Best player props for Saturday’s NHL slate: Backing top players to score

The second set of NHL Game 3s is scheduled for Saturday which means there is a venue change to the lower seeds’ buildings. Every series has been close with each team in the playoffs winning at least 1 game, with the exception of the Nashville Predators. There will be hockey all day, starting with the Florida Panthers vs Washington Capitals at 1:00 pm ET and finishing with the Calgary Flames vs Dallas Stars at 9:30 pm ET. Let’s take a look at 2 games where we can find value with the player props that have a good chance of hitting.

Along with our player props, be sure to check out our full game previews for tonight’s matchups.

Aleksander Barkov over 0.5 goals (+166)

Aleksander Barkov got off to a rough start to his opening-round series, being held off the scoresheet while his team lost Game 1. Game 2 was much better, as he found the back of the net as his Panthers routed the Capitals 5-1.

Barkov led the #1 offense in the regular season in goals and will be pivotal to the team’s success in Game 3. He is the Panthers’ first-line center and on the top powerplay unit, which means he’ll get plenty of chances to score. Another factor in Barkov’s favor is that there is a question mark in net for the Capitals. With Vitek Vanecek getting pulled in Game 2, the Capitals may turn to backup goalie Ilya Samsonov. Look for Barkov to take advantage of a shaky goaltending situation and take over 0.5 Barkov goals.

Be sure to check out our full game preview for the Florida Panthers vs Washington Capitals

Nathan MacKinnon over 0.5 goals (+128)

Nathan MacKinnon has been on a tear to start the playoffs. He started the scoring in the Avalanche’s playoff series against the Predators just over 2 minutes into Game 1, adding another goal in the 3rd period en route to a 7-2 Avalanche victory. Game 2 was more of the same, as MacKinnon scored on the Avalanche’s first shot of the game just over 5 minutes into the contest. That is 3 goals in 2 games for the superstar.

MacKinnon, who is on the Avalanche’s top line and power-play unit, will get his chances, especially against whichever goalie the Predators start on Saturday. Connor Ingram was brilliant in Game 2, but that was only his 5th ever NHL game. David Rittich was chased from the net less than 1 period into Game 1 and Juuse Saros, the regular starter for the Predators, has a lower body injury that has held him out for over a week, including the first 2 games of the series. Look for MacKinnon to continue his goalscoring and take him to score over 0.5 goals.

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