Friday NHL props: It ain't hard to back Bedard

Thank you to Clayton Keller for burying an empty netter to deliver us a much needed win here. Many are saying that was just the jolt we needed to get going on a massive weekend run, and I support those rumors.

It's a small NHL slate tonight, but there are a few spots of intrigue, and you best believe we've found some plus-money once again to load up.

1u: Connor Bedard 4+ shots (+154 FanDuel)

Kings vs. Blackhawks, 8:30 p.m. ET

I was extremely happy to see that sportsbooks opened up Connor Bedard at a 2.5 line this morning. That just means we get to attack him up at his standard 3.5 line at a terrific price.

Sure, Los Angeles is a bit stingy to shots, but nothing crazy, and they're allowing the ninth-most shots to centers over the last 10 games.

I almost don't really care who is on the other end, I'm riding this Bedard streak until it crashes and burns. Across the past three games, Bedard has finished with five, seven and five SOG, piling up an outrageous 40 shot attempts.

40 shot attempts in three games, putting up 11+ each time. If he continues that pace, I'm quite confident he'll find us 4+ SOGs here, and yes, I did bet him to finish with 5+ also at +330.

Los Angeles has more often than not handed out a few power plays per game as well, and as the Blackhawks' PP shot leader, that's all the better for Bedard in his bid to cover this bet tonight.

1u: Nino Niederreiter point (+110 DraftKings)

Ducks vs. Jets, 8 p.m. ET

I often dig into team's 5v5 numbers, looking at advanced statistics like expected goals and high-danger chances to see who may be generating the most high-quality looks when they're on the ice. Whenever it's time to dig into Winnipeg again, I find it's always Nino Niederreiter, Adam Lowry and Mason Appleton topping the board for the metrics I care about.

That suggests to me this third line has been highly disruptive when they get on the ice, generating a ton of strong looks. That's something I'll follow here against an Anaheim team lacking the bottom-six forward depth to keep a third line like this in check.

I do like Niederreiter to score, and I think Adam Lowry point at +115 is another interesting look to consider. I'll just roll with the point here on the Winnipeg winger.

He has a point in four straight vs. the Ducks and has six total in his last six meetings with them.