With the NHL returning to the ice on August 1, fans and gambling sites alike are talking about summer hockey being played. Sites like Sports Interaction immediately put up odds for teams to win the Stanley Cup, among different odds and prop bets for each individual series in the qualifying round. With games starting as early as noon, fans will be able to place bets during live games.
One of the more intriguing prop bets for the upcoming 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs is who will be the leading scorer after the qualifying round. There are so many intriguing matchups and players facing off against each other in the qualifying round. Interestingly enough the duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl is leading the way. Besides those two let’s take a look at some of the players you should put your money to be the leading scorer once the qualifying round is complete.
Connor McDavid Among Favourites to Lead Scoring
Odds Courtesy of SportsInteraction.com
Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl +650
No surprise McDavid and Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers are the betting line favourites to have the most points after the qualifying round. The dynamic duo led the 2019-20 regular season in scoring. Draisaitl won the Art Ross Trophy with 110 points. While McDavid came in second with 97 points. The duo was dynamic on the power play, as they combined for 88 points this season. They will need that same success once the puck drops again. As the Oilers face the Chicago Blackhawks in the qualifying round, look for the pair to explode. Draistail recorded seven points against Chicago in three games this past season. McDavid missed one of the games, but in the other two, he was held scoreless.
Sneaky Good Plays
Artemi Panarin +1200
Outside the favourites, you want to place your money on some players that you know will have a chance. First on the list is Artemi Panarin. Panarin led the New York Rangers in scoring 95 points. He has made an impact in just his first season with the Rangers. In four games against the Carolina Hurricanes, the Rangers opponent in the qualifying round, Panarin had nine points. There is a good bet he will have the same success against them once the qualifying round starts.
Evgeni Malkin +1200
Another player you might want to place a bet is Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Malkin led the Penguins in scoring with 74 points and during the Penguins run to the 2009 Stanley Cup Championship, he won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. He has the pedigree to make things happen especially in the playoffs.
Sidney Crosby +1400
Another player from the Penguins you may want to invest in is Sidney Crosby. Though Crosby missed some time due to injury, he still put up 47 points in 41 games. Not to mention in his only game against the Montreal Canadiens this past season, he recorded three points. Just like Malkin, Crosby won the Conn Smythe Trophy. In addition, when Crosby has a long layoff, he comes out firing.
Auston Matthews +1200
Out of the young trio on the Toronto Maple Leafs, a player like Auston Matthews is worth placing a bet on. He led the Maple Leafs with 80 points and led the team last postseason with six points. Matthews has a good shot to do it again. He recorded three points in two games against the Columbus Blue Jackets this season. It could have been more if the season was not suspended. If you are not feeling Matthews, place a bet on John Tavares (+2000).
Patrick Kane +1700
A guy you never want to count out is Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks. Kane has the winning pedigree. And with new life, he has the ability to go on a scoring spree. He led the Blackhawks in scoring with 84 points. And during the three games against the Oilers this season, he recorded four points. So there is a good shot Kane can have a break out series against the Oilers.
Mika Zibanejad +2000
Another player from the Rangers that is worth a bet is Mika Zibanejad. Zibanejad finished second on the team in scoring with 75 points. Plus in three games against the Hurricanes this season, he had seven points, four of which were goals. So there is a chance Zibanejad and Panarin could be the ones to beat in the qualifying round.
Worth A Bet
Other players you may want to look at are Elias Pettersson (+2500) of the Vancouver Canucks, Aleksander Barkov of the Florida Panthers (+2800), Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele (+2500) of the Winnipeg Jets, and finally Jake Guentzel (+2500) of the Penguins.
The choice is yours and yours alone, but these are some helpful tips to guide you through the qualifying round.
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