NHL Playoff Player Props For Monday | May 13

The Rangers lead the Hurricanes 3-1 in the series, and New York just narrowly missed the four-game sweep on Saturday, losing to Carolina, 4-3.

Many of the Rangers’ top scorers were held in check in Game 4, with Artemi Panarin, Chris Kreider, Vincent Trocheck, and Adam Fox all being held off the scoresheet.

New York did receive some offense from unlikely sources though, with Barclay Goodrow and Will Cuylle each getting a goal past Hurricanes’ goalie Frederik Anderson.

Rangers’ goalie Igor Shesterkin also had his weakest outing, allowing four goals on 31 shots against. After allowing just five goals on 114 combined shots in Games 2 and 3, Shesterkin let one too many pucks to hit the twine in Game 4.

It’s been 30 years since New York last hoisted the Stanley Cup, and Rangers fans have been telling the tales of Mark Messier for quite some time.

Maybe on the run to the Stanley Cup, New York’s top scorers can pick up the pace and give Gotham some new heroes to chat about.

In 2054, maybe we’ll still be hearing the tales of Panarin, or Shesterkin, or Mika Zibanejad.

Way out west, the Avalanche will attempt to even the series against the Stars, and Colorado’s defense and goaltending will need to stand tall after allowing nine goals in the last two games combined (both losses).

Avs’ netminder Alexandar Georgiev is sporting a goals against average of 2.97 and a sub-.900 save percentage (.893) in the playoffs, but they could turn to 24-year old Justus Annunen.

Annunen has not made an appearance since April 18th, when he allowed just one goal on 26 shots against the Edmonton Oilers.

It may be time for Colorado coach Jared Bednar to pencil Annunen’s name in the lineup.

Let’s take a closer look at these two NHL Stanley Cup Playoff matches and pinpoint some player props worth a wager.

As always, all props selections are paired with the best odds!

Vincent Trocheck – C, New York Rangers

There’s plenty of superstar talent in the Rangers’ forward group, but Trocheck may be the glue that holds it all together.

In the first four games of this series, Trocheck is averaging over 24 minutes of ice time per game, including a whopping 35 minutes and 21 seconds out on the ice in New York’s Game 2 double-overtime victory over Carolina; with Trocheck’s power play goal sealing the win.

VINCENT TROCHECK CALLED GAME IN 2OT 🔥

The Rangers have their sixth straight playoff win! pic.twitter.com/JhWU1KC7jG

— ESPN (@espn) May 8, 2024

The one game in the series that Trocheck played less than 20 minutes? That would be the Rangers’ Game 4 loss on Saturday.

I’m expecting Trocheck to take on a heavy workload in what could be a series-clinching win over a deep and talented Hurricanes’ unit that New York does not want to allow back in the Stanley Cup conversation.

Trocheck played heavy minutes in Games 1 through 3, and in each contest he tallied a multi-point game.

In eight total playoff games, four against the Washington Capitals in Round 1 and four against Carolina in Round 2, Trocheck has collected five multi-point games, and at least one point in seven.

Also, Trocheck centers a world class power play unit alongside Panarin, Kreider, Zibanejad, and Fox, so Trocheck could always get some points on the man advantage, too.

Pick: Trocheck – OVER 1.5 Points

Best Odds: (+260) FanDuel

Artemi Panarin – LW, New York Rangers

Panarin scored a career-high 49 goals in 2023-24, 17 more than his previous-high of 32 goals back in 2019-20.

49 goals in 82 games is 0.6 goals per game, but in the playoffs thus far, Panarin has four goals in eight games, which is 0.5 per game, so there’s more offensive juice in Panarin if he’s squeezed just a little harder.

The potential series-clinching game should provide that squeeze.

Panarin only fired one shot on net in Game 4, too, so I’m expecting him to release the valve in Game 5 and pepper the Carolina goaltender.

One reason Panarin has tallied so many points this season is because he always knows where to be out on the ice; as evidenced by his Game 3 overtime deflection in front of the net.

New York goal!

Scored by Artemi Panarin with 18:18 remaining in the OT period.

Assisted by Vincent Trocheck.

Carolina: 2
New York: 3#NYRvsCAR #CauseChaos #NYR pic.twitter.com/Ffgu1bfAUU

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) May 10, 2024

The ‘Canes are expected to roll with Andersen in net once again, and Andersen has been far from spectacular in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, producing a .897 save percentage.

Panarin should be called on to provide more offense in Game 5, and with an increase in shots on goal, one shot should find its way through the pads of Andersen.

Pick: Panarin – Anytime Goalscorer

Best Odds: (+175) BetMGM

Wyatt Johnston – C, Dallas Stars

20-year-old center Wyatt Johnston surprisingly led the Dallas Stars in goals this season with 32.

Pretty impressive when considering that Johnston shares the same bench as Jason Robertson, Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, Matt Duchene, Roope Hintz, and Joe Pavelski.

Johnston has continued his scoring pace in the playoffs as well, leading the Stars in goals with five in 10 playoff games.

Clearly, Johnston has the scoring touch.

Wyatt Johnston between the legs no-look shot for the goal to make it 1-0 Stars 🔥 pic.twitter.com/qL3fpnEtXa

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) April 28, 2024

In Dallas’ seven-game series against the Vegas Golden Knights in Round 1, Johnston averaged 3.86 shots on net, but so far in three games against Colorado in Round 2, Johnston is averaging just 1.33 shots on goal.

I’m expecting the Stars to lean more on their young goal scoring leader to help push the Avalanche to the brink tonight.

Pick: Johnston – Anytime Goalscorer

Best Odds: (+190) FanDuel

Jamie Benn – LW, Dallas Stars

On Dallas’ second line, Wyatt Johnston will be flanked by veteran Jamie Benn, and Benn is far from a has been.

Benn continues to produce solid point totals in his mid-30’s, and Benn has picked up seven points in 10 games this postseason, including four points in the first three games against Colorado.

So far, it appears that Benn and Johnston have a solid rapport as linemates.

Dallas goal!

Scored by Jamie Benn with 03:53 remaining in the 1st period.

Assisted by Wyatt Johnston.

Dallas: 1
Vegas: 2#VGKvsDAL #TexasHockey #VegasBorn pic.twitter.com/AXYawbamHL

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) April 23, 2024

In seven total games against Colorado this season (four in the regular season), Benn has tallied two goals and six assists.

As long as Benn is averaging over a point per game against this iffy defense in Colorado, I’ll back the 15-year pro to get his name on the scoresheet.

Pick: Benn – OVER 0.5 Points

Best Odds: (-110) DraftKings