NHL Tuesday player props: 3 shooters worth backing
We have a juicy 10-game slate to look forward to Tuesday night, meaning there's plenty of value on the board.
Let's take a look at three of my favorite props.
Joel Eriksson Ek over 2.5 shots (-114)
The Montreal Canadiens have been a frequent target for shot totals, and there's not much reason to reconsider that strategy. The Habs continue to give up insane volume at five-on-five and on the penalty kill, ranking bottom-five in shot attempts against per 60 in each of the last 10 games.
A lot of the shots Montreal has allowed over the past month have come from opposing centers. In fact, only four teams have conceded more shots per game to the position during that time.
That makes Minnesota Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek a prime target. Not only is he scorching hot away from home - he has at least three shots in nine straight road dates - but he also excelled the last time he faced the Canadiens, piling up four shots on six attempts.
Expect similar success this time around.
Kirill Kaprizov over 3.5 shots (-106)
Double-dipping? Double-dipping! The matchup is too mouthwatering to target just one Wild player - especially when they have somebody as hot as Kirill Kaprizov.
The team's franchise player is scorching hot when it comes to generating shots, recording at least four in seven of his last 10 games. While he is generally more productive at home, it's not as if you can only target Kaprizov in Minnesota. He has hit in three of the last four home dates, with those hits coming against playoff teams like the St. Louis Blues and Nashville Predators.
What makes Kaprizov so appealing in this spot is the power-play matchup. Montreal is giving up shots on the penalty kill at a higher rate than every team in the league. Kaprizov just so happens to lead the Wild in attempts, shots on goal, and scoring chances on the man advantage this season. He is the focal point and stands to benefit most on the PP.
The Wild are fighting for home ice, so they won't hesitate to ride their best players. Back Kaprizov in Montreal.
Victor Hedman over 2.5 shots (-114)
The Detroit Red Wings are not the Arizona Coyotes, but they might be the next best thing when it comes to stopping shots from defensemen. The Red Wings have given up more points to defenders than every club in the NHL this campaign, and they're also one of the worst at limiting shots against the position.
The team's struggles have been very evident each time it's gone up against Victor Hedman, with the star Swede combining for 12 shots on goal and 24 shot attempts through three meetings versus Detroit.
The blue-liner hit in two of those games while falling one shot shy in the lone exception. The volume was there for success, though, as he attempted six shots but just failed to hit the net.
Hedman has been very consistent at home this season, going over the number 62% of the time. I like his chances of improving upon that tonight in a top-tier matchup.
Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.