The NHL Olympic Break will begin tomorrow; however, we have one final betting card on Thursday, which features seven matchups and more than half of the slate beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET. Below, I’ll go over my favorite NHL player prop bets on DraftKings Sportsbook.
For up-to-date NHL betting information and data, check out both the DraftKings Sportsbook betting splits page and the DraftKings Sportsbook player props page!
Best NHL props for Thursday 2/5/26
Nikita Kucherov Anytime Goalscorer (+115)
The NHL’s third-ranked point-getter has been playing otherworldly hockey since the start of the new year, recording a league-leading 39 points across his past 15 outings. During that span, Kucherov has netted 11 goals, and he has scored a goal in five of his past outings. Tonight, he will face a tired Panthers team that just won in a shootout against the Bruins last night. Daniil Tarasov will likely start for Florida, and he has surprisingly been more dependable than Sergei Bobrovsky, posting a 2.67 GAA and .904 SV% across 17 starts. Still, Kucherov is on fire, and the Panthers have allowed the eighth-most goals per game this season.
Ryan McLeod 1+ Point (-105)
McLeod has quietly been one of Buffalo’s top contributors amid the club’s strong run since the middle of December. The 26-year-old has shared a line with Jason Zucker and Jack Quinn this season, and the three of them have produced 16 goals, which ranks 15th in the NHL among forward lines. McLeod’s playmaking has particularly stood out recently, having recorded nine assists across his past seven outings alone. His value also stems from the fact that he is on the ice a ton, given that he has part of both the second power play unit and first penalty kill unit. For what it’s worth, he leads the Sabres in shorthanded points, too. McLeod has posted six multiple-point games across his past 15 outings and ranks seventh on Buffalo in points per 60.
Alex Lyon Over 25.5 Saves (-115)
Staying in the Sabres vs. Penguins game, Lyon’s line stood out. This line feels too low, considering Lyon has averaged 32 saves across his last five starts, and the Sabres routinely get outshot. On the season, Buffalo ranks fourth in shots allowed per game, while Pittsburgh ranks eighth in shots per game. This game feels like a heavyweight matchup, with both teams posting at least 24 points and averaging at least 3.8 goals per game since the start of the new year. The Sabres can run up the score, but they tend to leave their goaltenders out to dry at times, and Lyon has been consistent enough to clear this line.
