Player Props: Connors in spotlight as Jets' Hellebuyck aims to stop Oilers' McDavid

Mike Johnston @MikeyJ_MMANovember 30, 2023 - 4:06pm

Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch discusses what he's seen from captain Connor McDavid since the coaching change, and how his attitude has always been positive and the pressure on him has diminished and allowed him to play his game like he knows how.

No player props rundown this season would be complete without mentioning at least one of the many talented Connors the NHL boasts, and with a 14-game schedule on tap for Thursday this one is no different.

Connor McDavid took a little while to get back to his extreme point-producing ways after returning from injury in late October – at one point he even went on a five-game cold streak during which he registered a single assist – but he has been rolling in the eight games since.

The Edmonton Oilers superstar has a whopping 12 points in his last three outings alone and will look to extend his current point streak when his team visits the Winnipeg Jets in the night’s lone all-Canadian matchup.

Here are McDavid’s Thursday prop lines vs. WPG via Bet365:

McDavid has 12 goals and 41 assists in 30 career games against Winnipeg and the Oilers have been better since its coaching change.

“Definitely there is momentum in our room,” McDavid told reporters via The Associated Press ahead of Thursday’s game. “I think we can feel it. I think what we have seen out of our last three (games), and it's something to build off of.”

McDavid and his teammates have a tough task in front of them, facing a Jets netminder that has allowed more than three goals in a game just once since Oct. 17.

Connor Hellebuyck is 10-5-1 and has been staunch in net since early November after beginning the season with a higher goals-against average and lower save percentage than he would’ve liked. The 30-year-old is 6-2 in his past eight starts and recorded his first shutout of the 2023-24 campaign this past Friday.

Here are Hellebuyck’s prop lines vs. EDM via DraftKings:

Total Saves: Over 26.5 (-110) | Under 26.5 (-120)
Goals Against: Over 2.5 -150 | Under 2.5 (+120)
Shutout: Yes (+850) | No (-1750)

Hellebuyck is 13-12-2 with a .902 save percentage, 3.17 GAA and two shutouts in his career facing Edmonton.

CAN BEDARD RETURN TO HIS IMPRESSIVE GOAL PACE?

There are plenty of storylines surrounding tonight’s Original Six matchup between the Blackhawks and Red Wings, namely Chicago dealing with the fallout of cutting Corey Perry and Detroit recently signing Patrick Kane even though the former Blackhawks legend isn’t quite set to make his Detroit debut.

Sticking with tonight’s theme of Connors, the No. 1 overall pick from the 2023 NHL Draft began his pro career with nine goals in his first 13 games, however, Connor Bedard has just one goal in his past seven outings. He only has more than two shots on goal in two games since mid-November but a six-shot effort against Toronto and a three-shot outing versus St. Louis have occurred within the past week.

Sports Interaction has an ongoing special prop for the No. 1 pick…

Bedard total regular-season goals: Over 33.5 (-106) | Under 33.5 (-120)

With 10 goals through 20 games, he’s on pace for a 41-goal debut season if he were to maintain that average over 82 games.

Here are Bedard’s Thursday prop lines vs. DET via Bet365:

Bedard is expected to skate on a line between Nick Foligno and Philipp Kurashev. When the rookie does manage to bury the puck it’s usually early in the game, so perhaps it could be worth looking at first goal (+900) or first team goal (+350) props listed for Bedard if you think he’ll light the lamp.

(Odds above as of Thursday afternoon and subject to change)

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