There are just four games on Wednesday’s NHL slate, but I have three props worth taking.
The pregame narrative: The Chicago Blackhawks have been an offensive mess this season. I’m fading Connor Bedard to find the scoresheet and Nathan MacKinnon’s shot prop. Elsewhere, I’m picking Alex Ovechkin to score a goal against the Vancouver Canucks.
Check out my NHL prop picks for Jan. 8.
NHL prop picks
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Best bet: Ovechkin to score 1+ goal (+114)
It’s been wonderful to have The Great 8 back on the ice after missing 16 games with a fractured fibula he sustained in November.
Everyone knows he’s chasing Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal record, but I don’t think people realized how quickly it might come after last year’s lack of production.
- Last season: 31 goals in 79 games (0.39 goals/gm)
- This season: 19 goals in 24 games (0.79 goals/gm)
Since returning from injury, Ovi has four goals in six games and hasn’t been shy shooting, with 30 shots on goal over that stretch.
Ovechkin’s turnaround couldn’t come at a more opportune time as he trails Gretzky by just 22 goals.
I like him to get at least one goal closer in a plus matchup tonight against the Canucks.
- Vancouver is 25th in goals allowed/game (3.21)
- 15th in penalty kill percentage (80.2%)
- 25th in penalty minutes/game (9.5)
The Canucks also rank 24th in high-danger save percentage (78.8%), according to Natural Stat Trick.
Meanwhile, the Capitals haven’t struggled to find the back of the net, even in Ovechkin’s absence. Washington scores the most goals/game in the NHL (3.7) and owns a top-10 power play (23.9%).
Key stat: Ovechkin has five goals in his last three games against Vancouver.
Quick picks
Bedard under 0.5 points (+133): It really is a shame the way Bedard is positioned early in his career.
A potential once-in-a-generation talent who has little possibility of thriving with the team he’s playing on. Chicago sits in the basement in nearly every major offensive category.
- T30th in goals (2.53)
- 29th in shots (25.6)
- 24th in shooting percentage (9.9%)
- 31st in faceoff percentage (43.9%)
The former first-overall selection has shown promise of late. He’s currently holding a seven-game point streak, however, I have reason to believe that ends tonight.
After a sluggish start, Colorado has found its stride in the past two months, winning 18 of 26 contests. The main difference maker is its goaltending.
Since Dec. 14, the Avalanche have only allowed more than two goals in a game once. Mackenzie Blackwood has been their knight in shining armour since coming over from the San Jose Sharks, posting a 7-1-1 record with a 1.69 GAA.
MacKinnon under 3.5 shots (+110): It’s no secret Mackinnon’s goal production has dipped severely after his 51-goal output last season.
The Halifax native has just 14 goals this year in 41 games (0.34 goals/game). This is the lowest average since the 2016-17 season (0.19 goals/game).
He leads the league in points (66) and assists (52), and Colorado is winning, so I don’t think finding the back of the net is high on his priority list.
MacKinnon has cashed this wager in six of his last eight games.
I don’t anticipate a close game in this one so there shouldn’t be any sense of desperation for MacKinnon or the Avalanche to be pressing for pucks on net.
Picks made at 11:29 a.m. ET on 01/08/2025.
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