Picking 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, December 20:
Best NHL Player Props Today, December 20
| PROP BET | MATCHUP | ODDS | BOOKIE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anytime Goalscorer: Matthew Knies (TOR) | Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Buffalo Sabres | +225 | Bovada |
| Anytime Goalscorer: Evan Rodrigues (FLA) | St. Louis Blues vs. Florida Panthers | +260 | Bovada |
| Anytime Goalscorer: Ross Colton (COL) | Colorado Avalanche vs. Anaheim Ducks | +195 | Bovada |
| Shots on Goal: Auston Matthews (TOR) Over 3.5 | Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Buffalo Sabres | -176 | Bovada |
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.
Best NHL Anytime Goal Scorer Predictions for Today, December 20
Let’s explore the reasoning behind our best NHL anytime scorer picks for today, December 20:
Anytime Goalscorer: Matthew Knies (+225) – TOR
The Maple Leafs’ Matthew Knies is on my radar for anytime goalscorer bets tonight. He has scored 11 goals and seven assists in 30 games this season. Knies is having success on the second line alongside John Tavares and Max Pacioretty.
The 22-year-old from Phoenix has scored three goals since Nov. 30. He started this season on fire, cooled down a bit, and is getting back to expected results. Knies most recently scored against the Red Wings on Dec. 14. Against a thin Sabres’ defense, I expect him to have good chances to find the back of the net again.
Matthew Knies tips this one home to tie the game early in the third ☝️
📺: Sportsnet pic.twitter.com/qYFAZmNdaA
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 15, 2024
Buffalo is 26th in the NHL, having allowed an average of 3.41 goals per game. Although the usual suspects of Auston Matthews and William Nylander have a better chance of scoring, Knies has the betting value for your NHL player props today at +225!
Anytime Goalscorer: Evan Rodrigues (+260) – FLA
The Blues are back out on the ice after a 3-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. They stay in Florida with a trip to Sunrise on Friday night. St. Louis could very likely feel lethargic after a losing effort against a physical Lightning squad.
The Panthers are set up in a pretty strong position to bury the Blues this evening. According to the latest anytime goalscorer NHL odds, Panthers’ center Evan Rodrigues has sharp value to score his eighth goal of the season. He is getting pucks to the net at a high clip recently.
Rodrigues with the clutch goal and Bob denies the Flyers 😼
That's SEVEN straight W's for the defending Stanley Cup champs pic.twitter.com/KRahh7HKB0
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) November 10, 2024
He has totaled 11 shots over the last four games. Rodrigues most recently scored on Nov. 30 and Dec. 5. He scored 12 goals a season ago, so is on pace to easily surpass that mark. Look for Rodrigues to come close to breaking his career-high of 19 goals from 2021-22.
Given his generous odds of +260, you have to look at Rodrigues for your anytime goalscorer picks tonight!
Anytime Goalscorer: Ross Colton (+195) – COL
Ross Colton may have only played in 16 games this season, but his goal ratio is outstanding. Colton needed only 16 games to score 10 goals in the 2024-25 campaign! It took him 80 games to score 16 goals last season, so he is on a massive tear despite dealing with an injury.
It’s the 19th.
19 + 1 = 20 and tonight, Ross will be the 1.
Colton #AvsTwitterPsychic 👊 pic.twitter.com/eRkfuNeZU4
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) December 20, 2024
Colton returned to the starting lineup on Dec. 27 after having not played since late October. It’s been more of the same for Colton, as he’s netted two goals in his previous five outings.
Against a Ducks squad struggling in the defensive zone, Colton and the Avalanche should light the lamp often tonight. The red-hot Colton is well worth a look at +195 for your NHL player prop bets today.
Best NHL Shots on Goal Picks Tonight, December 20
Here are our best NHL betting picks for shots on goal for today, December 20:
Shots on Goal: Auston Matthews (TOR) Over 3.5 (-174)
Matthews and the Maple Leafs defeated the Sabres by a score of 5-3 last week. The offense should be flying around the puck again tonight versus this soft Sabres’ defense.
Matthews recorded five shots and an assist in the win. Overall, this season, he has notched 96 shots on target in 23 games, which equates to an average of 4.17 per game. For a player of his playmaking ability, that sounds about right.
Matthews has logged four or more shots in five of his previous six games. Three of those matchups resulted in five or more on target! Look for Matthews to play another big role for the Leafs tonight, as he finished with four or five shots to go over 3.5 shots against the Sabres!
Most Likely Goal Scorers (NHL Goal Scorer Bingo Contest)
If you’re interested in our NHL goal scorer bingo and need some help, here are our picks for today.
- Auston Matthews (TOR)
- William Nylander (TOR)
- Kirill Kaprizov (MIN)
- Dylan Larkin (DET)
- Nathan MacKinnon (COL)
How to Find the Best NHL Player Props Tonight?
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:
1. Analyze Individual Statistics for Players and Opponents
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.
2. Goaltender Matchups Are Important
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.
3. Ride the Hot Hand
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!
4. Examine the Line Combinations
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!
Best Betting Site for NHL Player Props
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