Underdog Fantasy NHL Picks October 21: Filip Forsberg looks to continue his dominant form
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 15 games on tap around the NHL and plenty of options for player props! I have highlighted a trio that I will be following tonight that include 3 players around the league for the Nashville Predators, Pittsburgh Penguins and Arizona Coyotes. We are starting to get more and more data for these players props now so let's use them to win some money!
NHL Underdog Fantasy Top Picks October 21
Filip Forsberg, Nashville Predators - HIGHER than 3.5 Shots On Goal
Good rule of thumb for this season, if a team is playing the Sharks take a look at the props for the team facing them! This rule applies in a big way today as the Predators are at home against the Sharks and their star winger Filip Forsberg could have a night. The Sharks have allowed an average of 40.5 shots on goal this season, the most in the NHL and they also allow the most shots attempts. Forsberg on the other hand has topped his prop of 3.5 shots in 4 of 5 games so far and is projected for 5 shots on goal tonight. Seems like simple math and a great play to me for him to go higher than his prop total tonight.
Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins - HIGHER than 3.0 Shots On Goal
Sometimes a long offseason can help players get ready and locked in for a season and that is very true with Evgeni Malkin this season so far. Through 4 games Geno has collected 18 shots on goal and has gotten at or higher than 3 shots on goal in every single game. His opponent tonight shouldn't slow him down either as the St. Louis Blues are allowing 35.67 shots on goal, the 5th highest mark in the NHL. What's more is that the Blues Corsi metrics are in the toilet so the Penguins should have the puck the majority of the game, so let's keep the train running here Mr. Malkin!
Sean Durzi, Arizona Coyotes - HIGHER than 1.5 Shots On Goal
Not everyday you'll try out a blue liner for a player prop with shots on goal but if the stats back it you should at least take a look! The Coyotes are going to be a bad team this season, no debating that but they have some pieces Durzi included that will be productive. Through 4 games this season Durzi has collected 12 shots on goal and has comfortably topped his line of 1.5 shots in 3 of 4 games this season, with the one miss being last time out against the Blues in which he did have a goal but only 1 shot. That train may stop at some point for him but tonight against the Ducks who allow 32.33 shots on goal per game I don't see it missing so lets roll with him to continue his production, at least for one more game!
Player News
Jeremy Peña (rib) went 0-for-2 with a walk on Tuesday in a minor league rehab game for Triple-A Sugar Land.
Peña started at DH in his rehab debut and got four plate appearances under his belt. He struck out twice and was also hit by a pitch. The 27-year-old All-Star shortstop has been out since late June recovering from a fractured rib. He’s expected to return later this week, possibly as early as Friday’s series opener against the Red Sox.
Cardinals SS prospect JJ Wetherholt went 2-for-5 with a leadoff homer and three RBI on Tuesday for Triple-A Memphis.
Wetherholt, who homered off Orioles rehabbing lefty Cade Povich in this one, is arguably the top fantasy prospect left in the minor leagues — with the notable exception of Orioles slugger Samuel Basallo — that has a real shot at making an impact over the final two months. The 22-year-old first-round pick from the 2024 MLB Draft hasn’t skipped a beat since arriving at the Triple-A level earlier this month, batting .340 (16-for-47) with five homers in 12 games. He doesn’t possess massive over-the-fence power potential, but he’s shown an ability to in the upper minors to consistently drive the ball to all fields.
Reds 3B prospect Sal Stewart went 2-for-4 with a solo homer on Tuesday for Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Stewart has homered four times in 10 games since being promoted the Triple-A Louisville. The 21-year-old power-hitting prodigy would likely get a look with the Reds at some point down the home stretch if their infield mix wasn’t already overcrowded. He possesses enough over-the-fence power upside to be interesting from a long-term fantasy perspective and figures to finish the year as a top-25 range prospect for dynasty purposes.
Will Smith knocked in the go-ahead run in the ninth with his second hit of the game as the Dodgers came back to beat the Reds 5-3 on Tuesday.
Smith didn’t start the previous two games; Sunday was a planned day off, but since he was ended up catching a couple of innings then, the Dodgers gave him a full day off Monday. Back at it tonight, he had an RBI single in the seventh and an RBI double in the ninth. Catchers simply don’t get much traction in MVP conversations these days, but Smith is leading the NL in average (.325) and OBP (.423); he’d certainly be worth of a spot on the ballot if the season ended today.
Tyler Glasnow yielded four runs and walked five in four-plus innings against the Reds on Tuesday.
Thanks to a couple of double plays, Glasnow opened up with three scoreless innings. Still, he didn’t look as sharp as he did in previous couple of starts, and the Reds got to him for two homers in the fourth. He then loaded the bases with no outs before being lifted in the fifth, and he was fortunate only one of the runners wound up scoring. It went as Glasnow’s seventh no-decision in nine starts this season. Most of those have been good starts, but this is his second stinker, to go along with the April outing he left injured. He’ll face the Cardinals next week.
Alexis DÃaz got four outs against his former team for his first win of the year Tuesday against the Reds.
DÃaz’s velocity is up two mph from the beginning of the season, and he’s pitched three scoreless innings since returning to the majors. We still worry about his control — he walked seven and hit three batters in 6 2/3 innings for the Dodgers’ Triple-A club — but things are looking up.