NHL props for Monday Dec. 4: Time to get aggressive
As we perused the night's board in the NHL, we found two players in particular who are operating with some insane volume. One, Nikita Kucherov, is sustaining this volume across the entire season, while another, Oliver Bjorkstrand, has recently been exploding with shot attempts.
Sometimes, I like to get aggressive on a read, and that's what we have here. Welcome to the Nikita Kucherov and Oliver Bjorkstrand show. I'm attacking this duo in four different ways tonight.
The case for Nikita Kucherov
Dallas has allowed 34.1 shots per game on the road this season, and they've also been pretty steady at handing out 3.5+ power-play opportunities per game. Together, that makes them a defense I'd like to target tonight, and there's no one more trustworthy on Tampa Bay than Nikita Kucherov.
Kucherov is averaging 10.3 attempts per game over the last 15. That volume has helped him log 4+ shots in 14 of 15, 5+ shots in 10 of 15 and 6+ shots in five of his last eight.
At home, Kucherov is averaging 5.4 SOG/game this season and has 4+ shots in six straight and 6+ in four of those games.
Kucherov and the Lightning just played Dallas, an 8-1 embarrassing loss which should give us a spirited effort here out of the home team. Kucherov logged six SOGs that day, and I'm willing to wager he just keeps it rolling.
The case for Oliver Bjorkstrand
Oliver Bjorkstrand has popped of late for the Seattle Kraken. He has 10+ attempt totals in three of his past four games, including a whopping 25 in his last two, both on the road (where the Kraken are tonight).
A big reason why seems to be Bjorkstrand's elevated role on the power play. His PP minutes are up big time over the last five games, and he's taken advantage of that, piling up 11 shots with a man-up advantage in that stretch.
Well, there's reason to believe those PP opportunities will present themselves tonight. No team in the NHL is penalized more at home than the Montreal Canadiens, averaging 4.82 PPOA on home ice this season.
Tack on that the Habs have let up nearly 33 shots per game at home over the last month, and Seattle should find plenty of shots tonight.
I'm following Bjorkstrand's volume. He has 4+ shots in three of his last four and his last two games has seen SOG totals of nine and five.
How I'm playing it
Like I said at the top, sometimes I fall in love with some reads and want to get aggressive. I'm spreading two units across these two both having a night. By all means, stop after the first play, or play most of these straight.
- 1u: Kucherov 4+ shots, Bjorkstrand 3+ shots (+151 FD)
- .5u: Kucherov 5+ shots, Bjorkstrand 4+ shots (+466 FD)
- .25u: Kucherov 6+ shots, Bjorkstrand 5+ shots (+1295 FD)
- .25u: Kucherov, Bjorkstrand goals (+578 FD)
Good luck tonight!
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