Two of the NHL’s top goalscorers are featured in today’s prop picks.
The pregame narrative: Alex Ovechkin is leading the league in scoring after potting a hat trick yesterday and I expect him to fire at will against the Utah Hockey Club tonight. Also, bet on David Pastrnak to score against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Find my NHL prop picks for Nov. 18 below.
NHL prop picks
Go to full NHL betting markets.
Best Bet: Ovechkin over 3.5 shots (+105)
If Wayne Gretzky looked in the rear-view mirror he would see a 39-year-old Ovi barreling toward him at full speed.
Ovechkin has 13 goals through 17 games and is just 29 away from breaking the all-time scoring record.
If he were to sustain this pace he would finish with 62 goals, which would be the second-best mark of his career outside of his Hart-winning 2007-08 season.
Do I think that will happen? No, but I do think he’s going to keep putting pucks on the net.
Go to full Capitals vs. Hockey Club betting markets.
Ovechkin logged five SOG in just 14:53 of ice time last night. He’s gone over this mark in seven of his last eight games and is leading the Washington Capitals in shots (60) and chances for (122), per Natural Stat Trick.
Utah has been a much-improved defensive team this year but still gives up the 14th-most shots per game.
Everyone on Washington is looking to feed its red-hot captain, so don’t expect an off night after his hat trick.
Key stat: Ovechkin is averaging 4.12 shots per game this month.
Quick picks
Pastrnak anytime goalscorer (-106): Pastrnak is only five goals behind Ovechkin for the league lead and is heating up after a lengthy goalless drought.
The Czech winger has found the net in two of his last three games and has a stunning 18 shots in that span.
Tonight, his Boston Bruins host a Blue Jackets team allowing the fourth-most goals per game.
Elvis Merzlikins is between the pipes for Columbus and his 2.92 GAA and .898 SV% both rank outside of the top 30.
Pastrnak’s 156 goals since the start of the 2022-23 season are third only to Auston Matthews and Leon Draisaitl. I like his chances of getting on the board tonight.
NHL picks made at 1:22 p.m. on 11/18/2024.
Avery joined NorthStar Gaming as an intern in 2022 before stepping into a full-time role soon after. He loves betting on and analyzing golf — mainly because it’s easier than actually playing — but is a fan of all sports, from the NFL to the UFC.