We’ve got a better-than-average Monday slate to work with to kick off the week. All five games offer some significance in the playoff race, and there are a number of appealing prop betting angles. Our three favourite anytime goal-scorer bets price out at +2195 as a parlay for bettors looking to take a chance on a lottery ticket on the best NHL betting sites. The picks also appear to hold standalone value as straight bets, something worth noting given that we have gone 2-for-3 quite often this season despite only going 3-for-3 once.
Anytime goal-scorer bets are among the most exciting bets available in any sport. The rush of hitting a long shot goal-scorer is hard to match, but even the NHL’s top scorers are less than 50% likely to score on average, and it is a volatile market subject to randomness, so as always, we do recommend staying within your means. Regardless of the score, any uncashed goal-scorer bet is still live to win, while hitting this type of wager early in any matchup is also extremely satisfying.
Nick’s AGS parlay
Jack Hughes: +155
After a tremendous showing at the Olympics, Hughes has been at his best since the restart recording five goals and seven assists in nine games. It was well-documented that he was unable to shoot at the same level as usual when he initially returned from his hand injury in late December, but that no longer seems to be a concern.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe recently moved dynamic playmaker Jesper Bratt back onto Hughes’s wing, and over the last five games Hughes has generated 2.76 individual expected goals from 37 shot attempts. Those strong marks have seemingly been aided by the new alignment, as Bratt has also been in much better form than he was earlier on in the season.
The Boston Bruins offer a quietly strong matchup for Hughes to once again generate some high-quality scoring chances. Over the last 12 games, the Bruins have allowed 3.08 goals against per game and 3.88 xGA/60. Jeremy Swayman has helped mask some shaky defensive play recently, but it will be backup Joonas Korpisalo starting in Monday’s matchup, making this a much more favourable matchup for Hughes to continue his heater as Korpisalo holds an .892 save percentage, 3.28 GAA and -3.0 GSAx rating across 25 appearances this season.
Lucas Raymond: +200
The Detroit Red Wings enter Monday’s critical matchup versus the Calgary Flames in the midst of a three-game losing skid. It’s not quite a “must-win,” but with the red-hot Columbus Blue Jackets only one point back, having played one less game, it’s a game the Red Wings cannot afford to take lightly.
Raymond had an excellent performance in a tough matchup on Saturday versus the Dallas Stars, and his late game-tying goal did allow the Red Wings to collect a critical point. Raymond generated 0.85 individual expected goals, and per Hockeystatcard.com, held the second highest rating of any skater in the game, which lined up with the eye test.
With Dylan Larkin sidelined, Raymond is a particularly critical skater for the Red Wings currently, and I’m counting on him to step up in a soft matchup versus the Calgary Flames. He was excellent for Team Sweden in the Olympics, and though Detroit has hit a rough patch since the Olympics, his game has remained quite strong.
Over the last five games, Raymond has generated 2.52 individual expected goals and poured 27 attempts on target. He’s not typically a volume shooter, but he has strong finishing ability around the net and holds a 14.8% shooting percentage this season.
The Flames have allowed 3.70 goals against per game over the last 10 matchups and 4.06 xGA/60. With Nazem Kadri, MacKenzie Weegar and Rasmus Andersson all traded away their roster looks even less formidable, and a number of young skaters such as Zayne Parekh have looked shaky defensively while handling heightened roles.
Dylan Guenther: +200
It seems safe to say that Guenther will be a perennial 35-goal player for the next handful of seasons. After recording 27 goals in 70 games last season, Guenther has 33 goals in 65 games this season and has a legitimate chance to hit the 40-goal plateau.
Based on his recent form, it certainly won’t be surprising if the budding 22-year-old is able to get the seven goals needed to hit the impressive 40-goal milestone. Since the Olympic break, Guenther has recorded eight goals in 10 games and averaged 6.9 shot attempts per game.
Guenther holds a 15.9% shooting percentage this season. While for many shooters that would suggest meaningful regression is coming, he is a career 14.4% shooter, and anyone who’s watched him consistently knows both his release and accuracy are drastically better than league average.
Guenther’s one-timer is the top look for Utah’s solid top power-play unit, while he’s also been getting a fair share of chances playing at even strength on a quality second line alongside Logan Cooley and JJ Peterka. The Dallas Stars have been in excellent form defensively, but considering Guenther’s recent form and current usage, a price of +200 looks long enough to back him recording his 34th goal of the season Monday.
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