Today’s NHL Prop Picks and Best Bets - Friday, April 5

Prop bet #1: Laffy cruises in Motor City

New York Rangers winger Alexis Lafreniere is rolling along his best stretch of the season with eight goals, seven assists and at least one point in eight of his past 11 games. Playing with Art Ross hopeful Artemi Panarin and veteran Vincent Trocheck continues to work for the emerging winger, and the trio has been on the ice for a rock-solid 3.79 goals per 60 minutes and driving possession with a high-end 58.1 Corsi For percentage at 5-on-5.

This is also a great matchup with the Detroit Red Wings, reeling along a 4-10-2 stretch and sporting a league-low 44.2 CF% while allowing the third-most goals per 60 (3.26) at 5-on-5. Additionally, the Red Wings rank 27th in penalty-kill percentage (73.3%) during the stretch, and Lafreniere jumps the boards with the No. 2 power-play unit.

I also value these Alexis Lafreniere odds because Panarin is trading at a 1.5 point total and Trocheck is priced at -180 to find the scoresheet. Lafreniere has aced the eye test for most of the season, and the 2020 first overall pick is a big reason why he and his linemates are having such a successful stretch.

Alexis Lafreniere prop: Over 0.5 points (-115 at Bet99)

Prop bet #2: Dry night for Durzi

The Vegas Golden Knights are rounding into top form at just the right time and have their full blueline corps back in action. Additionally, Vegas has improved considerably at 5-on-5 since No. 1 center Jack Eichel returned with a fourth-ranked 53.6 Corsi For percentage while allowing the second-fewest expected goals per 60 minutes (2.14).

Vegas also has plenty to play for to both stay ahead of the Los Angeles Kings and potentially catch the Edmonton Oilers in the Pacific Division. As a result, I’m expecting the Golden Knights to continue playing strong defense against an inferior Arizona Coyotes lineup. 

Coyotes defenseman Sean Durzi is having a solid season with 36 points across 69 Games, but his 1.38 points per 60 are lower than last year’s 1.6 mark while playing with the Kings, and he’s only found the scoresheet in three of his past 14 contests. These Sean Durzi odds haven’t priced in the recent defensive improvements or the returning blueliners of the Golden Knights enough.

Sean Durzi prop: Under 0.5 points (-125 at Bet99)

Prop bet #3: Backing Barbashev

The Golden Knights are going to roll out a top line of Jack Eichel, Jonathan Marchessault and Ivan Barbashev again Friday against the Coyotes, and Barbashev also projects to remain with the No. 1 power-play unit. Arizona is reeling along a horrible stretch with the second-most goals against per game (3.93) and a 30th-ranked 69.8 penalty-kill percentage across its past 30 contests.

Barbashev, Eichel, and Marchessault have been on the ice for 4.27 goals per 60 since Eichel returned to action March 4, and the trio were even better during the playoffs last year with a 4.59 mark. As noted, Vegas still has a lot on the line, and these Ivan Barbashev odds aren’t pricing in that he’s also skating with Eichel and Marchessault on the No. 1 PP unit.

Ivan Barbashev prop: Over 0.5 points (+115 at Bet99)