anthony Stolarz holds a .926 save percentage, the highest among NHL goalies in 2024–25. The league average sits at .900, which would mark the lowest in 29 years if maintained through the season. This decline in goaltending performance has created more scoring across the league. Teams facing goalies with save percentages below .890 often see their players exceed point and shot props.

Starting goalie announcements affect prop bet values immediately. A backup goalie facing a high-powered offense changes the entire betting picture for player props on both teams. Daily Faceoff provides starting goalie updates before games, and this information shapes betting decisions for shots on goal and scoring props.

Stretching Your Betting Budget During Hockey Season

Smart bettors know that managing their bankroll goes beyond picking winners. Many sportsbooks offer promotional deals and welcome bonuses that add extra funds to your account. The Bet365 bonus code works like similar offers from DraftKings, BetMGM, and FanDuel by giving new users additional betting credits when they sign up and make their first deposit.

These promotional offers become particularly valuable during long NHL seasons when you're placing multiple prop bets across different games. Setting aside a portion of bonus funds specifically for player prop bets on shots, assists, or goal-scoring markets lets you test different betting angles without risking as much of your own money.

Home Ice Creates Predictable Patterns

Home teams win approximately 54 percent of games compared to 46 percent for road teams in the 2025 season. Home favorites post a 64.1 percent win rate with a record of 555-231-54-26. Home underdogs win 44.4 percent of their games at 232-240-40-10. These patterns extend to player props as well. Players typically shoot more and score at higher rates at home, where last line changes give coaches matchup advantages.

Teams playing consecutive nights on the road show decreased performance in several statistical categories. Players average fewer shots and lower shooting percentages in the second game of back-to-back road contests. Rest advantages matter for prop betting. A team with three days off facing an opponent on the second night of consecutive games often sees its players exceed their prop totals.

Spotting Value in Specific Matchups

Leon Draisaitl has scored seven goals in his last five games against the New York Islanders, including four in the previous two meetings. Historical performance against specific teams provides insight for prop betting. Some players consistently perform well against certain opponents due to playing style matchups or defensive schemes that favor their strengths.

William Nylander managed only three shots through three games early in the season, prompting criticism from Toronto coach Craig Berube. Players facing public pressure to increase production often become aggressive in subsequent games. Nylander’s shot props might offer value as he attempts to respond to his coach’s comments about needing more offensive involvement.

Advanced Metrics Point to Hidden Opportunities

Corsi ratings, Expected Goals, and Goals Saved Above Average help identify mismatches that basic statistics miss. East–west puck movement has increased 40 percent over the past five NHL seasons, according to Clear Sight Analytics data. This style of play creates more difficult saves and increases scoring chances for players who excel at cross-ice passing and one-timers.

Swedish forward Jesper Bratt leads his countrymen with 17 assists and 27 points. Nationality-based prop markets sometimes overlook players like Bratt who perform well within specific statistical categories. These specialized props often carry longer odds than standard point or goal props for the same players.

Building Your Prop Betting Strategy

Successful prop betting requires tracking multiple factors simultaneously. Power play opportunities vary widely game to game, affecting point and shot totals for players on the top unit. Teams averaging three or more power plays per game see their first-unit players hit over on point props more frequently. Penalty kill time reduces offensive opportunities for players who serve on those units.

Travel schedules affect performance in measurable ways. West Coast teams traveling east for single games often struggle in afternoon starts. Players on these teams hit under on their prop totals at higher rates during these matchups. East Coast teams playing late games in Western time zones show similar patterns, particularly in the first period when body clocks haven’t adjusted.

Conclusion

NHL prop betting success comes from combining statistical analysis with situational awareness. Tracking player form, understanding matchup histories, and recognizing scheduling factors all contribute to finding profitable betting angles. The current scoring environment, with declining save percentages and increased east–west play, favors offensive player props. Smart bankroll management and utilizing promotional offers from sportsbooks extend betting opportunities throughout the long NHL season. Each game presents unique prop betting possibilities when you examine the specific circumstances surrounding player matchups, rest patterns, and recent performance trends.

I (AKA CatBurg) have a lifelong passion for sports, especially football and basketball. I enjoy the thrill and excitement of sports betting and everything in between. My teams are (Packers #GoPackGo) and who I am betting on!