<p>Join Daily Faceoff’s Nick Martin as he handicaps the best NHL player props available on Wednesday night.</p>



<div class="bam-inline-promotion-block" data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2110" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="330"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Tyler Bertuzzi Over 0.5 Points: +115 Sports Interaction</strong></h2>



<p>On December 1st, the Colorado Avalanche acquired goaltender Scott Wedgewood via trade from Nashville, and then further solidified their crease by trading for Mackenzie Blackwood from San Jose on December 9th. Those moves have powered a 12-3-1 tear from the Avs entering tonight’s matchup with the Chicago Blackhawks, and their vastly improved results show just how important goaltending is to team success.</p>



<p>As Wedgewood is currently on the IR and Mackenzie Blackwood is in need of a rest, Trent Miner is expected to make his first career start in tonight’s matchup. Miner stopped 12 of 13 shots in relief on November 15th in his only NHL appearance, and holds a .903 save percentage in the AHL this season.</p><div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="135"></div>



<p>While it might not be fair to count on overly bad results from Miner, he is likely to downgrade the play we have seen in goal from Blackwood and Wedgewood recently. </p>



<p>During their 12-3-1 stretch of dominance, Colorado has allowed 3.01 xGA/60 and 27.48 shots against per 60. They still look to be an upper middle of the pack team defensively, but have benefitted from a fifth-best team save percentage in that span.</p>



<p>For those reasons, this looks like a reasonable matchup to back the Blackhawks generating a reasonable offensive output, and at +115, we are getting a good price to back one of the Hawks’ hottest skaters in Bertuzzi.</p>



<p>Bertuzzi has put up eight points over the last eight matchups, and has a single point in 57% of games played under new head coach Anders Sorensen. </p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="139"></div>



<p>Since Seth Jones returned to lineup on December 21st, the Blackhawks power play has succeeded 29.4% of the time, and Bertuzzi is benefitting from skating on the top unit. He’s also benefitting from playing at even strength alongside Connor Bedard, who has put up 16 points in 14 games since Sorensen was appointed head coach.</p>



<div class="bam-inline-promotion-block" data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2110" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="330"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Matthew Tkachuk Under 0.5 Points: +155 Sports Interaction</strong></h2>



<p>Among goaltenders that have made at least 10 appearances this season, Utah Hockey Club’s Karel Vejmelka ranks 11th in the league with a GAA of 2.45. He also owns a .914 save percentage, and +12.0 GSAx rating.</p>



<p>Utah will have a rest advantage in tonight’s matchup as it hosts the defending champion Florida Panthers, and road teams have not fared well in that situation this season. I’m counting on a detailed defensive game from head coach Andre Tourigny’s Utah side, and I think it will make this game competitive with a scrappy effort.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="2" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="148"></div>



<p>Over the last month of play, the Panthers have averaged just 2.15 goals per game. A key reason for their poor stretch of results offensively has been the play of Tkachuk, who’s put up just six points in those 13 games, and holds a minus-8 rating.</p>



<p>Obviously Tkachuk has a higher offensive ceiling than we have seen of late, but based on his current form, he looks to be getting a lot of credit to be -200 to record a point in a game with a betting total of six goals, and where the Panthers are only -135 favorites.</p>


Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) looks on against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the first period at Amerant Bank Arena