Best player props for Thursday's NHL slate: Johansen strikes against his former team

Thursday night brings us 7 games on the NHL slate. That means we have plenty of options to consider when it comes to player props. Today I am taking a look at 2 specific matchups and breaking down 2 props that I think have a solid chance of hitting. Along with these props, don’t forget to check out our full game preview for each matchup tonight. You can also follow Pickswise and myself on Twitter for plenty of betting content covering all sports.

Now let’s get to it.

Ryan Johansen over 0.5 points (-120)

Line available at FanDuel at time of publishing

Ryan Johansen was recently cleared of Covid protocols, and he returned to the ice on Wednesday against the Capitals. While he did not record a point in that game, now that he has a game under his belt to get back into a rhythm, I like his chances of finding the score sheet tonight. Johansen has collected 24 points (8 goals, 16 assists) in 28 games this season. However, he has been hot lately. After a slow start out of the gate, he has registered 15 points (3 goals, 12 assists) in his last 12 games.

Johansen goes up against his former team tonight, so he could have a little extra motivation to put on a strong performance. In addition, the Blue Jackets have been struggling. Columbus is 2-7-1 in its last 10 games. The Blue Jackets are allowing 3.36 goals per game, which is the 7th-most in the league. The Preds scored 6 goals agains the Jackets in their meeting on November 30, and Johansen collected an assist in that game. Look for Johansen to find the score sheet against his former team tonight.

Be sure to check out our full game preview for Nashville Predators vs Columbus Blue Jackets.

Ondrej Palat under 0.5 points (-106)

Line available at FanDuel at time of publishing

On Tuesday I was on Ondrej Palat to record over 0.5 points. He came through for us with a game-winning goal just 36 seconds into overtime. However, this time around I am backing the under with this point total. Palat now has points in back-to-back games, but he has not been able to string together many point streaks this season. In fact, Palat has yet to register points in 3 consecutive games this season. On the year, he has 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) in 30 games, so it’s not like he has been posting elite scoring numbers.

Tonight Palat and the Bolts face off against the Panthers. Florida has been tough on their home ice, posting a record of 15-3-0 at FLA Live Arena. Look for Florida to pick up the intensity in their own zone to make life difficult for the Tampa Bay offense. Spencer Knight may get the start in net, as Sergei Bobrovsky started last night. Knight beat Tampa Bay by a score of 4-1 on October 19, making 30 saves in the process. Palat may have some trouble finding the score sheet tonight, so consider backing the under here.

Be sure to check out our full game preview for Tampa Bay Lightning vs Florida Panthers.