NHL picks: 4 best bets for Thursday
03 Nov
NHL
Andrew Berkshire
Andrew Berkshire picks out his four best bets for Thursday, including three anytime goalscorer props.

All the latest NHL lines can be found on the Betway sportsbook. Before finalising your online sports betting selections, make sure to check out our expert’s NHL picks and NHL predictions.

Sometimes it makes sense to double down, and as we get into the second month of the NHL season, one of the smartest things to double down on is betting on players who are putting in the work but not yet getting results. Timo Meier has paid off for us twice in a row after scoring just once in his first nine games, so who are the players most due to put vulcanized rubber into mesh on Thursday evening?

Kyle Connor (Winnipeg Jets) to score anytime vs Montreal Canadiens 2.20

It didn’t work last time we tried it, but at a certain point you have to think Connor breaks through. He’s been one of the league’s best goalscorers for a few years now, and he’s getting his chances with 4.97 expected goals through just nine games played.

Also playing into Connor’s favour is the fact that he’s playing against the Canadiens, who have one of the league’s worst expected goals against rate this season. Passes go through the slot against the Habs, and the Jets are usually pretty good at finishing those - Connor especially.

Over 6.5 total goals in New Jersey Devils vs Edmonton Oilers 1.72

Who would have guessed that the New Jersey Devils would be the NHL’s best possession team after the first month of the season? Not only have the Devils got things going by the underlying numbers, they’ve won four straight and are scoring nearly four goals per game on the season.

On the other side, Edmonton isn’t the greatest possession team, but Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have been ripping the league to shreds, and so far there’s been no stopping them. I’d expect the Devils to carry the play in this game, but the Oil won’t go quietly into the night. Expect a high scoring affair.

Sam Bennett (Florida Panthers) to score anytime vs San Jose Sharks 3.00

In an incredibly late game with a 10:30pm ET start, the Florida Panthers will take on one of the weakest teams in the league in the San Jose Sharks, who have been lighting it up offensively led by Erik Karlsson, but giving up even more in their own end.

Sam Bennett has just a single goal this season despite getting tons of good looks, amounting to 4.72 expected goals, and he’s ripped 15 shots on net in his last three games. Bennett is poised to start getting pucks through.

Sam Reinhart (Florida Panthers) to score anytime vs San Jose Sharks 2.87

Another Panther who has been incredibly unlucky this season, Reinhart scored 33 goals last year to cap off a fifth-straight year of 20 goals or more, but he’s yet to strike this season at all. The lack of goals hasn’t stemmed from a lack of effort, as Reinhart has racked up 4.49 expected goals through 10 games.

Against the defensively-porous Sharks, it’s a great opportunity for Reinhart to get on the board for the first time this season.