NHL Friday player props: Caufield in slump-snapping spot vs. Sharks

We have a stuffed schedule ahead of us on Black Friday, as 30 of the league's 32 teams are set to hit the ice.

Let's waste no time getting to a few of my favorite players to back - or fade - on what should be an eventful day of hockey.

Cole Caufield over 3.5 shots

Note: This prop has a 3:30 ET start.

Caufield has gone cold of late, recording three shots or fewer in seven of his past 10 games. But I don't think that's any cause for concern.

Caufield dealt with a lot of good teams during this rough patch. He faced the Golden Knights, Canucks, and Bruins twice, among others. Those teams are winning games in bulk and giving up very few shots along the way.

It's also worth noting Caufield has given opponents a good run for their money, averaging 6.9 shot attempts over the past 10 games. Although that's a little below his usual pace, it's still pretty good volume, considering the level of competition.

Caufield broke out last game with a five-shot performance against the Ducks. I expect he'll have something similar in store on Friday.

The Sharks rank dead last in shots against per game this season, giving up nearly 40 per game. They can't stop a nosebleed.

The Canadiens should be able to put forth a ceiling performance in terms of shot generation, and Caufield will be the focal point of it all.

Odds: -140 (playable to -160)

Brayden Point under 2.5 shots

Point has drastic home/road splits. He's registered at least three shots on goal in eight of 11 games in Tampa Bay this season. His attempt volume - five per game - isn't anything to write home about, but he's a player who's selective with his shooting and generates most of his looks from in-tight, offering a higher chance of hitting the target.

Dating back to the beginning of last season, Point's success rate on the road is 17% lower. That's carried over this year, with Point failing to get the job done in five of nine tries away from home.

Although that doesn't sound too bad on the surface, there are a couple of things worth noting. Point has gone over against the Blackhawks, Senators, Canadiens, and Sabres. All four of those teams have defensive issues - some more than others - and sit outside of playoff spots.

He generated only three shots on goal combined against the playoff teams he faced on the road (Red Wings, Blues, and Maple Leafs).

If he struggled against those teams, he's likely in for a rude awakening against the Hurricanes. They're the best shot-suppression team in the NHL and allow fewer shots per game to centers than any other club.

Point has failed to record three shots in all five meetings with the Hurricanes since the beginning of the 2022-23 season. I expect that trend to continue in this one.

Odds: -114 (playable to -135)

Elias Lindholm over 2.5 shots

Death, taxes, and backing Lindholm against the Stars. The Flames' top center has registered at least three shots in six consecutive meetings with Dallas.

The stars are aligning - no pun intended - for another productive showing this time around. Lindholm has been a monster on the road this season, going over his total in 10 of 12 games. That's an 83% success rate.

Lindholm has averaged 5.2 attempts per game on the road, a tier above the 4.1 he's managed when playing in Calgary.

The Stars are a strong defensive team but are susceptible to giving up volume against centers. Only 13 teams have allowed more shots per game to the position.

With Lindholm generating shots at a higher clip on the road and the Stars giving up plenty to centers, Lindholm is a sneaky target on Friday night.

Odds: -114 (playable to -130)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @ToddCordell.