Best NHL Prop Bets Today: Minnesota’s Hopes of Making the Playoffs Falls on Their Defense

With Minnesota’s defense capable of consistently smothering Anaheim’s shot attempts, expect the Wild to hold the Ducks under their team total and potentially stamp their ticket to the playoffs by securing a sizable win in regulation. Shortly after their puck drop, we turn our attention towards the Vegas Golden Knights as their offense has the opportunity to light up the scoreboard in a favorable matchup against the Calgary Flames who struggle to defend their net.

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Anaheim Ducks vs. Minnesota Wild - Prop Bets (8:00 PM, EST)

Anaheim Ducks Team Total Under 2.5 (-140) at BetMGM Sportsbook

As of writing, the Minnesota Wild have yet to secure their spot in the playoffs as they possess just a three point lead over Calgary in the Western Conference wildcard standings. Fortunately for the Wild, they control their own destiny as they can grab one of the two wildcard spots with a win over Anaheim on Tuesday night. Minnesota can also sneak into the playoffs if either the St. Louis Blues or Calgary Flames fail to win out.

Heading into their last game of the season, the Wild defense will put them in a great position to secure the win over Anaheim as they face off against a Ducks offense who ranks 24th overall in Expected Goals For in All Situations. Mainly with the Ducks lacking the versatility needed to stretch out the Wild coverage to help open up wider shooting lanes in front of their net as only three players average over 0.25 Expected Goals per game.

With the Ducks offense unable to create space, the Wild back line can provide their goaltending the coverage they need to put together a dominant performance. That bodes well for Filip Gustavsson who already gives the Wild a high level of individual production on a nightly basis as the Wild starting goalie averages just 2.57 Goals Against per game and a .914 Save Percentage. Expect Gustavsson to consistently wall off Anaheim’s low quality Shots on Goal and hold the Ducks under their team total.

Minnesota Wild Puck Line -1.5 (-102) at BetMGM Sportsbook

With Anaheim struggling to score, Minnesota will have a great opportunity to cover the puck line as their offense faces off against a Ducks back line who ranks 32nd in Expected Goals Against in All Situations. Especially with Kirill Kaprizov back on the ice as the star forward averages 0.50 Expected Goals per game and generates assists at a high rate. His presence will help create higher quality scoring opportunities for his linemates to exploit which increases Minnesota’s chances of building up a lead on the scoreboard.

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Vegas Golden Knights vs. Calgary Flames - Prop Bets (9:00 PM, EST)

Vegas Golden Knights Team Total Over 2.5 (-165) at BetMGM Sportsbook

Speaking of Calgary, the Flames are in desperate need of securing the win over Vegas should they want to keep their playoff hopes alive. A tall task for the Flames as their back line ranks 17th overall in Expected Goals Against in All Situations with an average of 3.08 Expected Goals Against per game. Especially with the Flames projected to roll out their back up goalie Dan Vladar as he averages nearly three Goals Against per game and a .895 Save Percentage.

Against Vegas, Vladar will be under a relentless amount of pressure as he faces off against a Golden Knights offense who ranks top-5 in Expected Goals For in All Situations and in 5-on-5 Play. Their depth allows them to pressure the net for the full duration of their contests which greatly reduces their chances of going through a cold stretch of play. If Dustin Wolf gets the start for Calgary instead, then reduce the size of your wager as the Calder Memorial Trophy contender gives them a far higher level of protection.

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Pavel Dorofeyev Over 2.5 Shots on Goal (-155) at BetMGM Sportsbook

With the Flames back line struggling to defend their net, Pavel Dorofeyev will have the opportunity to generate a higher volume of shot attempts by consistently exploiting their gaps in coverage. The Golden Knights forward has been one of their more consistent sources of production this season as Dorofeyev averages 0.34 Expected Goals and 3.04 Shots on Goal per game. For some more exposure, escalator bet Dorofeyev’s Shots on Goal prop by sprinkling smaller wagers on his alternate overs.

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