NHL player prop bets (Feb. 24): Dream matchup for Jets’ Connor vs. Sharks
Join Daily Faceoff’s Nick Martin as he handicaps the best NHL player props available on Monday night.
Kyle Connor Anytime Goalscorer: -105 Sports Interaction
After a surprisingly quiet showing in the first three games of the 4 Nations Face-Off, Connor was a healthy scratch by head coach Mike Sullivan in the tournament final. In the Winnipeg Jets’ return to action on Saturday Connor certainly looked to have a chip on his shoulder, as he poured a season-high 10 shots on target.
Connor gets a dream matchup for production Monday, as the Jets will host the San Jose Sharks, who will be playing leg two of a travelling back-to-back.
Over the last 15 games, the Sharks are 2-12-1, and have allowed an absurd average of 4.40 goals against per game. They hold the league’s worst xGA/60 in that span of 3.89, and have also received a league-worst save percentage of .859.
Monday’s start will likely be offered to Vitek Vanecek, after Alexandar Georgiev started last night in Calgary. While it is possible that Vanecek is the superior of the two options, he certainly has not proven it in his initial 16 appearances of the season.
Vanecek’s -0.640 Goals Saved Above Expected Per 60 rating is drastically worse than Georgiev’s, while his .876 save percentage is nearly identical. Among goaltenders to make over 15 appearances this season, Vanecek’s GSAx per 60 rating is only better than Philipp Grubauer.
Counting his appearances in the 4 Nations Face-Off, it’s been seven games since Connor found the back of the net. We should see one of the game’s best finishers eager to snap that streak on Monday, and he will likely get plenty of quality chances versus a weak starter in this matchup.
The price for Connor to score (-105) is much worse than usual, but it still doesn’t look to be enough of an adjustment to just how favorable this spot appears to be. If you’re a bettor who enjoys mixing in some same-game parlays, it also looks like a good spot to consider some long-shots involving big nights from the Jets’ top trio of Connor, Mark Scheifele, and Gabriel Vilardi.
Kevin Fiala Anytime Goalscorer: +175 Sports Interaction
When Fiala is at his best, there aren’t too many players in the league capable of offering more dynamic play. He has put up eight goals and 15 points over the last 13 games, and continues to look entirely dominant from an offensive perspective.
In the Los Angeles Kings’ return to action on Saturday, Fiala managed a goal and an assist, while pouring six attempts on target.
It’s been clear watching the Kings lately that Fiala is generating a lot of quality chances, and his underlying numbers seem to accurately reflect that. Over the last 15 games, Fiala has generated 0.41 expected goals per game, averaging 7.5 shot attempts per game.
Fiala, Quinton Byfield, and Alex Laferriere have formed a tremendously effective trio, which should remain together in this matchup. In 93.2 minutes together, they hold a team-leading 68.2% expected goal share, and have scored 5.12 goals per 60.
The Vegas Golden Knights provide a tougher than average matchup, but have not been so defensively dominant that we should look away from Fiala at this price. Over the last 15 games, the Knights have allowed 2.80 goals against per game, which ranks 14th in the NHL.
You can follow all of Nick’s hockey bets on the Action Network app!