Best NHL Player Prop Bets Today: Free Prop Bet PredictionsPicking the best NHL player props today can be time-consuming, but our hockey experts are here to help! They will share their prop bet predictions daily from October to the Stanley Cup Final in June, including NHL anytime goal scorer predictions, shots on goal bets, and more.
Here are our daily NHL player prop predictions for today, April 17:
You can find the reasoning for our recommended NHL player prop bets in the next sections. Also, read below to discover our NHL betting strategy for betting on props this season.

Let’s explore the reasoning behind our best NHL anytime scorer picks for today, April 17:
The Red Wings wrap up a disappointing regular season with their final stop in 2024-25 against the Maple Leafs in Toronto. Look for Patrick Kane to continue to play hard after officially being removed from the playoff equation.
The 36-year-old Kane heads into tonight with 21 goals and 37 assists through 71 games. There is a lot of finger-pointing going on, but Kane doesn’t deserve any of the blame for the Red Wings’ failures.
Kane has scored four goals over his previous 13 starts. He’s also recorded 10 shots through the Red Wings’ previous four games, so Kane continues to crash the crease and generate chances.
Patrick Kane evens things in Tampa. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/xThNVHJYKc
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) April 12, 2025

Against a Maple Leafs squad likely resting most of their stars tonight, I recommend backing Kane as one of the best NHL player prop bets!
Patrick Roy’s New York Islanders aren’t going to the playoffs, nor are the Columbus Blue Jackets this season. The Blue Jackets had zero expectations, so this season can be viewed as a win and momentum generator for next year.
However, for the best prop bet in this matchup, I think you have to look at what Anders Lee is offering at +205 odds! Lee is getting strong value to score at this generous price. The 34-year-old veteran is continuing to play hard despite the disappointing season for the team.
Anders Lee is one goal shy of 30 on the year. #Isles pic.twitter.com/pCWtOeIVt2
— Rob Taub (@RTaub_) April 12, 2025

Lee has notched 29 goals overall and four over the Islanders’ last 12 matchups. He is in strong form at the moment and I expect Lee to finish off the season with a bang against the Blue Jackets. Columbus ranks 25th in the NHL, with an average of 3.28 goals against per game!
In short, I recommend betting on Lee for your NHL anytime goalscorer bets today.
The Washington Capitals put the finishing touches on their regular season campaign and begin their preparations for the Montreal Canadiens.
Alex Ovechkin broke the all-time NHL goal record to surpass Wayne Gretzky this season, and now it’s time for the Capitals to focus on the Cup!
Before then, look for the Capitals to have a solid effort in Pittsburgh against the Penguins. Ovechkin’s old nemesis, Sidney Crosby, will end another season in the NHL this evening. However, I am sizing up Tom Wilson for my anytime goalscorer picks tonight.
TOM WILSON WINS IT! 🚨
He nets the @Energizer overtime winner to complete the comeback for the @Capitals! pic.twitter.com/cAPYPfmoji
— NHL (@NHL) March 6, 2025

Wilson has played a big role in the success of the Caps. He’s scored 33 goals and 31 assists in 80 matchups this year. The 31-year-old native of Toronto has also logged seven goals in 21 games.
Pittsburgh is 30th in the NHL, with 3.52 goals allowed per game. The defense has been anemic for the Pens, so I recommend Wilson to score in the regular season finale!
Here are our best NHL betting picks for shots on goal for today, April 17:
With the playoffs approaching, the shots on goal prop is a little tricky tonight. We may not know who is being rested or receiving limited minutes until close to gametime. What I do know is that the Blue Jackets will have a full roster on the ice.
That includes 24-year-old Russian Dmitri Voronkov who sees some opportunities against the Islanders tonight. Voronkov enters this matchup with 22 goals and 24 assists in 72 games. He’s been an underrated player for the Jackets and I anticipate him putting at least two shots on target.
Voronkov tallied six shots over the last two games and averaged 2.3 shots per game in 13 games since March 21. With a total of 1.5 shots at -125, Voronkov has solid value as one of the best NHL player props today!
If you’re interested in our NHL goal scorer bingo and need some help, here are our picks for today.
Betting on player prop bets requires an NHL betting strategy to give yourself the best chance of being profitable.
We do not recommend blindly playing your NHL player prop bets tonight. This can lead to negative results for your bankroll, so consider these tips before verifying your wagers:
The most basic and simplest research bettors can do to prepare their best NHL player prop bets today is to analyze player statistics. There are players who excel in certain areas, while they struggle to have an impact elsewhere.
For instance, certain hockey players are fantastic facilitators and typically produce more assists than goals. Conversely, pure goal scorers may lack in the assists department. If you aren’t familiar with the players, you will potentially be betting on, please investigate their statistics before placing your bets.
Additionally, look into researching their opponent’s strengths and weaknesses. Poor defensive teams are generally the ones to target for your NHL player props. They will concede offensive statistics to the other side, which leaves an opportunity to target offensive playmakers.
Building on our last point, it’s imperative to be aware of who will be starting in net! Fading poorly performing goaltenders can be a goldmine for NHL player prop bets.
In addition to knowing who is between the pipes, take it to another level and check out who has had success against them in previous matchups. If they are playing against a skater who has had their numbers in the past, it’s a good idea to look deeper into this offensive player.
Similar to pitchers in baseball, there are some goalies who can’t seem to figure some shooters out. This applies to teams as a whole, too!
If a goaltender hasn’t had success against certain clubs in the past, and it’s a healthy enough sample size, this is your sign to circle some NHL player props.
Hockey is a sport where players heat up and can maintain this streak for days. Make sure to keep an eye on players who are in the midst of a hot run. They can be an ATM machine for your best NHL player props today!
This is where watching games can also be important. The body language of players who are playing with confidence can be quite evident. You don’t have to watch every game, but it’s important to know what kind of mindset players are in for NHL betting.
On the other side of the coin, fading cold streaks and players who are in a rut is advised. Wait until their confidence returns before striking on their props!
When we say line combinations, we are referring to teammates who are playing with one another for their shifts on the ice. Are they playing on a fast line that is going to generate plenty of goal scoring opportunities, or more of a gritty, defensive line?
Coaches tend to change their line combinations throughout the season, so it’s key to be aware of any important shuffling that has taken place. Some players mesh and have better chemistry than other teammates.
It can have a direct impact on offensive production, which translates into making more money on your NHL player props!
While we will be using an array of the best NHL betting sites for our NHL player prop predictions, Bovada stands above the rest as your top option to bet on hockey! With hundreds of NHL props available throughout the season, including player prop bets, Bovada is a must for hockey bettors.
For a limited time, new customers at Bovada can take advantage of a 100% match bonus of up to $1,000 on their first deposit. Simply use the promo code BV1000 to get your share of this fantastic bonus today!
You must be logged in to comment. Don’t have an account? Sign up today.
Click on the button below to get free picks delivered to your email daily…
You have successfully logged in to your TSG +Premium Account.
You now have free access to winning picks, exclusive bonuses and more!
You have successfully logged out.
You’ll need to log in again to regain access to winning picks, exclusive bonuses and more.
Logged out by accident? Log in again

source