NHL PrizePicks Player Predictions: Thursday (2/29)
The NHL offers up a 12-game slate tonight, and that means we have a myriad of different ways to get some skin in the game. I'm heading the PrizePicks route tonight, where I've narrowed in on this trio of player props.
Here's the Power Play that I'm rolling with tonight.
Best NHL PrizePicks Player Projections
(Props courtesy of PrizePicks)
Cole Caufield Over 3.5 SOG
The Canadiens snapped a five-game slide last time out, defeating the Coyotes in a 4-2 home contest. They'll make the trip to Sunrise, Fla., tonight to take on the red-hot Panthers. This is a game that I feel like the Habs will be trailing in. That should lead to their offense pushing the pace as the game progresses.
I'll lock in Cole Caufield to reach at least 4.0 SOG. The winger is by far the leading "shot-man" for Montreal, sitting at 222 SOG this season. For context, the next-closest teammate of his is Mike Matheson at 146. Overall, Caufield has exceeded 3.5 SOG in 12 of his last 15 games. He reached the threshold in all five games during the recent five-game losing streak.
Brock Nelson Over 3.0 SOG
I will double down on the abovementioned theory of locking in a player from a team that will likely be trailing. The Islanders square off against the Red Wings tonight, and Detroit's currently riding a six-game winning streak. Meanwhile, the Isles are just 2-3-2 in their last seven games.
Brock Nelson seems like a great option to put the puck on-net, and I love that his line is a flat 3.0, leaving us a push to fall back on. However, the centerman has exceeded 3.0 SOG in three of his last four games and five of his last eight. Nelson has secured at least 3.0 SOG in seven of his last eight contests. He's also New York's leader in shots on goal, entering tonight's action with 192 shots over 58 games (3.3 SOG/G).
Finally, it's worth mentioning that Detroit has allowed the seventh-most opposing shots on goal (1,457) during 5-on-5 play this year.
Mason McTavish Over 0.5 Points
Let's wrap up the night out West as the Ducks square off against the Sharks in San Jose, Calif. This will be the fourth and final meeting between the two teams. Mason McTavish has registered a point in each of the three prior matchups (2G, 1A). The centerman is third on Anaheim's roster in scoring (17G, 22A), and he has eight points (4G, 4A) in seven games this month.
McTavish will have the luxury of scoring on a San Jose side that's dead last in overall defense (3.63 GAA), 5-on-5 SOG against (1,584) and high-danger shots against (158) during 5-on-5 play. McTavish plays on the second line with Frank Vatrano, who's having an All-Star season and leads the team in goals scored (26). I think the duo combine for at least one goal tonight against the lowly Sharks.
Make sure to check out our other best bets for Thursday: