The NHL returns with a light two-game slate on Wednesday night, featuring the Philadelphia Flyers at Buffalo Sabres and Florida Panthers at Ottawa Senators. Below, I’ll break down the best player props worth considering on DraftKings Sportsbook.
For up-to-date NHL betting information and data, check out the DraftKings Sportsbook betting splits page and player props page!
NHL Player Prop Picks at a Glance
| Player prop | Matchup | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Tage Thompson 4+ Shots on Goal | Flyers at Sabres | +115 |
| Matthew Tkachuk 1+ Assist | Panthers at Senators | +110 |
Best NHL Player Props for October 21
Tage Thompson 4+ Shots on Goal (+115)
Tage Thompson ranks third in the NHL in total shots on goal (42), and he ranks sixth in 5v5 shots on goal per 60 (13.21). He has cleared this total in all but two games this season, and those two misses came against the Panthers and Canadiens, two teams ranked inside the top-12 in limiting opponent shots on goal per game. Tonight, the Sabres draw a matchup against the 2-6-3 Flyers, who have allowed the second-most shots against per game this season (32.3). Philadelphia has allowed at least 26+ shots on goal in every game thus far, while Buffalo has totaled 24+ in all but one game. Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff has changed up the lines since Buffalo’s last outing, and Thompson seems to be returning to the wing position, which should lead to plenty of his signature slap shot or one-timer opportunities.
Matthew Tkachuk 1+ Assist (+110)
The Panthers have scored 18 goals across their past three outings, which is more than the club scored across its first six outings of the season. That’s some scary news for the rest of the league, and it’s been Matthew Tkachuk leading the way, with three goals and 11 assists. He ranks fourth in assists per 60 among all skaters, and he is one of 11 skaters to eclipse double-digit assists at this point in the season. It’s worth noting that seven of Tkachuk’s 11 assists have come via the power play, but that’s not a bad thing, considering Ottawa has taken the 12th-most penalties and deploys a middling penalty kill unit. These teams dislike each other quite a bit, too, and it’s Brady Tkachuk’s first game against his former team, so I’d expect some physicality and plenty of power play opportunities on both sides.
