Best NHL player prop bets (Feb. 27): Back these two players to score Thursday

Join Daily Faceoff’s Nick Martin as he handicaps the best NHL player props available on Thursday night.

Cole Caufield Anytime Goalscorer: +135 Sports Interaction

Caufield was able to find the back of the net when the Montreal Canadiens and San Jose Sharks last faced off on February 4th, and there’s a lot to like about backing him to score once again in this highly favorable matchup at a nearly identical price.

The Canadiens have come out of the break in excellent form, recording back-to-back victories over the Ottawa Senators and Carolina Hurricanes by a combined margin of 9-2.

Excellent play from their top line of Caufield, Nick Suzuki, and Juraj Slafkovsky has been one key reason for the team’s pair of comfortable wins. They have played to a 66% expected goal share in the two matchups, outscored opponents 2-1 at even strength, and combined for nine points.

The Canadiens’ top power play unit has looked sharp coming out of the break, recording three goals in seven opportunities. The Sharks penalty kill has been awful of late, succeeding on just 68% of opportunities over the last 20 games.

In the same span, the Sharks have allowed a league-high 3.17 xGA/60 at even strength, and received the league’s worst even-strength save percentage of .895.

Caufield has been getting plenty of quality scoring chances of late, as he has put up 2.09 expected goals from 28 attempts over the last four matchups.

It seems likely that Caufield will once again get some quality looks in this soft matchup, as the Canadiens’ top even strength unit has looked quite threatening recently, while the top power play unit has also moved the puck quite effectively.

At +135, we are getting a good price to back one of the game’s purest goal-scorers continuing his strong season with another goal, which would tie his career high of 28.

Kirill Marchenko Anytime Goalscorer: +200 Sports Interaction

The schedule couldn’t have broken better for the NHL, as the Blue Jackets and Red Wings enter tonight’s Stadium Series preview narrowly holding down the final two Eastern Conference playoff spots.

Just as the timing of this home-and-home has worked out beautifully for the league, the timing of the 4 Nations Face-Off worked out quite well for the Blue Jackets, as it allowed top forward Kirill Marchenko to recover from a broken jaw.

There’s a lot of forwards in the midst of excellent seasons from both sides in this matchup, but there’s an argument to be made Marchenko has been the greatest needle-mover of all.

Marchenko has put up 59 points in 54 games, and ranks second in the NHL with a +33 rating. Per Evolving Hockey’s model, he holds an offensive rating of 98, which is a number that isn’t surprising watching his play this season.

Marchenko hasn’t missed a beat in his first two games back from injury, recording two goals and two assists.

The Blue Jackets’ top line of Marchenko, Adam Fantilli and Dmitri Voronkov was highly effective in both of those matchups, and has been consistently dominant this season. In 229.5 minutes together, they have generated 3.54 xGF/60, and outscored opponents 16-7 where it counts.

It certainly doesn’t hurt that head coach Dean Evason often sends his top offensive unit out with Zach Werenski, who continues to do an excellent job powering offense from the back end.

Chances are Marchenko and the Blue Jackets skaters will play big minutes in this critical matchup, as they continue their pursuit of a playoff berth, which would be a very lovable story.

While the Red Wings have been on fire of late, thanks largely to their historically effective power play, they are still far from a defensive juggernaut. Over the last 20 games Detroit has allowed 3.31 xGA/60, which is the 11th- highest mark in the NHL.

At +200, we are getting a good number to back Marchenko finding the back of the net, as he takes on a relatively modest defensive side in a critical spot.