Today’s NHL Prop Picks and Best Bets - Tuesday, March 5

Prop bet #1: Buying the bully

The New Jersey Devils return from the West Coast after an ugly 1-2 SU run which included a bad 4-3 loss to the Anaheim Ducks. Now they get back home and have to face the toughest team in hockey in the Florida Panthers, who have the NHL's best record at 42-16-4.

The Panthers are 11-2 SU since the All-Star break and have a per-game goal differential of more than two goals over this stretch. They played last night, meaning Anthony Stolarz will likely suit up, but that is still bad news for the Devils as Stolarz’s numbers have been even better than Sergei Bobrovsky’s.

Over Florida’s last 17 games, its opponents have scored three or more goals just once. This team is ready for the playoffs and despite playing last night, it gets a heavily-traveled team that has been a major disappointment and might be done for the season.

The New Jersey power play ranks 31st since February 1, Jack Hughes is frustrated, and this is the perfect team for the Panthers to bully. Florida will get the early lead and just protect the net all Game.

The books still overvalue the Devils and that’s why their team total Under 3.5 is paying just -150. I’d play the Under 2.5 at +125 or better, but -150 is in the buy-point and giving bettors a massive buffer. You have to go back to January 18 for the last time a team scored more than three goals vs. the Panthers.

New Jersey Devils prop: Team total Under 3.5 (-150 at Bet99)

Prop bet #2: Talent traders

The Winnipeg Jets are riding a 9-2 SU stretch and Josh Morrissey has been stuffing the score sheet. The No. 1 defenseman has a whopping 15 assists over his last eight games with an assist in seven of those matches.

A lot of that success has come with a Winnipeg power play that is hitting at 30% since the All-Star break. The Seattle Kraken are sitting in the bottom half of the league in killing penalties since February 1 and this club could be missing key pieces tonight after losing Vince Dunn to injury last night and Alex Wennburg sitting for trade-related reasons. Both guys are key components to the Seattle PK that allowed one goal on four tries last night vs. Calgary.

Seattle will likely use Joey Daccord in net and that’s great for the Jets’ team total Over. The now-backup goalie hasn’t seen action in four straight Games since giving up four goals on 13 shots vs. Minnesota on February 24.

Over the 11-Game heater, Winnipeg is scoring 3.45 goals per Game (ninth) and has a 34.5% power play (third). The offense has a great matchup tonight and could be even better if Gabe Vilardi can suit up.

Morrissey has been facilitating this Winnipeg offense and he’ll continue that tonight vs. a Seattle team that could be dealing away talent very soon.

Josh Morrissey prop: Over 0.5 assists (-105 at Bet99)

Prop bet #3: Roslovic, Rodrigues rack up shots

I’m getting creative with my final prop which is actually a 2-player parlay on a pair of Over 1.5 SOG props at +133.

Jack Roslovic of the Columbus Blue Jackets has enjoyed his move to the top line with Johnny Gaudreau and Boone Jenner as well as the top power-play unit. He is a perfect 10-0 to the Over on his 1.5 shot prop across his last 10 Games. Over that streak, he’s had two shots twice, three shots four times, four shots twice, and six shots two times. He isn’t just scraping by, he is crushing his Overs. 

The Blue Jackets also have a solid matchup vs. the Pittsburgh Penguins, who are losing faith and coming off a bad Sunday night loss in Edmonton. Columbus could trail, which is great for more minutes. Its offense has come alive and ranks third in expected goals/60 at even strength since February 1. 

Evan Rodrigues of the Panthers is the other part of this parlay. He is the shooter on the third line and also gets PP2 time. He is 17-3 to the Over on this 1.5 shot total over his last 20 games and has hit the 3+ shot mark 11 times over those 20 matches.

The Cats play a Devils team that is in the same spot as Pittsburgh and are also coming back from an ugly West Coast road trip. 

Let’s pair the two heavy shooters on a modest total for plus money. 

Jack Roslovic prop and Evan Rodrigues prop: Over 1.5 SOG each (+133 at Bet99)