NHL prop picks Nov. 16: Bet on Lightning's Kucherov, Golden Knights' Barbashev to shine

Bet on Nikita Kucherov and Ivan Barbashev to deliver. Photos by AP.
Bet on Nikita Kucherov and Ivan Barbashev to deliver. Photos by AP.

A small, five-game slate on Sunday presents a pair of intriguing NHL prop picks.

The pregame narrative: Nikita Kucherov is having a down year by his standards, but the matchup is right for a strong performance. Elsewhere, Ivan Barbashev is a strong choice to find the score sheet.

Check out my NHL prop picks for Nov. 16.

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NHL prop picks

Best Bet: Kucherov to score 2+ points (+125)

Most players would be ecstatic if their stat line looked like Kucherov's, but his expectations are a little different.

The three-time Art Ross Trophy winner only has 15 points in 15 games this year. He scored a point in yesterday's win over the Florida Panthers after going pointless in the two previous games.

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The matchup is right, however, for Kucherov to break through with a big performance.

The Tampa Bay Lightning host the Vancouver Canucks, who are struggling mightily to keep the puck out of the net.

  • Vancouver allows the fourth-most goals per game (3.53).
  • The Canucks allow the sixth-most expected goals per game (3.56).

Vancouver doesn't enter this contest with much to feel good about, either. The team has allowed four-plus goals in six of its last seven games.

Expect Kucherov to capitalize on a favourable matchup and deliver a vintage performance.

Key stat: Kucherov still has five multi-point outings despite a slow start to the year.

NHL predictions

Barbashev to score 1+ point (-104): Barbashev is pointless in his last two games, but I'm still looking to back the Vegas Golden Knights forward.

The winger is having a very nice month of November, registering six points in six games.

His spot in the lineup is what catches my attention. Barbashev plays on Vegas' top line alongside Jack Eichel and Braeden Bowman.

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The former is the player who obviously piques my interest. Eichel is off to a great start this season, tying for ninth in league scoring with 24 points.

Barbashev is having a strong season in his own right. He's totalled 16 points in 17 games, cashing this wager in 10 games this year.

NHL prop picks made at 11:31 a.m. ET on Nov. 16, 2025.

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