Best NHL player prop bets (Dec. 12): Good value on a Celebrini assist vs. Blues
Join Daily Faceoff’s Nick Martin as he handicaps the best NHL player props available on Thursday night:
Pierre-Luc Dubois/Aliaksei Protas Over 0.5 Points Parlay: +300 (Sports Interaction)
Since Alex Ovechkin’s injury on November 18th, the Washington Capitals are 6-2-1 and have scored 3.44 goals per game. While Ovechkin’s chase to surpass Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record has naturally garnered most of the headlines in Washington this season, the Capitals lineup features a number of skaters who have quietly gotten off to brilliant starts to the campaign.
Perhaps the two most unheralded Caps’ skaters this season have been Dubois’ and Protas, who have been highly productive of late. I’ve outlined before how Dubois’ production looks likely to to increase. He has been one of few Capitals that has been snake-bitten in front of goal, and that has also had his scoring-chance assists finished at a below-average rate. Protas features one of the more underrated skillsets in the league right now. The 6-foot-6-inch, 230-pound Belarusian is an excellent forechecker, and has shown strong vision and hockey sense this season. He ranks second in the NHL with 3.45 points-per-60 in even-strength play this season.
Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery shook up his offensive units after two periods with his team losing to Montreal on Saturday, pairing Tom Wilson, Protas, and Dubois together. That trio broke through with two critical goals late in the third. Based on yesterday’s practice, that unit will remain together in this matchup versus a Columbus Blue Jackets side which has allowed 3.61 goals against per game this season.
Splitting your stake between Dubois (-110 Sports Interaction) and Protas (+125 Sports Interaction) to record a point is also a good option, but if you can get the +300 for them each to record a point that is my preferred way to play this angle.
Macklin Celebrini to Record an Assist: +170 (Sports Interaction)
Celebrini continues to look entirely dominant, and it seems entirely possible that he may ultimately overachieve the lofty expectations that came with his first-overall selection last June.
This Macklin Celebrini assist deserves some more love. 🤩
Just 18 years old. pic.twitter.com/Un557hP0MZ
The St. Louis Blues have allowed just 2.62 goals against per game this season, and have enjoyed a surge under new head coach Jim Montgomery. With that said, we have just seen Celebrini look dominant in matchups versus some high quality teams, and it’s been surprising reviewing those outings he did not rack up more points.
At a long price of +170, I see value backing Celebrini to record an assist Thursday.
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