Best NHL Player Props for May 20: Dorofeyev Brings the Heat

Pavel Dorofeyev enters the Western Conference Final as the hottest goal scorer left in the playoffs. He scored twice in Vegas’ Game 5 overtime win against Anaheim, then stayed hot as the Golden Knights finished off the Ducks in Game 6, giving him an NHL-best nine goals this postseason. Mitch Marner has been just as important as the setup engine, producing 18 points through 12 playoff games while Jack Eichel has driven play with 15 points and 14 assists.

Colorado still has an advantage on paper. The Avalanche swept Los Angeles, eliminated Minnesota in five, and enter Game 1 at home with Nathan MacKinnon sitting on 13 points in nine playoff games. That makes this prop board a clean split: Vegas brings the value on shot volume, while Colorado brings the star scorer the market already knows how to price.

Best Golden Knights vs. Avalanche player prop

Pavel Dorofeyev Over 2.5 shots on goal (-118)

Dorofeyev has nine goals this postseason and is coming off the kind of finishing run that forces defenses to respect every touch. He scored twice in Game 5 against Anaheim, including the overtime winner, then stayed central to a Vegas attack that closed the Ducks out with a 5-1 Game 6 win.

The shot prop is cleaner than chasing the goal market. Dorofeyev to score at +212 has obvious appeal after his postseason run, but goal props still depend on finishing, power-play timing, and goaltending variance. Over 2.5 shots at -118 gives him more ways to cash through volume, especially if Vegas spends stretches chasing Colorado’s pace.

Colorado’s profile should force Vegas into aggressive offensive usage. The Avalanche averaged 4.11 goals per game entering the series, the highest mark among remaining playoff teams, while Vegas ranked third at 3.67. If Game 1 opens up, Dorofeyev does not need another multi-goal night to clear this number. He needs steady offensive-zone touches, power-play involvement, and the willingness to keep shooting rather than defer.

Best plus-money shot angle

Mitch Marner Over 2.5 shots on goal (+136)

Marner has 18 points through 12 playoff games and produced his fifth multi-point game of the postseason in Vegas’ Game 6 clincher against Anaheim. That ties his career high for multi-point games in a single playoff run, and it shows how central he has become to the Golden Knights’ offense.

The concern is role. Marner is more playmaker than pure shooter, and that is why Novig has the Under 2.5 shots priced at -187. The market is asking whether he creates more than he fires.

The price makes the Over worth a look. At +136, Marner does not need to become Vegas’ primary shooter for the entire night. He needs three shots in a matchup where the Golden Knights may have to trade chances with Colorado’s top line. If the Avalanche take away passing lanes to Eichel and Dorofeyev, Marner’s own shot volume can climb quickly.

Best star scorer note

Nathan MacKinnon Over 0.5 goals (-110)

MacKinnon has seven goals and 13 points through nine playoff games, and Colorado opens Game 1 at home with the shorter Novig moneyline and the stronger Cup price. The scoring profile is exactly what traders expect from him in this spot: heavy minutes, top power-play usage, and a transition game that punishes turnovers before defenses can reset.

The available MacKinnon board is awkward: his shots line is Over 3.5 at -179, and that price is steep for a conference final opener against a Vegas team that has enough structure to block lanes and slow his shot volume. The goal line at Over 0.5 (-110) is more volatile, but the price is more playable for a player who has already been finishing at an elite rate this postseason.

MacKinnon does not need Colorado to dominate the game to score. One power-play touch, one rush chance, or one late empty-net sequence can be enough. The risk is obvious with any goal prop, but the number is far more reasonable than paying heavy juice on his shot total.

Trade Golden Knights vs. Avalanche Props on Novig

Game 1 gives traders three different angles: Dorofeyev’s shot volume at a fair price, Marner’s plus-money path if Vegas needs more attempts from its top playmaker, and MacKinnon’s goal market as the cleaner way to back Colorado’s biggest scorer.

On Novig’s commission-free prediction market, those prices move with trader demand, not a house edge protecting the book. Get your Golden Knights vs. Avalanche player prop positions on Novig before puck drop.