For today’s prop bets, we are not just going with some goal-scorers even though they have been pretty reliable. We’ll start by sticking with goals for Auston Matthews because he is the league’s best goal-scorer. After that, we are counting on Sidney Crosby and Mikko Rantanen to tally some points as well.
Anytime Goal-Scorer – Auston Matthews (Over 0.5, -179)
Matthews is almost a sure goal at this point when he’s in the lineup. He is on pace for 62 goals, the most since Alex Ovechkin in 2007-08. Matthews has also scored in six consecutive games, putting nine goals in the back of the net.
He comes into this game with a very favourable matchup against the New Jersey Devils who rank 29th in the league in goals against, while the Toronto Maple Leafs have the third-best offence. Whether the Devils’ goaltender is Nico Daws or Jon Gillies, neither will likely be able to hold Matthews off the scoresheet.
Points – Sidney Crosby (Over 1.5, +135)
Crosby has already passed his total from last season in points while playing a few fewer games. He has once again put the team on his back and is looking to carry them all the way. In the midst of a positioning battle in the division, he is playing some of his best hockey.
Crosby has 14 points in the past nine games, five of them multi-point games, and comes into the night with a favourable opponent to add to that total against the Buffalo Sabres. You can usually count on Crosby to get the job done.
Points & Goals – Mikko Rantanen (Over 1.5, +155) & (Over 0.5, +120)
Rantanen has played so well I thought it would be smart to take advantage of his heater. He has scored four goals in the past four games and four consecutive multi-point games coming into this matchup. The Vancouver Canucks have not played very well, so the Colorado Avalanche shouldn’t have much trouble taking them on at home where they’ve been dominant.
Rantanen just hit 30 goals for the third time in his career and is up to 75 points on the season in 60 games. There have been no signs of slowing down by him or the team, and with the cast that surrounds him, it’s not very likely he is held off the scoresheet.
Odds via Yahoo and BetMGM.
