A clean sheet of ice, newly sharpened blades, and the sweet smell of belief fills every NHL arena across the league. It's the dawn of a new season, and a battle between present and future is set to take place in the Steel City. Sidney Crosby and the Penguins welcome Connor Bedard and the new-look Blackhawks to PPG Paints Arena on opening night.
It's a fitting venue for the contest, as each team hopes to paint a beautiful picture over the course of the next 82 games, one that they hope ends with their names engraved on the Stanley Cup. While expectations aren't that high for Chicago, it's a lofty goal that the organization hopes to achieve with the player they hope is the NHL's next big thing. They've officially started to look at a new canvas, one that doesn't have the likes of Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews for the first time in a long time.
Meanwhile, in Pittsburgh, the Pens are on the hunt for a return to playoff action after seeing their streak of 16 consecutive seasons with a playoff appearance come to an end last year. The group is highlighted by aging-but-effective core, yet it's on that same cast of characters to deliver if Mike Sullivan's team wants to punch their ticket back to the quest for the cup.
Most important, a new season brings new opportunities to win some bets and take home some cash. Our opening night and season-long opponent is SuperDraft, as we hope to defeat the oddsmakers in a quest to inflate our bank accounts (and ego).
SuperDraft users can win 3X the amount wagered if their two-legged player prop parlay hits. If all four of the props below hit, users will win 10x their entry. In other words, a $20 entry fee will yield a $200 payout. the more legs you add to your player prop parlay, the larger your potential payout becomes, but as the long odds indicate, completing a clean sweep is challenging.
Below, we'll break down four of our favorite SuperDraft player props for Tuesday night's marquee NHL clash between the Blackhawks and Penguins. Users don't necessarily have to parlay all four picks together, though. Instead, you could make separate two-legged parlays to increase your win probability or attempt to hit it big if all three picks come through.
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Best Blackhawks-Penguins prop bets: SuperDraft player prop picks for NHL Opening Night
*10x potential payout if users parlay all four correct picks
1. Connor Bedard, C, Blackhawks — OVER 3 shots on goal
The No. 1 pick makes his debut on night one of the new NHL season, and you thought we'd lean another way? Big-time players do big-time things, and relying on Bedard to record a measly three shots on goal in his debut isn't asking for too much. He was 3-1 to the OVER in the Blackhawks preseason action, hitting four SOG in one and five SOG in the other two. Against Crosby, expect Bedard to rise to the occasion as he centers Chicago's top line. It also helps that Pittsburgh is unveiling their new acquisition on the back end, Erik Karlsson, who's known more for offense than defense. In what should be a high-scoring game, expect the defense to struggle and the stars to shine. It's a popular pick, but bet the OVER on the kid in his first regular season action as the NHL's newest star.
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2. Sidney Crosby, C, Penguins — OVER 3 shots on goal
From the new kid on the block to a familiar face, Sid the Kid is back at it for his 19th NHL season. Crosby can be a bit hit or miss when it comes to shots on goal, recording three in just 45 of the 82 games last season. In 31 of those 45, Crosby managed to finish with four or more, but a new season brings a quick trigger and some happy skates, ready to fire pucks in games that matter against competition that's wearing a different sweater. He covered this number in one of two games against Chicago last season and will be eager to show he's still got it as Pittsburgh begins this season with the hopes of returning to the playoffs. They'll want to be quick out of the gates and make a statement on national television as all eyes remain on Bedard.
3. Taylor Hall, LW, Blackhawks — OVER 0.5 points
Fresh out of Boston, Hall goes from the record-breaking Bruins to the bottom-feeding Blackhawks. It's a stark contrast in expectations but a chance to return to the top line on his new team. Hall is playing on Bedard's left wing, and offense is sure to be on the menu. The former Bruin has never been known for his ability to stay on the ice, with injuries always being part of each season's story. In game one, though, that isn't a concern to have with Hall, who will play a big role alongside the top pick. Hall might score or he might assist a goal, but those points all count the same. If Bedard is firing, the newest Blackhawk will find his way into the box score somehow. Take the OVER thanks to this explosive top line that will see plenty of time on the ice on Tuesday night.
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4. Tyler Johnson, C, Blackhawks — UNDER 0.5 points
It's been a long time since Johnson struck fear into the opposition like he did as a member of the "Triplets" in Tampa. The now 33-year-old is set to play the wing on Chicago's second line, with durability and declining production being the headliners of every conversation surrounding Johnson. He recorded 32 points in 56 games last year, which is a noticeable improvement over the seven points in 26 games from the year before, but it's still a sign that we'll win this bet more than we lose. In addition, Johnson is relegated to the second power play unit, which won't see as much action and limits his scoring opportunities. That means we have to rely on Chicago's second line to drive offense, and we just don't have a ton of faith in them to start the season. Take the UNDER.
