NHL prop picks April 12: Bet on Anders Lee in a must-win game for Islanders
There are just three NHL games on tap tonight but that still leaves several prop betting opportunities.
The pregame narrative: The New York Islanders can clinch a playoff spot by securing a point tonight and we expect their captain Anders Lee to clear his shot total. We’re also backing Andrew Mangiapane to find the score sheet and Jason Robertson to clear his shot prop against the St. Louis Blues.
Find all our best NHL props picks for April 12 below.
NHL odds as of 1:05 p.m. ET on 04/12/2023.
NHL prop picks
Best Bet: Lee over 2.5 shots (-114)
Lee isn’t the most offensively inclined player in the NHL — his 27 goals are tied for 59th and his 49 points are well outside the top 100 — but this is a matchup we’ll gladly back him in.
New York’s captain has cleared this total in each of his past three games, recording exactly four shots in each of those contests.
His season-long average of 2.61 shots per game places us right around tonight’s number, too. But what we’re really excited about is his matchup against the Montreal Canadiens.
The Habs are among the league’s worst teams at limiting opposing offence as their 33.71 shots allowed per game are fourth in the NHL.
Montreal just gave up a whopping 46 shots to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday and has little to play for tonight. Don’t expect a sterling defensive effort from one of the league’s worst teams.
Key stat: Montreal allows 35.53 shots per game on the road. That’s the third-highest mark in the NHL.
Quick picks
Mangiapane to record 1+ points (-120): The Calgary Flames’ playoff hopes have been dashed but that doesn’t mean Mangiapane can’t continue his hot streak.
The winger has recorded seven points in his past seven games, clearing this line in five of those contests.
He’ll also be going up against a San Jose Sharks squad that owns the worst team save percentage (.880) and allows the third-most goals per game (3.59).
Robertson over 3.5 shots (+100): Robertson’s breakout season has been nothing short of spectacular and we expect him to continue producing tonight.
He’s averaging 3.83 shots per game, just above this line, and the Blues are one of the more porous defences in the NHL. They are surrendering 32.26 shots per game (the ninth-highest mark in the NHL).
Roberston has fallen just shy of this line in his past two games but cleared it in the five contests prior.
