Best NHL Prop Bets Today: Expect a Defensive Slugfest Between the Kings and Panthers

With the Los Angeles Kings only fielding three players who average more than 0.25 Expected Goals per game, their struggles on offense are poised to persist as they face off against a Florida Panthers defense who excels in coverage. At the same time as their puck drop, the Toronto Maple Leafs back line have the opportunity to round back into competitive form as they face off against the anemic Minnesota Wild offense.

Los Angeles Kings vs. Florida Panthers - Prop Bets (7:00 PM, EST)

Los Angeles Kings Team Total Under 2.5 (-115) at BetMGM Sportsbook

After going 4-5-1 in their last 10 games, the Los Angeles Kings have seen their odds to win the Pacific division title steadily decline while the Edmonton Oilers continue to grow their lead at the top of the division standings. The Kings lack of offensive production has made them overly reliant on their defense, forcing them to combat against a high amount of variance which handicaps their chances of winning.

Generating offensive production has been a struggle for the Kings this season as their front line heads into Wednesday night ranked 20th overall in Expected Goals For in All Situations with an average of 2.99 Expected Goals per game. Their lack of playmakers hurts their ability to generate high quality Shots on Goal as they struggle to shift over back lines to help create gaps in their coverage.

After retooling their back lines in the offseason, the reigning Stanley Cup champions have still managed to play at a competitive level on defense as the Florida Panthers rank above league average in Expected Goals Against in All Situations and in 5-on-5 Play. Even with Sergei Bobrovsky struggling to play at a high level, the Kings inability to stretch out their coverage will give the former Vezina Trophy winner an opportunity to round back into form by consistently walling off their low quality Shots on Goal.

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Gustav Forsling Over 1.5 Shots on Goal

On the other side of the ice, the Kings defense has been dominant as their back line leads the league in Expected Goals Against in All Situations. While that normally results in a decrease in the number of opposing Shots on Goal, the Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling may see an uptick in his shot attempts as his pressure from the blue line will help scramble their coverage. Forsling has excelled in his efforts of weaving the puck through back lines this season as he averages 2.59 Shots on Goal per game.

Minnesota Wild vs. Toronto Maple Leafs - Prop Bets (7:00 PM, EST)

Minnesota Wild Team Total Under 2.5 (-117) at Caesars Sportsbook

Just when it looked like the Minnesota Wild offense was going to round back into form with Kirill Kaprizov making his return from injury, the star forward has announced he is going to undergo surgery and will miss another couple weeks of play. A devastating loss as the Wild offense currently ranks 28th overall in Expected Goals For in All Situations with an average of 2.80 Expected Goals per game.

That bodes well for the Toronto Maple Leafs as their back line has struggled to defend their net as of late, giving their defense the opportunity to string together a dominant performance. Even if their star goalie Anthony Stolarz is still out while recovering from surgery, Joseph Woll has shown he can play at a competitive level as the Maple Leafs backup goalie is averaging 2.67 Goals Against per game and a .907 Save Percentage.

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Toronto Maple Leafs to Win in Regulation

With Minnesota’s front line expected to struggle, that gives Toronto the opportunity to secure the win in regulation as they possess more than enough offensive production to break through their stout coverage.

Especially with Auston Matthews back in dominant form as the Maple leafs star center has generated 15 points in 11 games in the month of January while averaging an astonishing 0.58 Expected Goals per game. For some added fun, sprinkle a small wager on Matthews to be the first goal scorer as well.