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NHL Player Props & Best Bets Today: Can Golden Knights Defend The Fortress?

Ryan Gilbert

Last Updated: February 17, 2024 12:08 PM EST • 3 min 51 sec read.

NHL best bets
NHL best bets

It’s a Saturday full of hockey with 13 games on the docket, and we're offering our top NHL prop picks and best bets for Saturday based on the best NHL odds.

The NHL is back in full swing with its biggest slate of games since the All-Star break. There are 13 games throughout the day on Saturday starting at 12:30 p.m. ET.

The Boston Bruins host the Los Angeles Kings to kick off the slate with the Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Stars meeting as one of the few afternoon games, as well.

The Battle of Florida highlights a trio of games at 5 p.m. ET with the Philadelphia Flyers and New Jersey Devils taking center stage at Metlife Stadium at 8 p.m. ET.

Finally, the Vegas Golden Knights host the Carolina Hurricanes as one of two games at 10:30 p.m. ET to close out the docket.

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

Matthew Tkachuk to record an assist vs. Lightning (-115 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Florida Panthers are surging up the standings, and star forward Matthew Tkachuk has a lot to do with that.

After undergoing offseason surgery for a broken sternum, Tkachuk started the season with just 20 points (15 assists) in 29 games through Dec. 14.

However, he's racked up 40 points (27 assists) in his last 25 games, including at least one assist in four straight and nine of his last 10 contests.

Tkachuk has recorded an assist in 19 of those 25 games since Dec. 16th, and he has an assist in 14 of his last 17 contests, as well.

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It should be an intense game down in Tampa Bay between the Panthers and Lightning, and Tkachuk should get in on the action.

Nicolas Roy to record an assist vs. Hurricanes (+220 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐

Nicolas Roy has stepped up in a big way for the Vegas Golden Knights with Jack Eichel out. Roy is centering the top line with Ivan Barbashev and Jonathan Marchessault.

Roy is red-hot, with 14 points (11 assists) in his last 10 games. That includes 11 points during his seven-game point streak.

The Hurricanes are on the second half of a back-to-back with their backup slated to start on Saturday night. Getting +220 for Roy to record an assist is a great price given his recent form.

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Saturday’s NHL game picks

Jets vs. Canucks Under 6 (-125 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Winnipeg Jets have been one of the most profitable teams in betting the Under this season. According to EV Analytics, the Jets are 29-15-7 to the Under - just shy of the Panthers for the best in the league.

The Jets are averaging just less than three goals per game (2.97) with a league-best 2.27 goals against per contest. Their 116 goals allowed in 51 games are 16 fewer than the second-best team (Panthers have allowed 132 in 54 games).

Since Dec. 22, the Jets have outscored opponents 48-36 in 20 games - an average score of 2.4 - 1.8. There have been fewer than seven goals in 19 of those 20 contests.

Having Vezina Trophy candidate Connor Hellebuyck (25-10-3, 2.13 GAA, .926 SV%) certainly helps with that, and the Canucks counter with a top-tier goalie of their own in Thatcher Demko (30-9-1, 2.41 GAA, .920 SV%).

Golden Knights ML vs. Hurricanes (-122 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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The Golden Knights have been able to battle through injuries this season and are a great home team. They’re 19-6-2 at T-Mobile Arena this season as opposed to a lackluster 12-10-4 record on the road.

This will be the second half of a back-to-back set for the Hurricanes, who will likely have to turn to Spencer Martin (4-8-1, 3.52 GAA, .889 SV%) in net. The Canes are coming off a blowout win in Arizona last night, but playing less than 24 hours later plus travel is never an easy task.

Adin Hill has been stellar this season for the Golden Knights, and he recently returned from injury. He is 14-3-2 with a 2.00 GAA and .933 SV% overall, including 4-1-0 with 11 goals against and a .932 SV% since returning.

Vegas has rest and goaltending on its side. This should be a much higher line against a tired Hurricanes team.

NHL best bets made Saturday at 1:00 a.m. ET

Here are our best NHL betting sites:

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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.