We have a short four-game slate on the ice tonight. However, there are still some great prop bets to take advantage of, including plus-money wagers on players finding the back of the net. Here, we will break down our favorite NHL anytime goal scorer picks. Last night, a wild turn of events officially ended the seasons of a few teams. As of today, all playoff berths have been clinched. It is just a matter of finalizing seeding for the penultimate day of the 2023-24 NHL season. Let’s take a look at our three best NHL player prop bets for Wednesday, April 17.
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NHL Anytime Goal Scorer Picks
Leon Draisaitl ()
Our last NHL goal scorer predictions also featured Leon Draisaitl. While the Oilers put up nine goals against the Sharks, Draisaitl preferred to share the love, picking up two assists. He has a similar matchup tonight against an equally bad Arizona Coyotes squad. Arizona ranks towards the bottom in five-on-five play, including goals allowed and shots per game. They also have one of the worst power play kill rates and rank 24th in time spent shorthanded. Although Edmonton does not have much to play for the rest of the way, Draisaitl leads the team in power-play goals (21), and the Coytoes’ goaltender, Karel Vejmelka, has struggled this season with a .895 save percentage.
If Edmonton can draw an advantage, Draisaitl will be in a good position to cash an anytime goal scorer prop.
Auston Matthews ()
As mentioned above, betting on an anytime goal scorer in a game that practically means nothing to either side is tricky. However, Maple Leafs’ franchise player Auston Matthews enters today’s season finale with 69 goals, which is a career-high. One more goal tonight would give him 70, making him only the 15th player to do so and the first since Alexander Mogilny in 1993.
Toronto will take on the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight, which could favor Matthews to light the lamp for the 70th time this season. Both teams rank in the top five in goals per game, and Toronto takes the seventh-most shots per night. It also helps that neither defense is that great, and there could be a dip in effort on the defensive end with nothing to play for.
Sidney Crosby ()
The Pittsburgh Penguins were eliminated from the postseason during a crazy late-night slate yesterday. Tonight, they will end their season against the New York Islanders, who could be the worst team in the playoffs this season. This game is all about the Islanders’ staying healthy for the postseason. While Pittsburgh may find this game more annoying, especially with how the season ended, the Penguins have fared well against New York.
They are 2-0-1 and have outscored the Islanders 10-1 in both wins. New York has a mediocre defense, which should give Sidney Crosby plenty of opportunity to put up one more big game this year. He scored two goals against the Islanders early this season, and, at plus money, he is worth a shot tonight.
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