Sunday’s NHL slate is a three-act show, with Vegas in Buffalo in the afternoon, New Jersey in Toronto at night, and Pittsburgh in Anaheim to close it out. If you are new to player props, shots on goal is one of the friendliest places to start, because you do not need a player to score or even get a point. You just need him to put the puck on net.

All three of these plays are over 1.5 shots on goal, which means the player needs two or more shots. That is a low bar for players who get steady ice time and shoot often, and we have picked spots where the numbers and the matchup line up. Odds are from DraftKings at the time of writing, so check your book before you bet.

Trevor Connelly Over 1.5 Shots on Goal (+115)

Connelly has been one of the better rookie stories in the NHL, with 7 goals and 5 assists in 18 games for Vegas. He is not a volume shooter by design, averaging about 1.8 shots a game, but the trend is pointing up. Over his last five games he is at 2.2 shots a night, and he has registered at least one shot in six straight games. Four of his last five games came with two or more shots, including a four-shot night at Pittsburgh.

The price tells you why this is interesting. At +115, a bet of $100 profits $115, which is better than even money for something he has done in most of his recent outings. The Golden Knights (11-5-2) head to Buffalo for a 3:30 PM ET start against a Sabres team sitting at 8-5-3, and Connelly’s role as a top-six winger gives him a steady runway for shot attempts.

There is real risk here. He has been held without a shot four times this season, and he plays only about 14 minutes a night. That is why the plus-money price exists, and why this is the most volatile of the three. If you want a tool to size your stake sensibly, the betting calculator can help you see what a given price pays.

Luke Evangelista Over 1.5 Shots on Goal (-185)

Evangelista is the steadiest shooter of the group. The Devils winger has 3 goals and 5 assists this season, and he is skating on the first line and the second power-play unit. His most recent game was a five-shot night against St. Louis on Friday, and he followed an outing of two shots against Edmonton with three at Vegas on October 30. He has 28 shots in 11 games, roughly 2.5 a night, and he sees about 17 minutes of ice time.

The setup is friendly too. New Jersey is 12-5-0 and has won eight of its last nine, including a 5-4 overtime win at the Islanders on Saturday. This is the second half of a back-to-back, so tired legs are a fair question, but the Devils are rolling against a Maple Leafs club that is 8-8-2 and has lost four of its last five. Devils -153 on the moneyline with a 6.5 total points toward an open, back-and-forth game, and open games produce shots.

At -185 you are paying a premium, so the profit is smaller, but the probability is higher. A $185 bet wins $100. Those are the trade-offs of a safer prop, and it is worth remembering that a short price still loses sometimes. Puck drop in Toronto is 7 PM ET.

Evgeni Malkin Over 1.5 Shots on Goal (-180)

Malkin is the veteran of the card, and the one with the strongest history in this specific building. In 15 career games against Anaheim he has 29 shots on goal and 14 points. This season he has 6 goals and 5 assists with 27 shots in 13 games, roughly two shots a game, and he is averaging about 17 minutes of ice time.

His recent log is the part to be honest about. In his last five games he has registered 1, 1, 4, 1 and 1 shots, so the line has been cleared only once in that stretch. The case for a rebound is the opponent and the game script. The Ducks (9-7-1) allow 26.9 shots per game and are a middling 12th in that category, and they rank 30th in goals allowed at 3.76 a game. A Pittsburgh team that is 6-9-2 and missing Bryan Rust will lean on Malkin to create offense, and the game sits at a 6.5 total with the Ducks a slight favorite.

If you are comparing prices across apps, a quick look at the live NHL odds page can show you where the best number is before you lock in. Puck drop from Honda Center is 8 PM ET.

Lock These In

All three props are built on the same simple idea, which is a player with a guaranteed role, a respectable shot rate, and a matchup that should give him chances. Here is the full card for Sunday, November 8.

Shots props are easy to understand and easy to track as the game goes along, which makes them a good fit for new bettors. Bet only what you can afford to lose.