NHL

NHL Props & Best Bets Today – 10-14

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1m ago

Oct 15, 2024 / 6542 Views

Evan Walker

There are a trio of afternoon Games on Monday, October 14, and our top NHL player props have you covered for all the action.

New York Rangers star Mika Zibanejad headlines today’s top NHL picks, with New York Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson and Utah Hockey Club blueliner Mikhail Sergachev rounding out the card.

NHL prop picks and best bets for October 14

Zibanejad Over 2.5 shots (-135 at BET99)
Sergachev Under 0.5 points (-120 at BET99)
Dobson Under 0.5 points (-140 at BET99)

Picks made on 10-14 at 9:00 a.m. ET.

Today’s NHL prop picks and best bets

Prop bet #1: Mika Zibanejad Over 2.5 shots

-135 at BET99

New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad skates in top offensive situations and lands in a favorable matchup against the Detroit Red Wings on Monday. Detroit allowed a healthy 32.01 shots and 64.3 attempts per 60 minutes last season, and the Wings have been run over to the tune of 47.74 and 107.57 marks to start this season.

The Red Wings aren’t going to be peppered that much all season, but there’s room for them to improve significantly on Monday and still check out as a plus matchup.

Additionally, Zibanejad has statistical correction of his own ahead. He’s turned his eight attempts into just a single shot through the first two Games and registered four attempts in each. He recorded 8.29 shots on 15.53 attempts per 60 minutes last year, so I’m expecting improvement on the respective 1.51 and 12.06 ratios to start 2024-25.

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Prop bet #2: Mikhail Sergachev Under 0.5 points

-120 at BET99

It’s still early, but the New Jersey Devils have been excellent defensively, with the seventh-fewest expected goals against per 60 minutes. They’re also sporting a 90.9 penalty-kill percentage, and I’m anticipating the Devils turning in a tidy defensive game against the visiting Utah Hockey Club.

Utah has exploded out of the gate with three straight wins but has lost the possession battle and expected-goals battle at 5-on-5 while posting an unsustainably high 14.52 team shooting percentage. Add the eighth-worst team save percentage at 5-on-5, and Utah has a wakeup call coming Monday night.

Turning to Mikhail Sergachev, he’s the clear No. 1 defenseman on the team and logging big minutes (25:53 with 1:51 on the power play). Still, he’s only lined up for 40% of draws in the offensive zone at 5-on-5, and Utah has an overall 19.44 SH% with him on the ice through three games. This is a ripe setup for Sergachev & Co. to be held in check.

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Prop bet #3: Noah Dobson Under 0.5 points

-140 at BET99

I’m expecting New York Islanders No. 1 defenseman Noah Dobson to see steady on-ice matchups opposite Colorado Avalanche superstar Nathan MacKinnon on Monday. It’s a daunting assignment, too, with MacKinnon sporting a 56.7 Corsi For percentage and 56.8 expected goals percentage at 5-on-5 dating back to last season.

Additionally, Dobson isn’t projected to skate on the No. 1 power-play unit, and Colorado has allowed the second-fewest expected goals per 60 at 5-on-5 (1.79) to start the year. The Avalanche also went 31-9-1 on home ice last season while allowing a middling 2.49 xGA per 60 at 5-on-5.

I’m also anticipating improvement in the Colorado crease. Avs goalies Alexandar Georgiev and Justus Annunen have only stopped 30 of 44 shots for a league-worst .682 team save percentage. More saves are coming on Monday.

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