Eric Rosales
• Betting Analyst
27+ years betting experience
Updated:
Apr 26, 2026 , 10:13 AM ET
• 4 min read
Leon Draisaitl returned to the Edmonton Oilers with a vengeance, and our NHL player prop picks expect him to remain elite.
Photo By – Reuters Connect. The Edmonton Oilers celebrate a goal scored by forward Leon Draisaitl (29) during the first period against the Anaheim Ducks.
The NHL Playoffs are a week in, and games are getting more intense as teams begin to face elimination.
I’ve found my three favorite NHL player props for this slate, featuring Leon Draisaitl, Cole Caufield, and David Pastrnak.
Here are my free NHL picks for April 26.
Best NHL player prop bets today
Player
Draisaitl Over 1.5 points
+105
Caufield Over 3.5 shots
+120
David Pastrnak anytime goal scorer
+130
Get a first bet encore up to $800 with BET99 bonus code COVERSNHL.
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Our best NHL player props for Sunday, April 26
Take a look at our best bets and expert analysis below.
Prop #1: Leon Draisaitl Over 1.5 points
+105 at BET99
While Connor McDavid has finally awakened from his playoff scoring slumber, Leon Draisaitl has taken care of business, potting two points in all three games against the Ducks this series.
It’s business as usual against Anaheim: Draisaitl now has 16 multi-point games in his last 21 against the Ducks, a trend that should continue in a crucial one for Edmonton tonight.
His linemates, Vasily Podkolzin and Kasperi Kapanen, are also buzzing, combining for eight points in this series. It looks as if Anaheim won’t slow down this line anytime soon.
- Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: CBC, ESPN
Prop #2: Cole Caufield Over 3.5 shots
+120 at BET99
It’s been an extremely quiet playoff for the NHL’s second-leading goal scorer, as Cole Caufield has just three assists and zero goals against the Lightning.
With Montreal in position to push Tampa to the brink, I think the 25-year-old starts throwing everything at the net.
Caufield was Top 15 in shots on goal this year, averaging 3.2 per game, yet he hasn’t even touched three shots in a game this series. That changes in Game 4.
- Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: CBC, ESPN
Prop #3: David Pastrnak anytime goal scorer
+ODDS at BET99
It’s a critical situation for the Boston Bruins, who can’t afford to lose Game 4, giving Buffalo a chance to wrap things up at home in Game 5.
David Pastrnak was shut out of scoring for the first time this series, but Boston’s leading scorer will need to be prominent to bring this series back to even.
He’s scored four goals in the last six head-to-head meetings with the Sabres and will likely need another one to give his Bruins a chance.
- Time: 2:00 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: Sportsnet, TNT
These props are available now at BET99, one of our best betting sites.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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Eric has been involved in sports media in many different capacities since graduating from journalism school in 1999, back when getting your own column in a newspaper was still considered a thing. He doubled down and graduated from broadcast journalism school five years later, which led to a move to Toronto and a career with The Sports Network (TSN). From behind-the-scenes production work, he moved into the digital realm, where he had his own hoops column (At the Buzzer), while regularly live streaming and chatting with fans during broadcasts as the character known as LeBlog James. He was also a key contributor to TSN and CTV’s Olympic programming during the 2012 London Games.
Eric eventually found his way into the sports betting field in 2016 and has been a mainstay ever since. He was tagged on Twitter as a Top 10 NBA sharp during the 2021 season and has been interviewed about basketball and his handicapping process on shows from Vancouver to India. Eric is now a jack-of-all-sports at Covers, where his predictions span the alphabet soup: NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, F1, WNBA, Euro, and Copa.
When making picks, he focuses on finding value first and foremost, and ensuring readers have all the information they need to make an informed choice.
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