Best NHL player prop bets (March 27): Still great value on this red-hot betting market

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

Dylan Cozens Over 0.5 Points: -105 Sports Interaction

Oddsmakers continue to be reluctant to lower the price for Cozens to record a point, and it’s hard to see why. Cozens was priced at -105 to record a point on Tuesday versus the Buffalo Sabres and was able to find the scoresheet early in the first period and has now put up at least one point in eight of his nine games since being traded to the Ottawa Senators.

Cozens was horribly ineffective while playing for the Buffalo Sabres this season, recording just 31 points in 61 games with poor underlying results. As has been the case for a number of other high-profile forwards traded out of Buffalo, he seems to be invigorated skating in his new role with the Senators.

While Cozens has clearly regained his confidence and elevated his game since arriving in Ottawa, he’s also playing in far more favorable roles for production.

Though Cozens was part of the problem, he spent most of his time with the Sabres this season playing on a highly ineffective second line alongside Jack Quinn. He’s spent most of his time in Ottawa playing alongside Drake Batherson, who has significant offensive upside for a second-liner.

In 78.9 minutes together, Cozens, Batherson, and David Perron have scored 4.56 goals per 60.

The Senators’ power play has succeeded on 30.8% of opportunities since Cozens arrived, and he’s likely to remain on the top unit in Thursday’s matchup versus the Detroit Red Wings.

The Red Wings have allowed 3.42 goals against per game in the month of March, and their penalty kill holds a success rate of just 60.0%.

At -105, there looks to be value backing Cozens to continue his offensive resurgence versus a suspect defensive team Thursday.

Quinton Byfield Over 0.5 Points: +115 Sports Interaction

The Los Angeles Kings look likely to be a tough matchup come the postseason, and could have a better chance of finally getting past the Edmonton Oilers than is generally being credited. While they have been an elite defensive team in each of the past three seasons, their offensive firepower looks considerably improved. Since February 1st, the Kings are 14-4-3, and have scored 3.33 goals per game.

Byfield, Kevin Fiala, and Alex Laferriere have compiled one of the league’s most effective lines for a fairly significant sample of play. In 246.8 minutes of even-strength play, they hold a 75% goal share, outscoring opponents 15-5. Their 60.5% expected goal share ranks eighth among all lines that have played over 200 minutes together.

Since February 1st, Byfield and Fiala are tied for the team lead with 21 points in 21 games. At his best, Fiala is one of the game’s most dynamic offensive skaters and has benefitted from playing alongside a power forward in Byfield this season.

With 1.82 points per game in his final season in the OHL, Byfield was expected to be an elite producer at the NHL level. After a slow start to the season, Byfield is now living up to his offensive potential. It seems more reasonable to believe his true offensive upside is closer to what we have seen lately than what we saw earlier on in the season.

While the Colorado Avalanche provide a tougher-than-average matchup, a price of +115 for Byfield to record a point still looks too high to pass up considering his recent form.

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