The Stanley Cup Final is underway after a thrilling Game 1. There is plenty of value in a number of player prop bets in Game 2. This betting guide will give some information on a few of the best value plays for player props as the series continues on Saturday in Denver.
Darcy Kuemper Saves: Under 27.5 (-120)
In the 11 playoff games Darcy Kuemper has minded the net for the Colorado Avalanche this season, he’s made 28 saves just twice – in Games 2 and 3 of the second round against the St. Louis Blues. In Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, he had to make just 20 stops. He only saw 23 shots (well, he might not have seen this shot from Mikhail Sergachev), as the Avalanche defense had 26 blocked shots in the victory.
Darcy Kuemper, Colorado Avalanche (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)
Colorado isn’t giving up a lot of shots, and they’re also blocking a ton. Game 2s have generally been pretty tight for both teams throughout these playoffs, and Game 1 tightened up for them after a shaky first period from Tampa. The Avalanche have been great at limiting chances from the opposition, no matter who it’s been. Expect that trend to continue and take Kuemper to make 27 saves or less (-120).
Ross Colton Shots on Goal: Under 1.5 (+100)
Ross Colton was a hero earlier in the playoffs, scoring the game-winner against the Florida Panthers with just four seconds left of Game 2 in the second round. He’s been less of an offensive threat since then, diving more into the two-way play. He didn’t have a shot on goal in Game 1 against the Avalanche and hasn’t scored a goal in the playoffs since that late tally against the Panthers.
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Over the last five games, Colton has just two shots on goal combined. He has had two shots or more just twice in his last eight games. The Avalanche have been very good at keeping opposing shots down as a whole, and that helps in this spot, too. Colton could always come out of this recent shell, but this is some good value on him to have less than two shots on goal in Game 2 (+100).
Mikko Rantanen Assists: Over 0.5 (-130)
After a rough start to the playoffs, Mikko Rantanen has emerged as one of Colorado’s more consistent offensive threats. They needed him to be since he was the leading scorer for the Avs in the regular season. He’s second on the team in assists in the postseason with 14, just three behind Conn Smythe Trophy frontrunner Cale Makar.
Mikko Rantanen, Colorado Avalanche (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)
Rantanen had two assists in Game 1 and is currently riding a five-game point streak. He has four assists in his last five games and has a helper in nine of Colorado’s 15 postseason games. He’s starting on the second line, but he’s also getting time on the top line with Nathan MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog, and Rantanen also gets a heavy dose on the power play. Take him to get another assist in Game 2 (-130).
Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook
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