Best NHL Prop Bets Today | NHL Player Props, May 18

Florida Panthers vs Carolina Hurricanes

Sebastian Aho Anytime Scorer +130 (BetMGM)

The Florida Panthers will face the Carolina Hurricanes on the road in this in Game One of this Eastern Conference Finals battle. The Hurricanes are more experienced and have more talent, so I expect them to win this game. They also had a better regular season. Carolina’s Sebastian Aho will be the subject of our first prop of the day. Aho has been one of Carolina’s best players in the Playoffs. This is not surprising, given that he excelled during the regular season. Aho did not score in the last few games of the Second Round but will score once this game. Bet on him to be an Anytime Scorer.

Aho has five goals in the Playoffs. He only scored once in the Second Round but put four pucks in the back of the net in the First Round. Aho is a proven scorer and very dangerous with the puck in the hands. He scored once against the Panthers in the regular season. Aho will want to set the tone for this series in this game and will do so by shooting a lot. One of those shots will go in the back of the net. Bet on Aho to be an Anytime Scorer.

Florida Panthers vs Carolina Hurricanes

Matthew Tkachuk U 3.5 Shots on Goal -165 (BetMGM)

We will look at the Panthers’ Matthew Tkachuk for our second prop of the day. Tkachuk has been vital to the Panthers’ success this Postseason. He leads the team in points (16) and is playing over 21 minutes a game. However, the majority of his points have come on assists. Tkachuk has scored five goals but has taken on more of a passing role. The winger will have three or fewer shots today. Bet on the under.

Tkachuk is averaging 2.92 shots per game in the Playoffs. This is significantly lower than his season average of 4.05 shots per game. The 25-year-old did not shoot too much against the Hurricanes this season. He only faced Carolina twice and put up six shots in the process. If you combine Tkachuk’s decreased shooting in the Playoffs with the Hurricanes’ strong defense, it is easy to see why he will not shoot four times. Play if safe and bet on the under.

Florida Panthers vs Carolina Hurricanes

Stefan Noesen U 0.5 Points -135 (BetMGM)

Our third prop bet will also be safe but less safe than the second prop bet. It will involve the Hurricanes’ Stefan Noesen. Noesen has been pretty quiet in the Playoffs. He has three goals and three assists. The winger had a couple of big goals early on in the Playoffs, but his offense was nearly non-existent in the Second Round. Noesen will not have a point in this game. Bet on the under. 

Noesen has not had a point in his last three games. In addition, he had very little success against the Panthers in the regular season. He faced Florida three times and only had one goal and no assists. Noesen was not particularly impressive in the regular season but struggled against the Panthers. I do not expect anything to change this game. Noesen will fail to secure a point. Bet on the under.

Florida Panthers vs Carolina Hurricanes

Aleksander Barkov U 0.5 Assists -110 (BetMGM)

The Panthers’ Aleksander Barkov will be the subject of our fourth prop. Barkov has been productive in the Playoffs. However, he slowed down in the last three games of the Second Round. The center failed to get a point in any of those games. I do not know if Barkov will score this game, but I know he will not have an assist. Bet on the under.

Barkov faced the Hurricanes three times in the regular season and had zero assists. He scored twice but could not set up his teammates with an opportunity. This is surprising because Barkov had many more assists than goals in the regular season. However, it does lead me to believe that he will continue the trend and have an assist in this game. Follow the numbers and bet on the under.

Florida Panthers vs Carolina Hurricanes

Seth Jarvis U 2.5 Shot on Goal -120 (BetMGM)

The Hurricanes’ Seth Jarvis has excelled in the Playoffs. Jarvis produced a little bit during the season but was not a reliable scorer or passer. His scoring has been much better in the Playoffs, but he does not shoot too much. The center will finish this game with two or fewer shots. Bet on the under.

Jarvis is averaging 2.45 shots per game in the Playoffs. However, his shooting average took a dip in the Second Round. Jarvis had nine shots in five games in the Second Round and failed to secure a shot in the final game of the series. I do not expect him to go without a shot in this game, but he will continue his trend of only shooting once or twice. In addition, Jarvis only shot five times in three games against the Panthers this season. Bet on the under.

Florida Panthers vs Carolina Hurricanes

Sam Bennett O 0.5 Points -120 (BetMGM)

Our final prop bet of the day will involve the Panthers’ Sam Bennett. Bennett had an up-and-down Second Round. He came out hot with a one-goal, one-assist Game One but only had one assist from that point. I expect Bennett to have at least one point today. Bet on the over.

Bennett has four goals and four assists in the Playoffs. He has not been excellent, but he has been productive. Bennett faced the Hurricanes twice this season and performed well. He had one goal and one assist in two games. The center not only knows to be successful against the Hurricanes, but he has also had at least one point in each game of the Playoffs. This trend will continue today for Bennett. Bet on the over.