There are 14 games on tonight’s NHL slate, giving us plenty of prop bets to choose from.
For my favorite play, I’m zeroing in on an interconference contest between the San Jose Sharks and Boston Bruins.
Let’s look at today’s best NHL prop bet.
NHL betting odds used for this hockey prop bet are current as of Thursday, Nov. 30, and courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
Best NHL Prop Bet Today
Bruins: Over 4.5 Goals (+125)
The Atlantic Division-leading Boston Bruins are in the midst of their longest losing run of the season, having dropped three straight games. Monday night’s 5-2 defeat to the last-place Columbus Blue Jackets was particularly worrisome, as Boston got outplayed by one of the worst teams in hockey.
However, there’s no better get-right spot than Thursday night’s matchup against the San Jose Sharks at TD Garden. The Bruins are 7-1-1 on home ice this year, while the Sharks have yet to collect a point on their travels (0-9-0).
San Jose has allowed a league-high 90 goals over its first 22 games (4.1 per game), but that mark has been even worse on the road (4.3 goals allowed per game).
At plus-money odds, this play has a lot of value, especially with an angry Boston squad trying to get back on track on home ice.
How NHL Prop Betting Works
Prop betting is one of the most popular ways to wager on sports, and that includes hockey betting.
Prop bets, which are wagers not ultimately tied to the final outcome, are a great way to cash in when a game result is in doubt. It can also be a fun way to profit off an elite player’s performance or a rival player’s failure by gambling on player props.
Here’s a look at how NHL prop betting works.
Best NHL Prop Bets
There are different types of hockey prop bets available each day.
Player Props
Player props are the most popular type of prop bets since they come with favorable odds, and fans love cashing in when their favorite player does something exceptional.
Online sportsbooks will offer odds for a player to either score a goal or surpass an individual stat category — points, assists, power-play points, goalie saves, etc.
A bettor must correctly determine whether the player will surpass (Over) or fall short of (Under) that number in the game.
Game Props
Game props can be a fun way to wager on game-wide outcomes.
For instance, bettors can wager on the number of first-period goals, whether the game will be decided in overtime or a shootout, or when the first goal will be scored.
These are some of the most prominent NHL game props, but others are offered for every matchup every night.
Team Props
Team props are wagers on how a team will perform in a given game.
The most prominent team prop bets are team totals, which involve picking the Over or Under on the number of goals a team will score in a particular game.
Win-in-regulation bets are also popular and require one team to win in 60 minutes instead of overtime or a shootout.
Futures
Futures bets are a prop wager where fans can bet on an outcome that will happen far in advance.
For instance, NHL bettors could choose a player to win one of the major individual awards, like the Hart, Vezina, Norris, Calder, etc.
They can also wager on a team to finish the regular season with Over or Under a specific points total, make the playoffs, and win its division, conference, or the Stanley Cup.
Each NHL futures bet will have corresponding odds depending on the likelihood the event comes to fruition.
NHL Prop Betting Strategy
The key to NHL prop betting is to target trends and seek out favorable odds and matchups. Additionally, you’ll want to use predictive analytics to find those trends and shop the lines at various sportsbooks to ensure you get the best price.
Wagering on Connor McDavid to score a goal at -140 odds may not be worth it. Betting him to surpass 1.5 points at +100 or longer most nights is a good wager.
If there’s a matchup of comparable teams in terms of talent, invest in a game-to-end-in-overtime prop since the odds on those are typically very long.
As a general reminder, always wager responsibly. Set a limit, and don’t bet more than you can afford to lose.
Hockey prop betting can be tricky and seem random at times. And you won’t be happy if you lose a lot of money because Igor Shesterkin only stopped 27 shots when you bet Over 27.5.