There are only four NHL games tonight but I found a pair of player props worth taking.
The pregame narrative: The Anaheim Ducks have given up their fair share of scoring chances, and Ivan Barbashev has been lighting the lamp. I’m also fading Steven Stamkos against his hometown team.
Check out my NHL prop picks for Dec. 4.
NHL prop picks
Go to full NHL betting markets.
Best bet: Barbashev to record a point (-130)
In his ninth NHL season, Barbashev is having a career year.
The Russian forward has 28 points in 26 games (1.07 PPG) which is well above his standard. Going into this season, he averaged a scanty 0.46 PPG.
He plays on the top line with one of the best players in the league, Jack Eichel, as well as the second power-play unit.
And now Barbashev has a top-tier matchup against the inferior Ducks, who rank:
- 32nd in shots on goal allowed per game (33.4)
- 25th in penalty kill percentage (75%)
The Golden Knights, meanwhile, are a top-10 team in almost every offensive category:
- Seventh in goals per game (3.5)
- Sixth in power play percentage (27.4%)
- Sixth in shooting percentage (11.8%)
Anaheim has allowed three or more goals in eight of its last 10 home games dating back to Nov. 3.
Key stat: Barbashev has 11 points in his last seven games.
Quick pick
Stamkos not to record a point (-112): The Predators were one of the most active franchises in the off-season but their new additions haven’t been performing.
In particular, former Conn Smythe winner Jonathan Marchessault has just 12 points in 25 games this year. Stamkos has been over a point per game in his career but he has just 13 points to start the campaign.
I’m sure both players are due for some positive regression but tonight isn’t an ideal matchup to heat up.
Craig Berube’s coaching style is something Toronto Maple Leafs fans are not used to seeing, but it works.
The Leafs are scoring fewer goals per game (3.08 compared to last season’s 3.51) but are also defending at an extremely high level.
Toronto is tied for the second-fewest goals allowed (2.54) and has the eighth-best penalty kill (82.4%). Nashville is last in the NHL in goals per game (2.32) and shooting percentage (7.9%).
I expect a warm welcome for the Markham native when he gets introduced tonight, but his stat sheet won’t be as pleasing.
Picks made at 2:55 p.m. on 12/4/24.
