NHL Wednesday player props: 3 forwards to target at home

The second round of the playoffs officially begins for four teams Wednesday night - and the matchups are juicy. The Carolina Hurricanes host the New York Rangers, while the first Battle of Alberta since 1991 will get underway in Calgary.

Let's take a look at a few players to target with shot totals.

Teuvo Teravainen over 2.5 shots (+110)

Teravainen is a very consistent shooter on home soil. Whether you value a large body of work or recent form, his volume on both fronts is very encouraging. He registered at least three shots in 28 of 43 home games, good for a 65% success rate. He also hit in seven of the last 10, including three of four against a stingy Boston Bruins team in the opening round of the playoffs.

With success against Boston under his belt, Teravainen should be chomping at the bit to get at the Rangers. New York was crushed at five-on-five in Round 1, allowing more shots, scoring chances, and goals than any other team. The Hurricanes should be able to heavily tilt the ice, which will lead to extra shooting opportunities for players like Teravainen.

Sebastian Aho over 2.5 shots (-139)

Win or lose, the Hurricanes should pile up the shots in this game and series. That makes me very comfortable about double-dipping.

Aho, like Teravainen, has been very successful at home. He hit in 20 of the last 30 games in Carolina and six of the last seven, including all four against the Bruins.

Absorbing shots and trying to capitalize in transition or on the power play has been the Rangers' calling card all season - and it's not about to change now. Aho should get plenty of looks, just as he did in the season series.

He recorded three shots or more in three of the four head-to-head meetings, falling one short in the lone exception - which was on the road.

Johnny Gaudreau over 3.5 shots (+115)

Gaudreau was a shooting machine in the first round - even though it took a couple games before his shots actually started making their way to the net. Gaudreau fired 50 pucks towards the goal over seven games, good for an average of more than seven per contest. That's enough volume to hit - or come within striking distance of - four shots on a nightly basis.

I don't see him slowing down one bit against the Edmonton Oilers. They aren't the stoutest defensive side, and at home, Darryl Sutter can get Gaudreau out there in the matchups he wants all night long.

Gaudreau's track record against the Oilers is also promising. He generated 16 shots on goal and 29 attempts over the course of four matchups, which equates to four shots and 7.25 attempts per contest.

At plus money, there's value in backing Gaudreau in Game 1.

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