NHL Player Props & Best Bets Today: Can Penguins Take Down Shorthanded Devils?

Check out today's NHL prop picks and best bets for Thursday's full schedule.

Ryan Gilbert

Last updated: November 16, 2023 5:50 PM EST • 5 min read

Thursday night's NHL slate treats us to nine games, so read on for our top NHL prop picks and best bets for Thursday based on the leading NHL odds from our best sports betting apps.

Kicking off a nine-game slate on Thursday is the NHL Global Series game between the Detroit Red Wings and Ottawa Senators in Sweden.

The remaining eight games feature several crucial divisional matchups across the league, including the New Jersey Devils playing in Pittsburgh and the Vancouver Canucks competing in Calgary.

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

Thursday’s NHL schedule and odds

(Odds via DraftKings)

Thursday’s NHL best bets

Nikita Kucherov Over 3.5 Shots on Goal (-150 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Quinton Byfield to record a point (+114 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
J.T. Miller to score a goal (+220 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐
Penguins -1.5 vs. Devils (+176 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐
Sharks team total under 2.5 vs. Blues (-115 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Thursday’s NHL prop picks

Nikita Kucherov Over 3.5 Shots on Goal (-150 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov has been a man on a mission in 2023-24. He's logged 23 points over his first 15 games while averaging over four shots on goal per contest.

Kucherov has registered at least four shots on goal in 11 outings overall. In those other four games, the winger totaled eight, eight, six, and five shot attempts, but only two hit the net.

The Blackhawks allow the third-most shots per game (34.8), which will provide Kucherov with plenty of chances to get the puck on net. Take his Over on 3.5 shots on goal, and also consider laddering it up to the Over on 4.5 (he's hit that in eight games this season).

Quinton Byfield to record a point (+114 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Los Angeles Kings forward Quinton Byfield is enjoying a breakout season. The second overall pick in the 2020 draft only put up 33 points across his first 99 NHL games, but he's already notched 13 across 14 contests this season.

Byfield is getting a chance on the team's top line, and he’s making the most of it. He’s currently riding a six-game point streak (nine assists in that span), and Byfield has tallied points in eight of his last nine games (one goal, 11 assists).

The Canucks should be able to score at least a few goals in Toronto, and the top-pair defenseman will be in on the action.

J.T. Miller to score a goal (+220 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐

The Vancouver Canucks are off to a fantastic start, and veteran forward J.T. Miller has been playing a significant role.

Miller has recorded 26 points (10 goals) in his first 16 games. He’s scored in four of his last five contests and eight of his previous 10.

While he can’t possibly keep up that pace, these odds of +220 are a bit high. Miller is getting chances and he’s converting.

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Thursday’s NHL game picks

Penguins -1.5 vs. Devils (+176 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐

The Penguins and Devils are two teams heading in different directions in the Metropolitan Division, both in the big picture and recently.

Pittsburgh is holding on for one last dance with its core, and the Pens have rattled off five straight wins. On the other hand, the Devils’ window to compete is just opening, but they’ve lost three straight and four of their last five, partially due to the absence of Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier.

Hughes may return on Thursday for the Devils, but this weekend is more likely. Hischier is still out until the end of the month. While a healthy Devils team is head-and-shoulders better than the Penguins, that’s not the case without those two.

We’re going with the Penguins on the puck line here rather than laying the -140 juice. Pittsburgh has recorded a multi-goal win in seven of its eight victories, and the Devils' last five losses have been by two-plus goals as well.

Sharks team total under 2.5 vs. Blues (-115 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Sharks have finally won two games, but they’re still the league's worst team. San Jose has scored a league-low 21 goals in 16 games, with three-plus goals in just three contests.

Meanwhile, the Blues have been finding some success recently, especially on the defensive side. They’ve allowed just three goals in their last three games, including a 5-0 shutout win against the Lightning and an 8-2 victory in Colorado.

Back Jordan Binnington (5-4-1, 2.27 GAA, .930 SV%) and the Blues to keep the Sharks at bay.

NHL best bets made 11/16/2023 at 11:15 a.m. ET

NHL betting odds pages

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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.