Best NHL player prop bets (March 25): Back Cozens in a classic revenge spot vs. former team

Join Daily Faceoff’s Nick Martin as he handicaps the best NHL player props available on Tuesday night at Sports Interaction.

Dylan Cozens Over 0.5 points: -105 Sports Interaction

Dylan Cozens will square off against the Buffalo Sabres for the first time since being traded on March 7th, as the Ottawa Senators look to continue putting the finishing touches on their first playoff berth since the 2016-17 season.

Cozens’ fantastic play throughout his brief tenure with the Senators has bolstered the team’s chances of snapping their seven-year playoff drought. Cozens has recorded a point in seven of his eight games played with Ottawa, and has displayed strong chemistry with Drake Batherson and David Perron on a potent second line.

In 68.6 minutes of play together, Cozens, Batherson, and Perron hold a 66.7% goal share, and have scored 5.25 goals per 60.

Cozens has also earned a spot on the Senators’ top power play unit, which has succeeded on 27.3% of opportunities in eight games since the trade.

On top of the fact that Cozens may have a little extra jump in Tuesday’s matchup, the Sabres provide a great matchup for Cozens to remain productive, as they have been one of the league’s worst defensive sides recently. In 12 games this month, Buffalo has allowed 4.17 goals against per game, and holds a 20th-ranked penalty kill.

Cozens obviously had more offensive upside than he showed with the Sabres this year, and it seems as though a price of -105 for him to record a point is not enough of an adjustment for his return to form in more favorable roles.

Aliaksei Protas Over 0.5 points: +140 Sports Interaction

If the NHL allotted a most improved player trophy Protas would likely be the 2024-25 winner, as the six-foot-six behemoth has taken gigantic strides forward offensively. His skating was a concern during his draft year, but has now become a strength relative to his size, while his shooting abilities are also drastically improved.

Protas ranks seventh in the entire NHL with 58 even strength points. He ranks second to only Sean Monahan in even strength points per 60. He has had far better than average luck in terms of linemates finishing his scoring chance assists at a high rate, but his offensive upside still looks to be undervalued in the betting markets.

Protas is set to skate with Dylan Strome and Alex Ovechkin in Tuesday’s matchup with the Winnipeg Jets, and the trio has been tremendously effective offensively. They have scored 4.81 goals per 60 over a large sample of 261.8 minutes of play.

Protas has recorded 13 points over his last 10 games, and while the Jets provide a difficult matchup, +140 looks to be too long of a number to pass up.

You can follow all of Nick’s hockey bets on the Action Network app!