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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 18: Cam Atkinson #89 of the Philadelphia Flyers skates against the Seattle Kraken at the Wells Fargo Center on October 18, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Flyers defeated the Kraken 6-1. Bruce Bennett/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by BRUCE BENNETT / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

Looking for Wednesday's top NHL prop picks? Our experts weigh in with their best bets.

Here's a look at the top NHL team and player props for Wednesday's five-game schedule from our team of betting experts.

NHL Team Prop Picks

Washington Capitals to score the first goal of the first period (-115) - Esten McLarenDallas Stars Under 1.5 goals (+350) - Swinging JohnsonPhiladelphia Flyers and Edmonton Oiler Over 1.5 first-period goals (-155) - Ryan GilbertStars Over 2.5 goals (-155) - Matt Jordan

NHL Player Prop Picks

Jamie Benn to score (+295) - McLarenJonathan Marchessault to score (+200) - JohnsonCam Atkinson Over 2.5 shots on goal (-105) - GilbertAuston Matthews to score (-125) - Jordan

SEE ALSO: Bruins vs. Panthers NHL Picks

Top Expert Team Prop Picks

Capitals to score first goal of first period (-115) - McLaren

The Capitals (4-0-2) are the biggest moneyline favorites on Wednesday’s NHL slate, as they host the Detroit Red Wings (3-2-1). Detroit impressed early with a 2-0-1 record to start the season but lost back-to-back games before Sunday’s 6-3 win over the awful Chicago Blackhawks. Washington is eighth in the NHL with a 53.01 Corsi For percentage and will control the pace from the get-go on home ice. Back the Caps to score first in the opening frame as a much better value than the -220 moneyline.

Stars Under 1.5 goals (+350) - Johnson

The Vegas Golden Knights are struggling thus far and will now meet the team that bounced them out of the 2019-2020 postseason in the Stars. Dallas won that series 4-1 and it was the last time these teams met. Fast forward to Wednesday and Dallas is 3-3 and facing the 2-4 Knights. 

This will be an ideal time for the underachieving Golden Knights to exact a bit of revenge on their hosts, and it wouldn’t surprise me if Vegas G Laurent Brossoit, rumored to be making his first start of the season in place of Robin Lehner, will have a dazzling debut. Brossoit has played sparingly since entering the league, but when he has been called upon to shine, he does. This will be no different against the anemic offense of the Stars, averaging 2.00 goals per game. Let go Under 1.5 goals (+350) for Dallas and earn a handsome reward.

Flyers and Oilers Over 1.5 first-period goals (-155) - Gilbert

These are two of the highest-scoring teams in the league with the Oilers and Flyers averaging 4.60 and 4.50 goals per game, respectively. They are both well-rested with a few days off since their last game and will come out firing in this one. Through four games, the Flyers have scored six first-period goals. The Oilers have tallied eight first-period goals through five games. This game will see a lot of goals and it'll get started in the first period.

Stars Over 2.5 goals (-155) - Jordan

Dallas has a big advantage tonight as it hosts a Vegas team that had to play Tuesday night and in the thin air of Denver, CO. Thus, we expect some tired legs defensively. Plus, because it is the second half of a back-to-back, the Knights are expected to start their backup netminder. He figures to be a bit rusty in his first start of the year, and the former Winnipeg Jets backup allowed two goals in one period in a relief effort on Oct. 14, in his lone outing so far. Dallas has played just once at home this season and scored three goals. We think the Stars get there again.

Top Expert Player Prop Picks

Benn to score (+295) - McLaren

Benn is centering the Stars’ third line at full strength, but he also gets power-play time on the second unit and plays an average of 18:37 per game. He has a modest 10 shots on goal through six games but hasn’t yet found the back of the net and has just one assist. Things should turn on Wednesday, as the Stars (3-3-0) play host the Vegas Golden Knights (2-4-0). Vegas is on the second half of a road back-to-back and is likely to start Brossoit for the first time this season.

Marchessault to score (+200) - Johnson

If there is one player who is due to catch fire for the Knights it is Marchessault, last season’s third-leading goal scorer on the team. Marchessault has lit the lamp only once so far this season and that was in the Knights' season opener on October 12 in a 4-3 win over the Seattle Kraken. 

Let’s watch the 30-year-old veteran put an end to his scoring drought and grab the +200 odds for an anytime goal.

Atkinson Over 2.5 shots on goal (-105) - Gilbert

Atkinson had 13 shots on goal across his first three games before tallying just one SOG on Saturday. However, he should be able to get back up to at least three shots on goal against the Oilers. Edmonton has allowed the most shots on goal per game with 37.6 through five contests. Atkinson will get at least a few of those and hit the Over 2.5 SOG easily.

Matthews to score (-125) - Jordan

Matthews led the NHL with 41 goals last season but has just one so far this year. He missed the first three games while recovering from offseason surgery; however, he found the back of the net on Monday at the Carolina Hurricanes in his fourth game. The Toronto Maple Leafs could be set up for a monster night against the Chicago Blackhawks as the hosts are in utter disarray with their front office being expunged on Tuesday and several players on the COVID-19 list. The Blackhawks allow 4.50 goals per game, for the second-worst rate in the league.

SEE ALSO: All NHL Odds and Lines