As the NHL gears up for a thrilling matchup on December 30, two players are highlighted as prime candidates for prop bets. The Florida Panthers, facing off against a struggling New York Rangers team, have Sam Bennett as a strong pick to register at least one point. The Rangers have been in a downward spiral, losing 14 of their last 18 games and currently sit at the bottom of the Metropolitan Division. Their goaltender, Igor Shesterkin, has faced significant challenges, posting a 3.34 goals against average and a .897 save percentage in December, which could lead to a high-scoring night for the Panthers.
Bennett, who plays on the second line with Carter Verhaeghe and Matthew Tkachuk, has been somewhat quiet recently but boasts a solid record against the Rangers, with points in six of his last seven encounters against them. Despite being held pointless in his last four games, he has accumulated 27 points in 34 games this season, making him a compelling choice for bettors looking for value.
On the other side, Barrett Hayton of the Utah Hockey Club is also positioned as a valuable pick to score at least one point. The Hockey Club will take on the Seattle Kraken, a team that has been struggling defensively, allowing an average of 4.83 goals per game over their last six outings. Hayton's recent performance shows promise, as he has tallied five points in his last five games, making him a player to watch as he skates alongside Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz on the top line.
