3 NHL Best-of-the-Board Props to Back on October 19: Dorofeyev, Rust and Makar

Monday’s NHL board is a lean four-game card, and that’s exactly when the best-of-the-board approach shines. Instead of forcing a theme, we scanned all four games for the three prop prices that feel most mispriced, and the list ended up with a little bit of everything: a home sniper at Madison Square Garden, a veteran winger with a streaky shooting history, and a defenseman who treats the shot counter like a personal scoreboard.

Here is why this trio makes sense. Each bet pairs a clear role (power-play time, top-line minutes, heavy offensive-zone usage) with a matchup that leans our way, and each comes at a price that does not require a leap of faith. Check your book for final numbers, since lines move through the afternoon.

Pavel Dorofeyev Anytime Goal Scorer (+160) in Anaheim at New York

Yes, the Rangers have a new face in the lineup. Dorofeyev arrived from Vegas in a June blockbuster, signed a seven-year deal, and showed up in Manhattan fresh off a 37-goal season. The start has been quiet, with two goals through 10 games, but one of them came on the power play last Thursday against New Jersey. A shooter with that résumé sitting on only two goals is the kind of regression candidate that gets bettors excited.

He is also the shortest price on the entire Ducks-Rangers game, which tells you how the market views his shot volume. His shot totals have swung between zero and five in a game this month, which is exactly the kind of volume that produces goals, and he gets the benefit of home ice at MSG. The expected matchup in the other crease is Lukas Dostal, who is sitting on a .882 save percentage across six starts. Dimers puts his chances at 39.6 percent against an implied number near 38 percent, a small but real edge.

The Rangers are also home favorites with a 6.5 total, so a game that gets a few goals on the board is the base case. If you want a full refresher on how these prices translate to a payout, our how betting odds work guide breaks it down.

Bryan Rust Anytime Goal Scorer (+230) in Pittsburgh at Utah

Rust is the longshot of the group, and that is the point. The Penguins winger has three goals through six games this season on just nine shots, a 33.3 percent clip that will not last forever but certainly has not worn out yet. He has also scored in three of his six games, one goal each time, and he found the net on Friday in Colorado.

The role matters more than the hot streak. Rust skates on the top line alongside Sidney Crosby and Rickard Rakell, and he sees time on the first power-play unit. Pittsburgh is 3-5-1 and has dropped three of its last four, which means the Penguins need offense from their best players. Utah’s Karel Vejmelka was pulled in his last start after allowing five to Edmonton, and his save percentage has slid to .879. Dimers gives him a 33.4 percent chance, against a price that implies closer to 30 percent.

Prices on Rust have ranged from the low +200s to +230 depending on the book, so shop around before you click. That is where player prop search can save you a few cents on the dollar.

Cale Makar OVER 2.5 Shots on Goal (-114) in Colorado at Philadelphia

Every card needs a volume play, and Makar is one of the most reliable shot generators among defensemen. Through seven games he has 17 shots on goal, good for about 2.4 per night, and he has three goals and nine points to go with them. In the Avalanche’s last game, a 5-2 win over Pittsburgh, he logged two shots plus two blocks and two assists, so even on a quiet shooting night he sneaks close to the number.

The matchup is the real reason to like the over. Philadelphia is allowing 32.9 shots per game, the worst mark in the league by a wide margin. Colorado, meanwhile, is firing 30.8 shots per game, fourth in the NHL. Over his last 93 games Makar has cleared 2.5 shots about 65 percent of the time, while a price of -114 only implies about 53 percent. Add in a road average of 2.79 shots per game and the projected starters, Mackenzie Blackwood for Colorado and Dan Vladar for Philadelphia, and Makar has every chance to get comfortable in the offensive zone.

Colorado’s top-pair minutes also come with a heavy dose of power-play time, and Philadelphia’s penalty kill sits at 83.8 percent, so any trip to the man advantage is a quick path to three shots. If you like building a bigger ticket around plays like this, our same game parlays page walks through the basics.

Lock These In

Three props, three different paths to cashing a ticket: a home scorer with an edge on a shaky goalie, a veteran on a hot finishing streak, and a defenseman facing the league’s most generous shot defense. Here is the full card for the Monday slate:

• Pavel Dorofeyev anytime goal scorer (+160)
• Bryan Rust anytime goal scorer (+230)
• Cale Makar OVER 2.5 shots on goal (-114)

Prices come from the numbers available at publication, so confirm your book before locking anything in. Bet small, enjoy the ride, and if Rust sneaks one past Vejmelka late, you will have the best seat in the house.