NHL Player Props & Best Bets Today: Can Bolts Strike Down Caps?

Thursday's NHL slate features 11 games to bet on, and we have you covered with our top NHL prop picks and best bets for Thursday based on the leading NHL odds from our best sports betting apps.

There's no shortage of NHL games to bet on across Thursday's 11-game slate, including a few premiere matchups scattered throughout the night.

The Colorado Avalanche and Detroit Red Wings as well as the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils renew their rivalries in the 7 p.m. ET time slot, along with an Eastern Conference Final rematch between the Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes.

The Vegas Golden Knights host the surging Toronto Maple Leafs at 10 p.m. ET, and the Nashville Predators are in Los Angeles to close out the slate at 10:30 p.m.

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

Thursday’s NHL schedule and odds

(Odds via BetMGM)

• Montreal Canadiens vs. Pittsburgh Penguins | Spread: Penguins -1.5 | Total: 6
• Washington Capitals vs. Tampa Bay Lightning | Spread: Lightning -1.5 | Total: 6.5
• Colorado Avalanche vs. Detroit Red Wings | Spread: Avalanche -1.5 | Total: 6.5
• Florida Panthers vs. Carolina Hurricanes | Spread: Hurricanes -1.5 | Total: 6
• New York Rangers vs. New Jersey Devils | Spread: Rangers -1.5 | Total: 6.5
• Dallas Stars vs. Ottawa Senators | Spread: Stars -1.5 | Total: 6.5
• New York Islanders vs. St. Louis Blues | Spread: Islanders -1.5 | Total: 6
• Boston Bruins vs. Calgary Flames | Spread: Bruins -1.5 | Total: 5.5
• Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Vegas Golden Knights | Spread: Golden Knights -1.5 | Total: 6.5
• Vancouver Canucks vs. Seattle Kraken | Spread: Canucks -1.5 | Total: 6
• Nashville Predators vs. Los Angeles Kings | Spread: Kings -1.5 | Total: 6

Thursday’s NHL best bets

• Nico Hischier Over 2.5 shots on goal vs. Rangers (-125 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Matt Duchene to record a point vs. Senators (-135 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Lightning -1.5 vs. Capitals (+125 via BetMGM) ⭐⭐⭐
• Islanders vs. Blues Over 6 (-115 via BetMGM) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Thursday’s NHL prop picks

Nico Hischier Over 2.5 shots on goal vs. Rangers (-125 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

New Jersey Devils captain Nico Hischier has been quite aggressive in 2023-24, and especially lately. He’s been firing the puck at will with at least three shots on goal in each of his last seven games.

Not only is Hischier hitting the three-shot mark, but he’s registered at least five shots in back-to-back games, and in four of his last seven. His shot attempts total is regularly six or higher, and he’s hitting the net on most of those tries.

Hischier also loves playing against the Rangers. He’s gone Over 2.5 shots on goal in the last five meetings, and in seven of 11 during his career. 

This is a good ladder spot for Hischier, with the Over on 3.5 through FanDuel (+195) and Over 4.5 (+450) worth a look.

Matt Duchene to record a point vs. Senators (-135 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Veteran center Matt Duchene has been a great addition to the Dallas Stars. He's logged 55 points (22 goals and 33 assists) in as many games during 2023-24 thanks to a great stretch of 14 points in nine contests before being held off the score sheet last time out.

Duchene has recorded a point in 37 of 55 games this season, including two-plus points in 15 outings. The former Ottawa Senator tallied two points during the Stars’ 5-4 win over the Sens back in December.

The Stars are rising in the Western Conference, and Duchene should help to continue that on Thursday.

Thursday’s NHL game picks

Lightning -1.5 vs. Capitals (+125 via BetMGM) ⭐⭐⭐

The Tampa Bay Lightning are getting a prime opportunity to bounce back from two bad losses when they host the Capitals on Thursday night.

Their in-state rivals embarrassed the Bolts on Saturday before the team lost to the Senators on Monday too. However, the Lightning should be raring to go against the Capitals after two days off.

On the flip side, the Caps have won two straight games, including a 6-2 victory over New Jersey on Tuesday night. But they’ve been incredibly inconsistent during 2023-24.

The Lightning are over -200 favorites on the moneyline, but the puck line is offering some value at +125. Tampa Bay is 9-5-0 in its last 14 games, with multi-goal triumphs in eight of those wins. The Capitals are 3-6-2 in their last 11 affairs, including six regulation multi-goal losses.

Take the Bolts to bounce back in a big way at plus odds.

Islanders vs. Blues Over 6 (-115 via BetMGM) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Islanders have long been known for their lower-scoring style. However, they’ve opened up their approach a lot under new head coach Patrick Roy and it’s showing. 

There have been double-digit goals in each of the last two Islanders games, with the teams combining for at least 70 shots on goal in both contests. Games involving the Isles have gone Over 6 in four of five games going back to Feb. 8.

The Blues have also played in some higher-scoring clashes recently, including six-plus goals in three straight and four of their last five.

Look for the Islanders to continue to push for the playoffs with their new playing style under Roy.

NHL best bets made 2/22/2024 at 11:30 a.m. ET

Here are our best NHL betting sites:

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• FanDuel Promo Code | Read our FanDuel Review
• DraftKings Promo Code | Read our DraftKings Review

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* Bonuses not applicable in Ontario.

Related pages

• Best Sports Betting Sites | Best Sportsbook Promos (U.S. only)