NHL Best Bets 4/2/26

Last Update: Thu Apr 02, 2026, 5:02 pm ET

Read Time: 7 minutes

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We may have leaned a little too heavily into the young guns on Tuesday, but we are back with more NHL player props to keep that bankroll building. We did hit the Anton Frondell point prop (and goal) who is once again playing tonight. But with so many playoff implications on the line, we may need to turn to some NHL vets for our NHL best bets of the night. There is so many sneaky plus money props in this slate, and some rookies making an impact on their teams. Let's end the season strong, starting today and pump up our 47-52 record on the articles, that has tons of plus money value by finding some of the best NHL bets tonight.

We will be breaking down NHL best bets here at Betting News all playoffs long! Each article will look for VALUE, as in straights you can take to build up your bankroll or pieces you can use to beef up your parlays. All bets will be -135 or better odds. And while we will focus on NHL player props, there are times we will take sides and totals. So keep your eyes peeled here as we will drop these throughout the week.

And if you haven't already be sure to check out some of my favorite futures and awards. So time to lace them up and get ready to ride with Betzky for my favorite NHL best bets of the day.

1. David Pastranak o3.5 SOG +120 on Lucky Rebel:

Boston Bruins forward David Pastrnak jumps in the air after scoring a big goal.

I don't know what it is exactly, but some NHL players (especially Russian and Europeans) LOVE playing in Miami. Maybe it's because they get a beach day, extra vitamin D, and all the other sites and sounds the coastal city provides. But no matter what it is, some players just turn UP in Miami. And Boston Bruins star forward David Pastrnak is one of those guys.

Before we even get to current form, let's establish the baseline. Pastrnak finished sixth in the league in shots on goal last season with 312, and has led or ranked near the top of the league in shots in multiple seasons — 407 shots in 2022-23 to lead the NHL, 382 in 2023-24 to rank second. But over the last 10 games he has only hit his 3.5 SOG prop three times, although he still is averaging 6.9 shot attempts a game. Now with every game having playoff implications, and getting a favorite target, I could see his volume spike. Especially against a Panthers team who tend to take a healthy amount of penalties.

Pastrnak is the hottest forward in the Eastern Conference right now and it isn't particularly close. He carries a 12-game point streak into tonight with 20 points — seven goals and 13 assists — during that run, making it the NHL's longest active streak. Easiest way to keep a point streak active is to score, and you gotta shoot to score. And the Panthers are exactly why this is a plus money NHL best bet. Pastrnak has hit against the Panthers in 16 of his last 29 games, averaging 7.8 shot attempts. This hit rate goes up when he plays in Miami, hitting in 9 of the last 13 matches. Add it all up and Pasta should be carb loading on shots tonight.

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2. Brady Tkachuk o3.5 SOG -130 on Lucky Rebel:

Brady Tkachuk and the Senators take on the Maple Leafs

Brady Tkachuk is trying to back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs

Well that was embarrassing. In a critical game against the wounded Florida Panthers, the Ottawa Senators got their pants pulled down and spanked raw. To make matters worse, it was against captain Brady Tkachuk's brother's team. Egg on face. And now, they are back at home hosting the Buffalo Sabres who have been an absolute wagon. The Senators and Brady should be very motivated to get this one right.

Every shot Tkachuk fires tonight is weighted. He knows it. His coach knows it. The building at Canadian Tire Centre will know it. Tkachuk himself said of his team's stretch: "We have a ton of injuries right now and a ton of key guys. I'm more proud of just the way guys are stepping up right now." There's also the personal dimension. Tkachuk landed a controversial hit on Rasmus Dahlin during the Olympics that left the Sabres' defenseman hobbled, and there's been genuine animosity simmering between these two players heading into tonight's game. Games charged with that kind of edge tend to produce Tkachuk at his most physical and most present — which translates directly into shots.

Now what really makes this an NHL best bet tonight, besides the extra motivation, is Brady's history against the Sabres. He has hit his 3.5 SOG line in 10 of the last 12 matches against the Sabres, averaging 6.6 shot attempts. The Sabres also allow the 9th most shots against in the league this season. Not only do I love Brady's 3.5 line, I don't mind taking it up to 5+ SOG at plus money, or stacking a point with his shots for extra value. The motivation will be on full display tonight.

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3. Nikita Kucherov 2+ Points +125 on Lucky Rebel:

Hurricanes vs Lightning NHL Predictions, Odds, Props & Best Bets (1/7)

Let's establish exactly what we're working with before anything else. Kucherov sits at 40 goals and 81 assists — 121 points — across 68 games this season, leading the NHL in points per game at 1.78. That production puts him in elite company in hockey history. He is only the eighth player in NHL history with at least four career 120-point regular seasons and is battling it out for the Hart Trophy with McDavid. Unfortunately he has been a little quite over the past four games, recording "only" three points in that span. Tonight, he will get back to racking up points.

Kucherov was named the NHL's First Star of March despite missing two games due to illness, leading the league with 9 goals and 17 assists — 26 points — in 14 contests, finding the scoresheet in 11 of those 14 appearances. So this "slump" is exactly that, a slump. And against his opponent tonight has been one of the leakier teams in the league since the Olympic break.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have allowed 3.04 goals per game this season and are surrendering 3.5 goals per game over their last 10 contests — a defense that has been actively giving up offense down the stretch. Stuart Skinner is the projected starter for Pittsburgh with an .888 save percentage on the season, numbers that paint a picture of a goaltender who gives elite forwards room to work. And now why this is an NHL best bet tonight; In 32 career games against Pittsburgh, Kucherov has produced 13 goals and 30 assists — 43 points, making him the all-time active Lightning leader against the Penguins.

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