We have a pint-sized four-game slate ahead of us to begin the weekend. Luckily, there's still plenty of value on the board.
Let's take a closer look as we try and bounce back from a disappointing night of player props.
Aleksander Barkov: Over 2.5 shots
Barkov doesn't carry a sky-high shooting ceiling, but he consistently goes over his total. He's managed three shots in 25 of 41 games this season, good for a 61% success rate.
Barkov has fared even better away from home. The Panthers captain has registered three-plus shots in 65% of his road games, including eight of the past 11.
Unlike many star players, Barkov seems to benefit from playing on the road. When in Florida, he generally sees the opposing team's best offensive line every shift. Paul Maurice has a tougher time getting matchups on the road, meaning Barkov gets additional shifts against opponents' second and third lines.
His hit rate on the road is 7% higher than at home, while he averages 1.3 points per game on the road compared to 0.9 on home ice.
The Penguins aren't overly stout defensively, nor are they up to the Panthers' level in terms of controlling the run of play. This is a spot where Barkov should be able to get involved offensively.
Odds: -114 (playable to -130)
Artemi Panarin: Over 3.5 shots
The Golden Knights are dealing with a ton of injuries right now. Jack Eichel, Shea Theodore, and William Karlsson headline the list of absences, but there are other depth pieces as well.
We've predictably seen a dip in Vegas' performance without these players. The Golden Knights haven't generated chances and goals at the clip we've grown accustomed to. They've also spent a lot more time on their heels defensively.
Vegas ranks 28th in five-on-five shot suppression over the last 10 games. That's very abnormal for a team built on structured two-way play and grinding opponents into the ground.
Panarin should be the prime beneficiary of this softer defensive matchup. He leads the Rangers in goals, points, shot attempts, scoring chances, and shots on goal. Getting him the puck in shooting position is the top priority for this New York team.
The Rangers will have an easier time doing so against this banged-up Golden Knights squad. With New York in need of points after a disastrous road trip, I expect Panarin to get all the ice time he can handle so long as the game is remotely close. The Rangers need a win here, and they'll rely heavily on Panarin to get it.
Odds: +110 (playable to -120)
Cale Makar: Over 2.5 shots
Makar is very productive on home ice. He averages 3.1 shots on a very healthy 7.4 attempts per game. That's the volume you'd expect out of a high-end first-line forward.
Unsurprisingly, those outputs are leading to a lot of success with his shot prop. Makar has gone over his total in 68% of his home games, a stark contrast from his 52% success rate on the road.
While many players tend to see their numbers fall off a cliff against the Kings, we haven't seen that from Makar. He's gone over his total in three of his past four games against Los Angeles, recording at least four shots on target in each of his hits.
Makar has the speed and game-breaking ability to cut his way through even the most structured teams. I expect the Kings to be so focused on slowing down Hart Trophy candidate Nathan MacKinnon, and his linemates, that Makar will have extra space to work with when jumping into the play behind them.
Odds: -135 (playable to -150)
Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X at @ToddCordell.
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