By Ryan Gilbert
NHL Goalscorer Player Props #1: The Great 8
Alex Ovechkin (WSH) to score (+134 @ Fanduel) vs. BOS
First of all, go bet on this line right now if it’s still available. Ovechkin is at even money to score at other books so FanDuel is giving us a gift here at +134.
Ovechkin enters his 18th NHL season sitting third all-time in NHL history with 780 goals after putting up 50 last season. He’s just 20 goals shy of 800, 21 behind Gordie Howe’s 801 for second place, and trails Wayne Gretzky by 114 goals.
Ovi scored in 39 of his 76 games last season, which is just over half. He kept up that pace at home with 20 goals in 39 games.
The Russian sniper is arguably the best goalscorer in NHL history and to get odds of +134 for him to score on opening night at home is something I can’t pass up.
NHL Goalscorer Player Props #2: Connor McJesus
Connor McDavid (EDM) to score (+110 @ BetMGM) vs. VAN
This is another line we’re taking advantage of with McDavid as high as -120 to score on other books.
Simply put, whenever you can get the best player in the world to score at +110 you almost have to take it. Vancouver has a great goalie in Thatcher Demko, but the team in front of him is very suspect. The Canucks have a good group of forwards but their defensemen leave a lot to be desired.
Including the playoffs, McDavid scored in 46 of 96 games last season. He came out of the gate on fire with a 17-game point streak (12 goals, 20 assists in that span). McDavid didn’t score in last year’s season opener against Vancouver but did go for six goals in his next three games, including a hat trick against Calgary.
McDavid is going to be on another level this season and this is a great play at +110.
NHL Goalscorer Player Props #2: Bo knows
Bo Horvat (VAN) to score (+250 @ BetMGM) vs. EDM
We’re looking at the other side of this late matchup in Edmonton for our final prop of the night. Bo Horvat may be overlooked in Vancouver but he put up 31 goals in only 70 games last season. He had a goal in 25 of those games, which is about 36% to imply odds of +176.
The Oilers brought in Jack Campbell to shore up their goaltending position but even he isn’t fully proven. On top of that, Edmonton’s defense has not seen many improvements — which is where they need to upgrade to become a true Stanley Cup contender.
I went with two lower-odds plays for my first two, so let’s finish this off with a sprinkle on Horvat at +250.
