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NHL Player Props & Best Bets Today: Can Maple Leafs Handle the Storm?

Ryan Gilbert

Last Updated: December 30, 2023 3:34 PM EST • 3 min 8 sec read.

NHL best bets
NHL best bets

Most NHL teams are in action to start the weekend with a nine-game slate, and we're offering our top NHL prop picks and best bets for Saturday based on the top NHL odds.

The NHL graces us with a nine-game slate on Saturday. The action gets started at the best sportsbooks when the Minnesota Wild visit the Winnipeg Jets at 2 p.m. ET.

Following the afternoon game, the Buffalo Sabres host the Columbus Blue Jackets at 5 p.m.

Finally, to cap off the night, the Los Angeles Kings are at home against the Edmonton Oilers.

Here are our top NHL prop picks and best bets for Saturday (odds via our best NHL betting sites; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).

Saturday’s NHL schedule and odds

(Odds via DraftKings)

Saturday’s NHL best bets

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Saturday’s NHL prop picks

Rasmus Dahlin Over 2.5 shots on goal (-140 via DraftKings)  ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rasmus Dahlin’s shots on goal prop has been a cash cow for us recently.

The Buffalo Sabres defenseman has gone Over 2.5 shots in 12 of his last 13 games with a total of 52 shots in that span. In fact, he's gone Over 3.5 shots in nine of those games, and Over 4.5 in four.

The Columbus Blue Jackets allow more than 34 shots per game and will likely show some fatigue after beating the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday.

The odds for Dahlin to go Over 2.5 shots on goal have finally moved to -140, but that’s not nearly short enough him.

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John Tavares Over 3.5 shots on goal (+125 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐

Toronto Maple Leafs captain John Tavares is shooting the puck a lot recently. He's gone Over 3.5 shots in nine straight games, 10 of his last 11, and 13 of his last 15. That includes six games in which he's gone Over 4.5 shots.

Tavares’ total shot attempts are up, as well. He’s routinely taking at least seven or eight attempts per game and hitting the net on about half of them.

The Carolina Hurricanes are a tough team to get shots on goal against, but that’s built into the line here at +125. Take the plus odds for Tavares to keep shooting.

Saturday’s NHL game picks

Hurricanes ML vs. Maple Leafs (+100 via FanDuel)⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Hurricanes stumbled into the break, but they stormed out of it with a 5-2 win in Nashville and a 5-3 win against the Montreal Canadiens on consecutive nights. They had Friday off while the Maple Leafs were battling the lowly Blue Jackets, who beat Toronto 6-5 in overtime.

Carolina has struggled on the road a bit this season at 9-10-1, but Rod Brind’Amour should have his boys ready to go. The Canes are 3-0-1 in their last four road games with a goal differential of plus-six.

The Maple Leafs have lost both of their games since the break and now have to turn to veteran journeyman Martin Jones in net in a back-to-back situation. Carolina should arguably be favored in this one despite being on the road.

Penguins -1.5 vs. Blues (+136 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐

Betting on a puck line can put you in a bit of a precarious situation, but it’s the way to play the Pittsburgh Penguins as they host the St. Louis Blues.

The Blues’ 2-1 loss against the Colorado Avalanche on Friday was their first one-goal loss in regulation this season. Their other 15 losses were by at least two goals, with an overtime loss, as well.

Pittsburgh has also been able to put teams away, with 11 of its 16 wins by at least two goals. The Pens won 7-0 on Long Island on Wednesday night and now return home, where they’re 8-6-1.

St. Louis may be a decent team at home (11-5-0), but a 7-10-1 road record isn’t great.

NHL best bets made Saturday at 12:30 a.m. ET

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Written By:
Ryan Gilbert
Ryan Gilbert is a contributing writer at SportsbookReview.com, covering hockey and baseball. He is the lead NHL writer and editor at the Sports Gambling Podcast Network, where he also co-hosts the Hockey Gambling Podcast. Ryan covers the Philadelphia Flyers for Broad Street Hockey and co-founded Sons of Penn. His past stops include NBC Sports Regional Networks and NHL.com.