NHL Thursday player props: 3 forwards worth backing

We have an action-packed 12-game slate of games to look forward to Thursday night. Let's dive into a few of the many shot props that stand out.

Nikita Kucherov over 3.5 shots (+100)

Kucherov is generally somebody to target on home ice. There, he finds himself in some more advantageous matchups, whereas on the road, teams use their best two-way players to try to slow him down.

In terms of shots on goal, the Lightning star has cooled off a little of late. He has gone over the number in just three of his last 10 home dates. It's not for a lack of opportunity, though.

Kucherov has averaged 7.6 shot attempts per game over that stretch in Tampa Bay. That's well above his season average of 6.2. So long as the volume continues to be there, it's only a matter of time before he starts hitting again.

Luckily, Kucherov finds himself in the ultimate get-right spot. At five-on-five, the Blue Jackets rank bottom five in shot suppression over the last 10 games. Better yet, they have also spent the third-most time killing penalties.

Kucherov should be able to do real damage at full strength and, if all else fails, figures to have a few power-play opportunities to help push him over the edge.

Cole Caufield over 3.5 shots (-110)

Caufield is another player known for his home cooking. He has gone over the number in six of his last nine games in Montreal and, like Kucherov, has generated shot attempts at a noticeably higher rate at the Bell Centre.

The Canadiens forward has averaged 6.6 shot attempts over his last 10 home dates. That's a big step up from his last-10 road average of 5.1.

I expect Caufield's home success to continue in a smash spot against the Ducks. At five-on-five, the Ducks sit last - by a significant margin - in shot attempts and shots on goal conceded over the last 10 games. They're also a subpar penalty-killing team. Caufield should be the primary beneficiary of that.

Caufield had a four-shot, eight-attempt game against the Senators on Wednesday night. I expect a similar effort in this one.

Taylor Hall over 2.5 shots (-105)

Hall has quietly been shooting the lights out. He has generated at least three shots on goal in seven of the last nine games, falling just one puck shy in both of the exceptions.

He is consistently going over his shot total and legitimately threatening to do so every night for the Bruins.

The Kings have not been great on defense recently, ranking bottom eight in shot suppression at five-on-five. Hall doesn't get a ton of power-play time, so he needs to do the heavy lifting at even strength. This is a sneaky good spot where he should be able to do that.

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

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