RADIO
Wednesday brings a handful of games in the National Hockey League tonight. Play props and win with Monkey Knife Fight.
For the time being, games are still being played in front of crowds and everything and there are some compelling matchups for teams that are still in the playoff hunt.
The streaking New York Rangers are in Colorado to take on a depleted Avalanche team and the Winnipeg Jets visit the Edmonton Oilers in the two best matchups of the night. Apologies to the other three games but not everyone can be a winner.
Here are some angles to keep in mind before making your Wednesday night prop picks.
SAN JOSE-CHICAGO
MORE OR LESS
Corey Crawford MORE THAN 28.5 SAVES – The Sharks rank 24th in the league, generating 29.2 shots per 60 minutes. That doesn’t leave a lot of room for Crawford, who averages 28.8 saves per 60 minutes on home ice. The lingering issue is that the Blackhawks have allowed a league-worst 33.9 shots against per 60 minutes on home ice this season. That’s enough to push Crawford into over territory.
Patrick Kane MORE THAN 0.5 ASSISTS – The Blackhawks’ leading scorer has 21 assists in 33 home games and has recorded at least one helper in 18 of 33 home contests. The Sharks are also in the lower-third of the league in terms of goals against average (3.03) on the road, so while it’s not overwhelming, all indicators lean towards Kane with at least one assist.
Brent Burns MORE THAN 5.5 SHOTS + BLOCKS – In a dozen games since Erik Karlsson suffered a season-ending injury, Burns has been turned loose, averaging 27:39 of ice time per game including more than 30 in each of the past two contests. As a result, Burns has recorded 75 shots plus blocks in that 12 games span, an average of 6.3 per game, but it’s been even more pronounced on the road, where Burns has averaged 8.0 shots plus blocks in five games on the road since Karlsson’s season-ending injury.
RAPID FIRE
Jonathan Toews -0.5 fantasy points vs. Evander Kane – Toews isn’t especially productive at home, managing nearly .70 points per game with 2.40 shots on goal per game, but Kane isn’t far behind on points (0.66 per game) and generates 3.00 shots on goal per game. Getting the extra half fantasy point with Kane makes this a no-brainer.
WINNIPEG-EDMONTON
MORE OR LESS
Leon Draisaitl MORE THAN 0.5 ASSISTS – The league’s leading scorer has 32 assists in 33 home games and faces a Jets team that has a mediocre defensive record. A record that is largely comprised of terrible defensive play and outstanding goaltending, so as long as the Oilers can generate offense, there is a good chance for Draisaitl to chip in at least one assist.
Connor Hellebuyck LESS THAN 32.5 SAVES – As great as Hellebuyck has been this season, his numbers are better at home and he’s averaging 30.9 saves per 60 minutes on the road. Couple that with a matchup against an Oilers team that ranks 27th in the league with just 29.4 shots per 60 minutes on home ice and it doesn’t seem like the Oilers will generate enough shots for Hellebuyck to stop 33-plus.
RAPID FIRE
Darnell Nurse -0.5 shots + blocks vs. Neal Pionk – Although Pionk has been a pleasant surprise for the Jets this season, he is averaging 3.61 shots plus blocks per road game and while that is entirely respectable, it’s still not up to Nurse’s production as the Oilers blueliner is averaging 4.58 shots plus blocks per home game.
N.Y. RANGERS-COLORADO
MORE OR LESS
Pavel Francouz LESS THAN 31.5 SAVES – This seems like a lofty total for Francouz who is averaging 27.3 saves per 60 minutes on home ice this season and while the Avalanche have an injury-depleted lineup, they are also facing a Rangers squad that is on the second night of a back-to-back.
Artemi Panarin MORE THAN 0.5 ASSISTS – The Rangers star, and Hart Trophy candidate, has 27 assists in 33 road games, recording an assist in 21 of those 33 games. With the Avalanche depleted, they may not be quite as strong as their overall defensive record, which is a little below average with 2.97 goals against per 60 minutes on home ice.
RAPID FIRE
Mika Zibanejad +0.5 shots + blocks vs. Erik Johnson – What a pleasant surprise to see Zibanejad as the underdog. He has recorded 4.44 shots plus blocks per road game this season, compared to 3.48 shots plus blocks per home game for Johnson. Getting the extra half shot/block is gravy.
ST. LOUIS-ANAHEIM
MORE OR LESS
Jordan Binnington LESS THAN 28.5 SAVES – Although Binnington averages 28.8 saves per 60 minutes on the road this season, he’s facing a Ducks team that is among the worst when it comes to shot generation, ranking 28th with 29.3 shots per 60 minutes on home ice.
Ryan O’Reilly LESS THAN 0.5 ASSISTS – The Blues center has recorded at least one assist in just 15 of 35 road games. That is enough to prefer the under against a Ducks team that has a league-average defense (2.93 goals against per 60) on home ice.
Rickard Rakell 3.5 SHOTS + BLOCKS – This doesn’t seem like a big number to cover but Rakell does not benefit from shot blocks, recording just nine in 32 home games, so he is averaging 3.20 shots plus blocks per home game and the Blues defense is better than average.
OTTAWA-LOS ANGELES
MORE OR LESS
Jonathan Quick LESS THAN 30.5 SAVES – The Senators have a punchless attack, are on the second night of a back-to-back and Quick is averaging 26.1 saves per 60 minutes on home ice. Let’s slide this one under.
Craig Anderson MORE THAN 28.5 SAVES – This one looks a little closer. Anderson is averaging 28.9 saves per 60 on the road this season and the Kings do generate better than average shot totals.
RAPID FIRE
Thomas Chabot +0.5 shots + blocks vs. Drew Doughty – This one appears to be trading on Doughty’s brand name because Chabot is averaging 3.39 shots plus blocks per road game while Doughty is just under three shots plus blocks per home game. Getting the extra half with Chabot is the way to go.
