The Buffalo Sabres visit the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center on Thursday night, and this late-night matchup offers a few strong player props on DraftKings Sportsbook. My best bets for tonight are Tage Thompson, Zach Benson and Beckett Sennecke.
Ducks vs. Sabres Player Prop Picks at a Glance
| Player prop | Team | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Tage Thompson 4+ Shots on Goal | Sabres | -115 |
| Zach Benson 1+ Assist | Sabres | +135 |
| Beckett Sennecke Anytime Goal Scorer | Ducks | +185 |
For up-to-date NHL betting information and data, check out the DraftKings Sportsbook betting splits page and player props page!
Best Ducks vs. Sabres Player Props
Tage Thompson 4+ Shots on Goal (-115)
Thompson has totaled at least four shots on goal in six of his past 10 outings, averaging 4.3 shots over that stretch, and his 51 shots lead the Sabres by 17. His 13.07 shots on goal per 60 rank second among skaters with at least 100 minutes of ice time, and he’s expected to center a reshuffled top line tonight with Peyton Krebs and Zach Benson while anchoring the first power-play unit. Thompson and Benson stayed together on the top line after skating there in Tuesday’s 2-0 win in San Jose, and I’d imagine keeping Buffalo’s top shooter next to its leader in xGoals should only help his volume.
Anaheim allows 27.7 shots per game, right around league average, but its 3.62 xGoals against per 60 are the third-most in the NHL, and Ville Husso is projected to start with an .886 SV%. Thompson has been held to one shot or fewer in three of his past eight games, but his overall volume is worth backing at -115.
Zach Benson 1+ Assist (+135)
Anaheim has had trouble with left wings, allowing 1.30 goals per game to the position, the third-most in the NHL, and that sets up nicely for Benson on Buffalo’s top line. He has recorded an assist in five of his past 10 games, and his five primary assists and 5.5 xGoals both lead the Sabres. Buffalo has also controlled 65.1% of the 5v5 xGoals with him on the ice.
Benson stays on the top line with Thompson tonight, with Krebs joining them, after spending most of the season with Noah Ostlund and Jack Quinn, a trio that controlled 65.7% of the 5v5 xGoals and outscored opponents 8-2 in 116 minutes. He averages 19:43 of ice time and joins Thompson on the first power-play unit, and the Ducks’ 3.06 5v5 xGoals against per 60 over their past 10 games rank 31st, so at +135, Benson is a solid way to buy into the Sabres’ top line.
Beckett Sennecke Anytime Goal Scorer (+185)
Sennecke has found the back of the net in each of Anaheim’s past two games, both times on the power play, and his seven goals lead the Ducks by three. Four of those goals have come with the man advantage, and he skates on Anaheim’s first power-play unit, which ranks ninth in the NHL at 23.7%.
Buffalo’s penalty kill is tied for 25th at 71.4%, so Sennecke should get his chances against a unit that has struggled all season. Colten Ellis is likely to start for the Sabres after a 23-save shutout in San Jose, and his SV% above expected ranks 11th among 71 goalies, but Sennecke has scored in five of his past 10 games, and his 4.6 xGoals lead all Ducks skaters.
Advanced stats courtesy of MoneyPuck.
