NHL player prop bets (Feb. 25): Back these two players to record a point Tuesday
Join Daily Faceoff’s Nick Martin as he handicaps the best NHL player props available on Tuesday night.
Matvei Michkov Over 0.5 Points: -110 Sports Interaction
It’s a little frightening to back Michkov in the prop market, as head coach John Tortorella has either entirely benched or drastically cut the ice time of his young superstar in a number of matchups this season. However, his lesser usage at times also could work in favor of a bet given this number.
The ultra-talented young winger seems to have regained his confidence entering this matchup and currently has a great spot in the lineup, and considering those two factors, a price of -110 for him to record a point likely won’t exist for long, especially in a matchup versus the Pittsburgh Penguins, who have allowed 3.68 goals against per game this season, and now look even worse defensively having traded away their best defensive defensemen Marcus Pettersson.
Michkov came out of the break with a dominant three-point performance versus the Edmonton Oilers, finishing with a +5 rating and game-high 84% expected goal share. He entered the break with two strong performances versus the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals, skating over 18 minutes in both games and recording two goals.
Michkov remained on the top line alongside Owen Tippett and Sean Couturier at yesterday’s practice, a unit which has been highly effective thus far. In 30.8 minutes together, they hold a 70.8% expected goal share and a 4-0 goal differential.
Logan Cooley Over 0.5 Points: -130 Sports Interaction
With Logan Cooley, Dylan Guenther, Sean Durzi, and John Marino all back in the lineup, it is still realistic for the Utah Hockey Club to go on the kind of run needed to claim the final Wild Card spot out West.
They enter Tuesday’s highly favorable matchup with the Chicago Blackhawks sitting only four points back of the scuffling Vancouver Canucks, and I’m counting on one of their young superstars to have another productive evening.
Whether Utah is ultimately able to secure a playoff berth or not, Cooley’s tremendous play should provide a ton of positivity moving forward. The 20-year-old has been fantastic this season, recording 44 points in 51 games, including nine points in his last 10 outings.
Cooley skated alongside Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz in his return to action on Sunday, netting a goal and two shots on target. In 138.6 minutes together, Utah’s top trio has scored 3.90 goals per 60, which is far from surprising given the offensive skillsets of all three skaters.
Over the last 20 games, the Blackhawks have allowed 3.80 goals against per game, and 3.75 xGA/60. They have also allowed 35.19 shots against per 60 in that span, which is the worst mark in the league by a wide margin.
Over the last three months of play, Cooley has been a point-per-game player, recording at least one point in 24 of 32 games played. Given how favorable of a matchup this is, -130 looks to be a great number to back Cooley to continue his excellent run of production.
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