A pair of games dot the NHL schedule Wednesday, somewhat limiting our NHL player props options, with the Boston Bruins visiting the Tampa Bay Lightning, and the Buffalo Sabres hosting the Ottawa Senators.
The Bruins are playing for the second consecutive night after topping the Florida Panthers 4-3 on Tuesday, while the other three teams have all been off since Sunday. Buffalo is the largest favorite in the NHL odds on the docket, while Tampa Bay is rolling along an impressive 6-0-1 stretch and inching closer to third place in the Atlantic Division.
Here are our free NHL picks and for the two games on Wednesday, March 27.
NHL prop picks and best bets for March 27
- Batherson Over 2.5 shots (-130 at Bet99)
- Cozens Over 0.5 points (-125 at Bet99)
- Luukkonen Over 26.5 saves (-110 at Bet99)
Picks made on March 27 at 12:30 p.m. ET.
Read full analysis of each pick.
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Today’s NHL prop picks and best bets
Prop bet #1: Batherson rocking top gig
The move to the No. 1 line has been a success for Ottawa Senators winger Drake Batherson. He’s primarily skated with Shane Pinto and Brady Tkachuk over the past 10 games, and multiple important numbers are up across the board for Batherson.
| Shots per 60 | Attempts per 60 | 5v5 CF% | TOI | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First 60 games | 7.89 | 15.28 | 49.33% | 17:36 |
| Past 10 games | 8.91 | 15.59 | 52.8% | 19:31 |
I particularly value these Drake Batherson odds because the increase in shots and attempts per 60 minutes are more meaningful because his ice time is also up nearly two full minutes per game. So, for comparison, his 2.32 shots per game through his first 60 contests is way below the 2.9 mark he’s recorded across the past 10 games. He’s cleared this 2.5-shot total in seven of those 10 contests, too.
Additionally, this could be a letdown spot with the Buffalo Sabres, playing their first home game following a five-stop road trip that ended Sunday, and they allowed an average of 35 shots across their past four contests.
Drake Batherson prop: Over 2.5 shots (-130 at Bet99)
Prop bet #2: Cozens snaps scoring slump
Buffalo Sabres center Dylan Cozens has been mired in a scoring slump with just three points across his past 11 games despite logging 19:32 of ice time in a top-six role and receiving an average of 2:21 of power-play time with the No. 1 unit.
Cozens is also expected to have winger Jack Quinn (lower body) back on his line. The duo and JJ Peterka have been dangerous at five-on-five with 4.93 goals per 60, 14.3 high-danger scoring chances and a respectable 51.6 Corsi For percentage this season.
I’m also targeting these Dylan Cozens odds because the Ottawa Senators rank 31st in penalty-kill percentage, and they’ve been even worse out of the All-Star break with a 69.1% mark. Additionally, Ottawa has also taken the seventh-most minor penalties at 5-on-5 since the calendar flipped to March.
Dylan Cozens prop: Over 0.5 points (-125 at Bet99)
Prop bet #3: Lean on Luukkonen
The Ottawa Senators dipped to just 16 and 25 shots across their past two games, but they had topped 30 shots in each of the prior nine. Ottawa ranked eighth in shots per game (33.1) and fifth in attempts per 60 minutes (66.77) during the noted nine-game stretch, and I’m anticipating the Sens putting plenty of pucks on net again Wednesday.
As a result, Buffalo Sabres starter Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is positioned to build off of Sunday’s 32-save win and continue his strong second half. The 25-year-old Finn boasts an elite .925 save percentage, 2.11 GAA and 0.6 goals saved above average per 60 minutes across his past 28 starts, after all.
As noted, Buffalo has surrendered an average of 35 shots across its past four games, so I think we’re landing an excellent number with these Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen odds.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen prop: Over 26.5 saves (-110 at Bet99)
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