NHL Tuesday player props: 3 forwards to target

With 18 teams in action, we have a jam-packed NHL schedule to enjoy Tuesday night.

That means there's no shortage of player props to comb through. Let's take a look at a few lines that stand out.

Nikita Kucherov over 3.5 shots (-125)

Until Kucherov's shot line jumps to 4.5 or the odds change drastically, I'll continue backing him to go over the number. His shooting floor has been remarkably consistent since he returned from injury.

The Lightning star has registered at least four shots in 10 of 12 games following his return to the lineup, including four straight on home ice.

Tuesday night brings a home date against the lowly Senators. Ottawa ranks dead last in shot attempts against per 60 minutes this season, and its current form isn't much better. Injuries and illnesses have also thinned an already bad lineup.

Kucherov has a roughly 83% hit rate since being reinserted into the lineup, while this line implies only an approximate 55% chance of Kucherov capitalizing on a fantastic matchup. I'm happy to take my chances.

Pierre-Luc Dubois over 2.5 shots (-143)

The Canadiens have played much better with Martin St. Louis behind the bench. Even so, they're a team we can target, especially through a center of Dubois' caliber.

Dubois is in the midst of one of his best shooting stretches of the season. The Jets forward has registered at least three shots in seven of his last 10 games while averaging 3.4 shots in that stretch.

Montreal, meanwhile, has given up an abundance of shots to centers all season long. In fact, only the Blue Jackets concede more shots per game to the position. All of that makes Dubois very appealing here.

Brendan Gallagher over 2.5 shots (-118)

Gallagher has averaged half a shot per game more on home ice than on the road this season. Despite that, he's a player worth backing as the Canadiens visit Winnipeg.

The Jets are playing horrendous defense right now. They've allowed more than 63 shot attempts against per 60 minutes at five-on-five over the last 10 games - better only than the Sharks and Coyotes.

Winnipeg has also been extremely bad at defending the low slot, ranking bottom five in high-danger chances against per 60 minutes. Gallagher is a gritty, hard-nosed player who generates many of his chances around the net. If the Jets are struggling to defend that area, Gallagher is likely to take advantage.

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.

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