Today’s Player Prop Bets for NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs: Thursday

As the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs continues on Thursday, host teams aim to level their respective series at one game each. The Washington Capitals, Eastern Conference`s top seed, will host the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 2. Meanwhile, the Vegas Golden Knights will welcome the Edmonton Oilers for the second game of their Western Conference series.

Washington had a perfect home record against the Montreal Canadiens in the first round, winning all three games. However, they lost Game 1 of this series to the Hurricanes at Capital One Arena, falling 2-1 in overtime after giving up a third-period lead. Jaccob Slavin netted the overtime winner just over three minutes into the extra period for Carolina, who have played beyond regulation in three of their last four outings.

The Golden Knights` home record this postseason dropped to 2-2 after a 4-2 loss on Tuesday. Vegas captain Mark Stone scored two quick goals early in the game for a 2-0 lead, but Edmonton pulled one back before the first intermission and added three more in the third period to take the series opener.

Edmonton enters Thursday having won five games in a row since dropping the first two of their first-round series against the Los Angeles Kings. Notably, the defending Western Conference champions trailed in all five of those victories and were either tied or behind heading into the third period in four of them.

Here are some promising player props to consider for Thursday`s playoff action.

Player Prop Bets to Consider

Alex Ovechkin, Capitals

Despite being the NHL`s all-time regular-season goal leader, Ovechkin didn`t score in the series opener. He rarely goes consecutive games without a goal, having done so only twice since late January. His next goal will move him past Mario Lemieux for 12th all-time in playoff scoring (77 goals). The 39-year-old Russian veteran scored twice against Carolina during the 2024-25 regular season and recorded four goals in their seven-game series in 2019.

Dylan Strome, Capitals

Strome posted a career-high 53 assists in 2024-25 and registered at least one assist in four out of five games in the first round against Montreal. With seven assists this postseason, the 28-year-old center is tied for sixth in the NHL, a significant increase from the two assists he had in his first 13 career playoff games. He recorded two assists in four regular-season games versus the Hurricanes this year and has 11 assists in 22 career regular-season matchups against them.

Connor McDavid, Oilers

The reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner tallied two assists in Game 1 against Vegas, his fourth multi-point effort in seven playoff games this year. However, he`s currently on a four-game goal drought after scoring five goals in his previous seven playoff contests dating back to last year`s Stanley Cup Final run. The 2023 Maurice Richard Trophy winner scored five times in Edmonton`s six-game loss to Vegas in the second round last year and seems poised to find the back of the net, especially after recording six assists in his last four games.

Leon Draisaitl, Oilers

Draisaitl is tied for fourth in the NHL playoff scoring race with 12 points in seven games this postseason. He registered his fourth multi-point performance in the series opener against Vegas, scoring a goal and adding an assist. Draisaitl has accumulated multiple points in 36 of his 81 career playoff games and has done so in three out of his seven previous matchups against the Golden Knights.