Underdog Fantasy NHL Picks November 14th: Sam Bennett is back against the San Jose Sharks
Welcome into NHL player prop central for the season on Underdog Fantasy! Player props are becoming one of the hottest growing things in hockey over the past few seasons and I have definitely taken notice as it adds yet another layer to a great game experience. Throughout this season you will find picks offered on the Underdog site that I find the most appealing as there are many to choose from so that's why I'm here to help you sift through the options.
For today's slate, we have 11 games on tap around the NHL and plenty of options for player props! I have highlighted a set of 3 props that I will be following tonight that includes 3 players around the league for the Florida Panthers, St. Louis Blues and Calgary Flames! Good luck to everyone on the props tonight, let's win some cheddar!
NHL Underdog Fantasy Top Picks November 14
Sam Bennett, Florida Panthers - HIGHER than 0.5 Points
The Panthers offense has really struggled this season and missing Sam Bennett was a big reason for the poor play along with Brandon Montour and Ekblad. But he is back now centering the 2nd line and what a spot he is in tonight against the leagues worst in the San Jose Sharks. Bennett has no points on the season and I think that changes tonight as the Panthers should score 4+ goals against a team that allows 4.4 per game and 38.33 shots.
Jakub Vrana, St. Louis Blues - HIGHER than 2.0 Shots on Goal
Here's a play that has remained the same basically all season as Vrana's shots line hasn't changed from 2 at all! This is despite him going higher than the number in 8 of 11 games thus far and in 5 of the last 6 games. He should continue the trend tonight too as the Lightning aren't the great defensive team they used to be and allow 33.07 shots on goal per game, the 6th highest average in the NHL. Look for Vrana to continue getting his tonight even if the Blues are frauds.
Elias Lindholm, Calgary Flames - HIGHER than 2.5 Shots On Goal
The Flames might be falling apart right now but at least they get a favorable matchup for their offense tonight against the Montreal Canadiens. Lindholm is the top line center for the Flames as it stands and he is on the ice over 20 minutes per game, which means he has the oppurtunity every game to contribute and when it comes to shots on net he is. Over the past 5 games he has gone higher than 2.5 shots in 4 of 5 and has totaled 18 shots during that time. The matchup against the Habs is a good one tonight as I said, they are allowing 34.2 shots per game, the 4th most in the NHL so fire up the Flames and Lindholm tonight.
Player News
Jahmyr Gibbs rushed 22 times for 67 yards and two touchdowns in the Lions’ Week 3 win over the Ravens, adding 32 yards on five receptions.
Gibbs handled 22 carries and six targets to the 13 opportunities of David Montgomery, but it was the latter back that stole the show while amassing 151 yards and two scores on the ground. Even so, the 28 opportunities were the most in a game in which Montgomery also was on the field during Gibbs’ three-year NFL career - a solid sign for what is to come for the talented back. Gibbs could find the sledding difficult again in Week 4 against a Cleveland defense leading the league in yards allowed per carry through three games.
David Montgomery rushed 12 times for 151 yards and two touchdowns in the Lions’ Week 3 win over the Ravens, adding 13 yards on one reception.
Montgomery played well behind backfield mate Jahmyr Gibbs as far as snap rate and opportunity count are concerned. He put the Lions on his back when it mattered most, however, with carries of 72 yards and 31 yards in the fourth quarter, the latter of which put the Lions up by 14 points with under two minutes to play as he found paint for the second time. The bulk of Montgomery’s fantasy value remains tied to his high touchdown expectancy in one of the league’s top offenses, making him a more difficult weekly start than others drafted around him this offseason.
Jared Goff completed 20-of-28 passes for 202 yards and a touchdown in the Lions’ 38-80, Week 3 win over the Lions, adding six yards on four carries.
Goff’s 28 pass attempts were a product of the team’s successes on the ground, with David Montgomery (151 yards and two touchdowns) and Jahmyr Gibbs (67 yards and two touchdowns) taking over the game in the second half. The veteran signal caller made numerous elite throws, the highlight of which came on fourth down with just over two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter when he dropped a dime into the bread basket of alpha wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. That drive would eventually culminate in a 31-yard Montgomery touchdown to push the lead to 14 points, a lead the Lions would not relinquish as they vault into a tie atop the NFC North with the Packers and Vikings. Up next for Goff and the Lions is a matchup against the surprisingly stout Cleveland defense in Week 4.
Ronald Acuña Jr. walloped his 19th home run of the season and walked three times, leading Atlanta to an 11-5 blowout win over the Nationals.
Acuña has caught fire down the home stretch following a prolonged slump coming out of the All-Star break, homering four times in his last 11 games. The 27-year-old generational talent took Nationals lefty MacKenzie Gore deep in the opening frame and wound up reaching base safely in four of his six plate appearances in the one-sided affair. He’s looked like a fantasy superstar again of late, batting an absurd .346 (18-for-52) with four homers, 13 RBI and two steals over his last 15 games.
Nasim Nuñez went 3-for-4 with a solo homer in Monday’s blowout loss to Atlanta.
Nuñez walloped his first career leadoff homer when he took Atlanta ace Chris Sale deep to right field. It was his fourth round-tripper since returning to the big leagues back in early September. He came a few feet shy of his second big fly on the night a couple frames later and finished the one-sided affair with a season-high three hits, reaching base safely in four of his five plate appearances. He’s shown enough down the home stretch to be considered a serious contender for an everyday role next spring.
Michael Harris II went 3-for-5 with three RBI and three stolen bases in Monday’s lopsided win over the Nationals.
Harris kicked off an impressive three-hit performance with a 109-mph line-drive to right field that brought home Ha-Seong Kim from second base in the second inning. He scorched a run-scoring single as part of Atlanta’s five-run outburst in the ensuing frame. He wasn’t done yet as he drove in another run on a fielder’s choice in the fourth before adding a sixth-inning single. The three steals matched his previous career-high mark set back on July 16, 2022 during his stellar rookie campaign. It also puts him one theft shy of reaching the 20-steal threshold for the third time in the last four seasons.