I’ve got three NHL prop picks from Thursday’s loaded nine-game slate.
The pregame narrative: Martin Necas is thriving and his Carolina Hurricanes are up against a Colorado Avalanche squad with brutal goaltending. I also have plays on Tim Stutzle and Connor McDavid.
Check out my NHL prop picks for Dec. 5.
NHL prop picks
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Best bet: Necas to record a power-play point (+150)
Necas is tied for the league lead in points with Kirill Kaprizov and Nathan MacKinnon heading into tonight’s action.
Let’s talk about contracts for a second. Carolina’s forward is making $6.5 million AAV, while Kaprizov and MacKinnon are making $9 million and $12.6 million, respectively. Give Huriccanes’ Eric Tulsky a raise because that’s value right there.
Necas has been on an absolute tear recently picking up 15 points in his last 11 games, with nine coming on the man advantage.
Carolina has been a force to be reckoned with at home this season. It has a 9-3-0 record at the Lenovo Center and scored 51 of its 93 goals at home.
Colorado has the sixth-worst penalty kill in the NHL, operating at just 73.1%. Carolina’s power play success rate is over 27%, good for fourth in the league.
Key stat: The Avalanche have allowed 3.73 goals per game this year, which is the second-most in the NHL.
Quick picks
Stutzle to record a power-play point (+145): Similar to the Canes, The Ottawa Senators’ home/away splits indicate more success at home.
- Home: 6-5-1 record, 3.75 goals/game
- Away: 4-7-1 record, 2.50 goals /game
The German star has been scorching hot as of late, racking up 11 points in his last 10 games.
Despite its lacklustre start to the season, Ottawa’s power play is third in the league (28.1%).
Stutzle has relished playing Detroit, with six goals and eight assists in 10 games against the Atlantic Division rivals.
The Wings have been dreadful on the penalty kill this season, operating at a league-worst 65.3%.
McDavid over 3.5 shots (-106): I made this a play back on Tuesday, and I have no reason to steer away from it tonight.
Edmonton’s captain has been a shots-on-goal machine this season averaging 3.77 per game, fifth most in the NHL.
The Columbus Blue Jackets have the fifth-worst penalty kill in the NHL, which bodes well with this play, as McDavid leads the Oilers in man advantage time on ice.
There were zero penalties called in the Oilers’ previous game, but I’d be shocked if that happened again.
McDavid has cleared this mark in nine of his last 11 games.
Picks made at 12:03 p.m. 12/05/2024.
