3 NHL Player Prop Bets to Target on Monday 12/18/23

Player props can be useful in a variety of ways -- from taking advantage of them straight up to measuring a player's potential to produce in daily fantasy baseball on FanDuel. Here, we're going to focus on the former.

Utilizing numberFire's projections as a guide, here are some NHL player props bets that look appealing via the NHL odds at FanDuel Sportsbook.

Please note that betting lines and numberFire's projections may change throughout the day after this article is published. Also, the weather may be an issue in some locations.

Dylan Larkin

To Score a Goal (+165)

The Detroit Red Wings have a big 3.90 implied goal total and are primed for some offense against the Anaheim Ducks.

This season, the Ducks are allowing 2.84 Goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the ninth-worst in the league, making them a clear target for some goals.

With Dylan Larkin back in the lineup for the Red Wings, he's the clear option for a goal tonight, while also having great odds. Larkin comes in with 11 goals, 14 assists, and 83 shots on goal through 24 games this season.

The Red Wings captain will reprise his role on the first forward line and the first power-play unit, the latter of which will put him in a great spot to score. The Ducks have taken 435 penalty minutes this season, which is the most in the league and 85 more than the next team.

They are highly undisciplined and take a ton of penalties, which will put Larkin and the Wings' power-play in a spot to score.

Matthew Tkachuk

To Score a Goal (+175)

It's always nice to score a goal against your former team and that's what Matthew Tkachuk will look to do tonight.

The Florida Panthers have a solid 3.31 implied goal total and Tkachuk's former team, the Calgary Flames have been a mess on defense in recent games. Over the last two weeks, the Flames are allowing 3.28 Goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the fourth-worst in the league.

If we look at this Panthers team as a whole, and Tkachuk individually, we can see they have been underproducing goals. Over the same aforementioned two-week span, the Panthers are scoring 2.43 Goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is 18th in the league. However, if we glance at their Expected Goals Scored (xGF), they are up at 3.24 Goals, which is the second-best in the league.

For Tkachuk individually, he comes in with just 5 goals for the entire season, but his Expected Goals are up at 13.2. That is a sizeable difference and he can get that positive regression going tonight against his former team.

Gabriel Vilardi Over

2.5 Shots on Goal (+100)

With Kyle Connor out of the Winnipeg Jets' lineup, someone has to step up.

Connor is going to be out for 6-8 weeks due to a knee injury, and that has changed things when it comes to their forward lines. Gabriel Vilardi is now on the first forward line and the first power-play unit, putting him in a prime spot for some shots.

In the three games since Connor has been out, Vilardi has at least three shots on goal in all of them. While it's a small sample size, Vilardi is being tasked to fill some of the offensive void without Connor.

Tonight they will take on the Montreal Canadiens, who are allowing 64.85 Shot Attempts per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the fifth-worst in the league over the last two weeks.

It's rather straightforward for Vilardi, who has looked great in his new role.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.