Best NHL Prop Bets Today: Tampa Bay in Desperate Need of a Win

After a mediocre stretch of play, the Tampa Bay Lightning are now on the verge of missing out on the playoffs as they are currently tied with the Columbus Blue Jackets for the last wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference wildcard standings. Fortunately for Tampa, they have the opportunity to create some separation between the two with a favorable matchup against the Chicago Blackhawks.

At the same time as their puck drop, we also turn our attention towards the Carolina Hurricanes as their offense is in a position to light up the scoreboard against the lowly New York Rangers defense. The Rangers back line have struggled to protect their net this season as their defense enters the contest ranked near dead last in Expected Goals Against in All Situations and in 5-on-5 Play.

As for where to wager on NHL props, BetMGM Sportsbook has been the top choice for the league as they offer an abundance of markets for their users to choose from and at very favorable odds when compared to the rest of the mobile apps. If you have not signed up yet with BetMGM Sportsbook and are looking to get in on the action, you can get up to $1,500 back in the form of bonus bets should you lose your first wager after creating an account with the WSN promo code WSNSPORTS.

*Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Add’l terms.

Chicago Blackhawks vs. Tampa Bay Lightning - Prop Bets (7:00 PM, EST)

Chicago Blackhawks Team Total Under 2.5 (-150) at BetMGM Sportsbook

It’s been a rough year for the Chicago Blackhawks this season as they are currently in last place in the Central division standings and are just one point ahead of the San Jose Sharks for the lowest amount of points in the league. Their lack of offensive production has played a major role in their struggles as the Blackhawks front line ranks 32nd in Expected Goals For in All Situations with an average of 2.48 Expected Goals per game.

Against Tampa Bay, the Blackhawks struggles on offense are poised to persist as they face off against a Lightning back line who ranks top-10 in Expected Goals Against in All Situations. Especially with Andrei Vasilevskiy playing at a very high level as the former Vezina Trophy winner enters the contest averaging 2.38 Goals Against per game and a .916 Save Percentage. Expect Vasilevskiy to put together another dominant performance while his back line consistently smothers the Blackhawks shot attempts.

Use WSNSPORTS at BetMGM for $1,500 Bonus

Tampa Bay Lightning Puck Line -1.5 (-130) at Caesars Sportsbook

Not only have the Blackhawks been abysmal on offense, but their back line has also severely underwhelmed as their defense currently ranks 26th in Expected Goals Against in All Situations. Their lack of coverage will leave them prone to falling quickly behind on the scoreboard while their own offense struggles to match the Lightning’s scoring pace. For some extra exposure, escalator bet the Lightning puck line by placing smaller wagers on their alternate spreads.

$1,059 First Bet on Caesars with Promo Code WSN1000

Carolina Hurricanes vs. New York Rangers - Prop Bets (7:00 PM, EST)

Carolina Hurricanes Team Total Over 3 (-120) at BetMGM Sportsbook

With the Washington Capitals continuing to win at a consistent rate, the Carolina Hurricanes are in desperate need of sparking a hot stretch of play should they want to remain in contention for the Metropolitan division title. Especially with the New Jersey Devils hot on their tails, leaving the Hurricanes prone to falling into the three spot and having to ward off the rest of the division for the last auto berth in the playoffs.

Fortunately for Carolina, their offense will have the opportunity to carry them to a regulation win by consistently generating high quality Shots on Goal against a Rangers defense who ranks 29th in Expected Goals Against in All Situations. Even with Igor Shesterkin back from injury, the star goalie has struggled to play at a competitive level while his back line allows opposing offenses to rifle off an alarming amount of shots towards their net. If their team total ticks up to 3.5, then reduce the size of your wager.

Claim $1,500 in Bonus Bets at BetMGM

Mikko Rantanen Anytime Goalscorer (+145) at FanDuel Sportsbook

As for who will do the scoring for Carolina, Mikko Rantanen has been their most consistent source of scoring production as the Hurricanes forward is averaging 0.46 Expected Goals per game. Rantanen has had the benefit of playing alongside Sebastian Aho as his center excels at hitting his linemates in stride to help set up high quality Shots on Goal. With the Rangers defense struggling to stay in front of the puck, expect Rantanen to exploit their gaps in coverage and net his 26th goal of the season.

Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets if Your Bet Wins