NHL Friday player props: 2 forwards to back

Thursday was a tough one for our shot props. Anze Kopitar came through for us while Brendan Gallagher and John Carlson both fell a shot shy, hitting the net on two of their four attempts.

We'll look to get back on a winning track and start the weekend off right.

Cam Atkinson over 2.5 shots (-150)

Cam Atkinson is the Philadelphia Flyers' most consistent shooting threat. He leads the team in shots on goal, scoring chances, goals, and expected goals on the year. While Travis Konecny's numbers over the last 10 games give him an edge, Atkinson is right on his tail.

Atkinson is a really attractive player to back, especially against a team like the Ottawa Senators. They have been one of the worst shot suppression teams in the league this season and their defense just took a huge hit with Thomas Chabot going down. The Senators also give up a ton of shot volume to right-wingers. Only the Detroit Red Wings have conceded more shots per game to the position.

With Claude Giroux sitting out and waiting for a trade, even more of the offensive load will fall on Atkinson's shoulders. Look for him to be heavily involved against Ottawa.

Johnny Gaudreau over 3.5 shots (+100)

Johnny Gaudreau has amassed 34 shots on goal over his last 10 home dates and is tied with Elias Lindholm for most shot attempts on the Calgary Flames during that period. He doesn't consistently hit four shots but he does hover around that number.

What attracts me to Gaudreau on Friday is the matchup. The Buffalo Sabres give up more shots to left-wingers than every team in the league. No side is even close to touching their ineptitude against the position.

For perspective, the difference in shots allowed between the Sabres and the closest team to them (Anaheim) is 54. That's the same gap as the one between the Ducks and the Nashville Predators, who rank 20th in shots against vs left-wingers.

Whether he finds the scoresheet or not, Gaudreau should be able to generate plenty of chances in this game.

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

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