Top Expert NHL Prop Picks for Saturday

Sportsbook Review

Last Updated: October 23, 2021 10:37 AM EDT • 1 min 55 sec read. Twitter link Google News Link

SUNRISE, FL - OCTOBER 16: Jonathan Huberdeau #11 of the Florida Panthers plays the puck against the New York Islanders at the FLA Live Arena on October 16, 2021 in Sunrise, Florida. Huberdeau scored his 500th point which is the most in Panther history. Joel Auerbach/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Joel Auerbach / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

Looking for Saturday's top NHL prop picks? Our experts weigh in with their best bets for the evening slate.

Here's a look at the top NHL team and player props for Saturday night's 11-game schedule from our team of betting experts (odds via DraftKings Sportsbook).

NHL Team Prop Picks

New Jersey Devils to score first goal (-160) - Esten McLaren

Devils Over 3.5 goals (+115) - Swinging Johnson

NHL Player Prop Picks

Jonathan Huberdeau to score (+190) - McLaren

Pavel Zacha to score (+235) - Johnson

Top Expert Team Prop Picks

Devils to score first goal (-160) - McLaren

The Buffalo Sabres’ surprising 3-1-0 record is well-supported by a league-best 59.25 percent Corsi For rating at 5-on-5. Despite the strong possession play and record, Buffalo hasn’t opened the scoring since its season opener against the Montreal Canadiens. The Devils have a quality 52.16 Corsi For percentage at full strength, and they scored first in their first two games of the season before Thursday’s 4-1 loss to the Washington Capitals. The home and rest advantages favor the Devils with the Sabres coming off a 4-1 home loss to the Boston Bruins on Friday.

Devils Over 3.5 goals (+120) - Johnson

The Devils welcome the Sabres to the Prudential Center on Saturday night. The Devils may still be stinging from their 4-1 loss to the Capitals on Thursday. It was their first loss of the season, and they get a golden opportunity to get back on track against a Sabres team smarting from their own 4-1 loss to the Bruins.

Expect the Devils to fully exploit this situation as they face what should be a gassed Buffalo group playing in the second leg of a back-to-back. I expect New Jersey to get its fair share of goals against Buffalo backup netminder Dustin Tokarski.

Top Expert Player Prop Picks

Huberdeau to score (+190) - McLaren

Huberdeau has three assists but no goals on five shots through four games. He has been rather unlucky in that regard with 11 total shot attempts while averaging 18:13 of ice time per game. The Philadelphia Flyers have a 26th-ranked 46.82 Corsi For percentage at full strength. The Panthers are undefeated and have an expected goals for percentage at 5-on-5 of 52.31 to go with a sixth-ranked 54.47 percent Corsi percentage. Florida should control possession and a higher shot count will allow Huberdeau to get his first goal of the season with a 12.4 percent career shooting percentage.

Zacha to score (+235) - Johnson

Zacha led the team in points last season. He has produced two points through three games to start the 2021-22 campaign, with an assist in the team’s 4-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks and a goal in their 4-2 win against the Seattle Kraken. However, he was blanked in Thursday’s 4-1 setback to the Capitals. Saturday's game should be the Devils' for the taking. Expect Zacha to be prominently featured on the score sheet against a winded Buffalo squad.

Written By:
Sportsbook Review

Free sports picks from SBR's experts. Get the latest analysis, odds and predictions on the top industry events. Home of the #SBRPros! SBR - trusted by sports bettors for over 20 years.