NHL Wednesday player props: Forsberg to burn Flames

We have an astronomically large slate Wednesday - 28 of the league's 32 teams will be in action on the eve of a short break for American Thanksgiving.

Let's waste no time in getting to a few plays that pop off the page.

Adam Fantilli over 2.5 shots

Fantilli is red-hot on home ice. He recorded 44 attempts and 26 shots on target over his past six games in Columbus.

With an average of 7.3 attempts per contest, it should be no surprise Fantilli has gone over his shot total in five of six games.

There's every reason to believe he'll stay hot Wednesday night against the Blackhawks. They're horrendous defensively and concede more shots per game than every team but the Sharks and Islanders.

They also allow well over 14 shots per game to opposing centers - the highest mark in the NHL. Fantilli plays in the middle of the second line and sees time with the man advantage, so he's a prime candidate to make noise against Chicago.

There could also be a little extra pep in Fantilli's step going up against Connor Bedard, who was selected atop his draft class.

Odds: -122 (playable to -140)

Jack Hughes over 3.5 shots

Hughes picked up right where he left off after returning from injury. He made his comeback against a very good Rangers team and showed absolutely no sign of rust or lingering ailments. In that contest, he recorded 13 shot attempts, eight shots on goal, and a pair of points.

I'm expecting another active offensive performance against the Red Wings, who average more than 30 shots against per game. He should generate plenty of shots at five-on-five - especially with Timo Meier, who's a bit of a shot hog, sidelined.

Additionally, only three teams have taken penalties at a higher rate than Detroit. The Devils' power play, meanwhile, is clicking at a historically good rate, and Hughes is the guy facilitating everything. He'll benefit from those extra power-play opportunities.

Odds: -140 (playable to -150)

Filip Forsberg over 3.5 shots

Forsberg's played nine home games this season and registered at least four shots on goal in eight of them. The exception came against the Maple Leafs when Forsberg finished with three shots and missed a couple of opportunities to get a fourth.

He isn't just grinding out wins by the skin of his teeth. Forsberg routinely goes over his shot total, averaging five on a whopping 9.1 attempts per game.

Predators head coach Andrew Brunette has Forsberg regularly flirting with 20 minutes of ice time. That wasn't the case a season ago, as former head coach John Hynes had the Swede closer to the 18-minute mark.

For an efficient shot-creator, extra ice time makes a world of difference. We're seeing that in Forsberg's remarkably high shot outputs - especially when he's benefiting from cushier matchups on home ice.

Although the Flames are fairly good at even-strength shot suppression, their penalty kill gives up a lot. They also allow a couple more shots per game on the road.

Forsberg found success against strong teams like the Avalanche and Canucks. It should continue versus the mediocre Flames.

Odds: -134 (playable to -150)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @ToddCordell.

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