Round 2 of the NHL playoffs will get underway with two exciting matchups Tuesday.
We should expect some notably fast-paced, high-event hockey between the Panthers and Leafs, which will hopefully make for a fun series on the prop side of things.
We have two plays from that matchup, along with two plays from Game 1 between the Kraken and Stars.
NHL Player Props for Tuesday, May 2
Sam Bennett Over 2.5 Shots on Goal (-143)
| Game | Panthers vs. Maple Leafs |
| Puck Drop | 7 p.m. ET |
| Best Line | BetRivers · BetMGM |
Bennett was a dominant force against a historically strong Bruins side in Round 1. His tremendous play after returning from injury in Game 2 was a key factor in the upset, and I'm counting on him to remain involved tonight.
But more important than Bennett's play here is the play of Matthew Tkachuk, who was downright incredible versus Boston. No matter if the third player on their line was Carter Verhaeghe or Nick Cousins, Tkachuk and Bennett completely tilted the ice together and generated a wealth of attempts.
Bennett is far more willing to send midrange shots on goal than the average NHL skater. If he and Tkachuk continue to play together this postseason, I believe he will average over three shots on goal. Over 2.5 at -143 shouldn't be available for long.
Mitch Marner Over 2.5 Shots on Goal (-130) · Power-Play Point (+140)
| Game | Panthers vs. Maple Leafs |
| Puck Drop | 7 p.m. ET |
| Best Line | BetMGM · FanDuel |
While Bennett's shot prop makes the cut because we know he will put reasonable looks on goal, Marner is in here because of the sheer volume of touches he will have in any game.
Marner was fantastic in Round 1 against Tampa Bay and generated 11 points in six games. Toronto's power play clicked at a stellar 28.6% clip, and Marner led the way on that front with four power-play points.
Florida's penalty kill was a notable weakness all season long, as it finished with just a 76% success rating, which was the second-worst mark of any team that made the playoffs. It remained extremely flawed in Round 1, as it killed off just 59.3% of the Bruins' opportunities.
There's a good chance the Leafs' power play goes off in this series, and getting involved with their best power-play skater in Game 1 is an angle that makes lots of sense.
Oliver Bjorkstrand Over 2.5 Shots on Goal (+100)
| Game | Kraken vs. Stars |
| Puck Drop | 9:30 p.m. ET |
| Best Line | BetRivers |
Those who have followed my work closely know we love Oliver Bjorkstrand. His addition to the Kraken roster was a big reason why I felt they could surprise and earn a playoff berth this season.
Bjorkstrand played his best game of the season in Game 7 versus Colorado. He broke through with both goals in Seattle's 2-1 victory. One of those was an extremely lucky bounce that pinballed in from behind the net, but I would say that was more than balanced out by the fact that he hit three posts in the game.
His usage rose steadily as that series wore along, and it seems he's firmly back in coach Dave Hakstol's good graces after some spells of surprisingly poor play in the middle of the campaign.
If Seattle shocks the Stars, I'm expecting the line of Yanni Gourde, Eeli Tolvanen and Bjorkstrand to be a key reason why. They will remain being used to check the Stars' incredible top line, which is a concern about this prop.
Outside of that, though, this is setting up well, and I think tonight is a good time to back Bjorkstrand to follow up his dominant Game 7 outing.
Roope Hintz Over 2.5 Shots on Goal (+108)
| Game | Kraken vs. Stars |
| Puck Drop | 9:30 p.m. ET |
| Best Line | FanDuel |
Hintz leads all skaters with 12 points entering the start of R 2. By no means is this an interesting handicap, and this prop will likely be in the 2-3 most popular looks tonight. Backing chalky props isn't a bad thing, though, especially when it comes to the NHL.
Yes, Adam Larsson and Vince Dunn form a pretty dominant shutdown duo defensively for the Kraken, but Colorado's top stars feasted in Round 1. The Kraken won the series in spite of those performances.
It's very logical to think that the Stars' big names will do much the same. If Hintz averages less than three shots on goal in this series, it'll be extremely surprising. He went over 2.5 in three of the six games against Minnesota, and I don't see any reason why that average won't hold in Round 2.
This feels like a bet where we're getting +108 at worst on a coin-flip. It wouldn't be surprising to see Hintz set at -150 to record over 2.5 shots by the time Game 5 rolls around, so I definitely believe there's value here.
