Top NHL Prop Picks for Thursday

The NHL's slate is jam-packed with 11 games on Thursday night. There will be a plethora of potential prop opportunities for you to line your wallet with some extra sweet, sweet cash. Read on for our top NHL prop picks.

For today’s top NHL prop picks, we’re betting that the triumphant returns of Evgeni Malkin and Nikita Kucherov will keep paying dividends for the Pittsburgh Penguins and Tampa Bay Lightning. Meanwhile, St. Louis Blues forward Jordan Kyrou will continue his recent red-hot streak.

Here are my NHL prop picks for Thursday's action (odds via Draftkings Sportsbook and FanDuel Sportsbook, and pick confidence is based on a one-to-five scale).

Thursday's Top NHL Prop Picks

Malkin Over 0.5 points (-195 DraftKings) ????Kucherov Over 0.5 goals (+148 FanDuel) ???Kyrou Over 0.5 goals (+210 FanDuel) ???

SEE ALSO: Vezina Trophy Futures

Top NHL Prop Predictions

Malkin Over 0.5 points (-195)

Malkin made a massive splash during his season debut.

He made an immediate impact on Tuesday night while playing in his first game since undergoing right knee surgery in June, potting a pair of goals and adding an assist during a 4-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks. It was a successful return for a player who automatically becomes a gigantic cog in the machinery of a streaking Penguins team that’s won 11 of their last 12 games.

The 2012 Hart Trophy winner will now be in tough against a stingy Los Angeles Kings club that’s surrendering just 2.5 goals per game over its last 10 matchups. However, the Pens are scoring 4.1 goals per contest during that same stretch, production that should improve with Malkin aboard.

Kucherov Over 0.5 goals (+148)

Another returning Russian made an impact this week.

Kucherov recorded a hat trick during Tampa’s 6-1 thrashing of the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday while playing just his second game since mid-October. The 2019 MVP has appeared in only six games this season, but he's been ridiculously productive while racking up four goals and nine points.

With the Lightning’s offense motoring right along and tallying 3.6 goals per game over their past 10 outings, Kucherov’s emergence makes them that much more dangerous. He’ll prove that again and find the back of the net against the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday.

Kyrou Over 0.5 goals (+210)

Kyrou has taken his game to the next level this season.

The 23-year-old pivot leads the Blues with 14 goals and 36 points over 32 games while averaging 2.7 shots on goal per contest. He’s been an absolute nightmare for opposing goaltenders since returning from the COVID-19/holiday break, racking up five goals and 11 points across five games and launching 3.8 shots on goal per matchup.

The situation is ripe for Kyrou to keep piling up points and shots while facing a mediocre Seattle Kraken team that's on the second night of back-to-back games. Look for one of those shots to find twine on Thursday night.

SEE ALSO: All picks and odds. Be sure to check out SportsbookReview.com’s community forums and betting tools.

NHL prop picks made on 1/13/2022 at 8:48 a.m. ET.