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Top Goal Picks: Auston Matthews , Zach Hyman & Tomas Hertl
Anytime Goal Prop Predictions & Odds: NHL Best Bets for Tuesday, September 29th
Hockey is back! Kicking things off with a five game slate, there are plenty of Anytime Goal Scorer props to groom through, including Auston Matthews who will be able to get off to a hot start by taking advantage of a defense that struggles in coverage.
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To pair with Matthews, Zach Hyman and Tomas Hertl are also in a favorable position to score while battling it against a pair of back lines who give up Expected Goals at a high rate. Don’t forget to check out our NHL betting trends page for daily game odds, insights and data.
Auston Matthews (Maple Leafs vs. Canadiens) Goal Odds
Even in a “down year” for Auston Matthews, the Toronto Maple Leafs captain was still aggressive in his efforts of pressuring the net, generating 0.48 Expected Goals while averaging 3.78 Shots on Goal per game.
In a favorable matchup against the Montreal Canadiens, expect positive regression to swing towards Matthews way while facing off against a back line that hovers near the bottom of the board in Expected Goals Against in All Situations. Even with Jakub Dobes in net, the Canadiens goalie will be forced to scramble across the crease due to the lack of coverage he receives from his back line, widening the width of Matthews shooting lanes.
The addition of Gavin McKenna will also help pull defensive attention away from Matthews in Power Play Situations, improving the quality of his Shots on Goal in front of the net. Back Matthews to score a goal in the Maple Leafs season opener and sprinkle a smaller wager on him to be the first goal scorer as well.
Zach Hyman (Oilers vs. Canucks) Goal Odds
While Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl hog the spotlight, Zach Hyman was quietly the most efficient scorer on the Edmonton Oilers roster last season, leading the team in Expected Goals with an average of 0.61 per game.
With the Oilers core intact, Hyman will continue to benefit from the single coverage he receives while the Vancouver Canucks back line are forced to shade their coverage towards the star duo. Defending the net was already a struggle for the Canucks, limping into the offseason ranked dead last in Expected Goals Against in All Situations while Kevin Lankinen averaged 3.70 Goals Against per game and a .875 Save Percentage.
Even if Hyman runs his own line while Draisaitl pairs with McDavid, the Oilers forward will still benefit in Power Play Situations, lowering his floor as a goal scorer. Until it is reported how the Oilers are going to configure their lines, place a small wager on Hyman to score now with intentions of adding more should he kick off the game skating alongside McDavid or Draisaitl.
Tomas Hertl (Golden Knights vs. Blackhawks) Goal Odds
The center of the third line, Tomas Hertl gave the Vegas Golden Knights the production they needed to be able to pressure the net for the full duration of their contests, generating 0.43 Expected Goals while averaging 2.46 Shots on Goal per game throughout the regular season.
Heading into Tuesday night’s season opener against the Chicago Blackhawks, expect Hertl to continue to pressure the net at a high rate while attacking a back line who ranks dead last in Expected Goals Against in 5-on-5 Play. With Spencer Knight forced to pull away from the net, larger gaps will open up beside him, increasing Hertl’s chances of knocking in a rebound to cash this prop.
Like Hyman, Hertl also gets the benefit of playing alongside Mark Stone, Mitch Marner, and Jack Eichel in 5-on-4 Situations, creating more space for him to exploit which makes it easier to generate a high quality Shot on Goal in front of the crease. When in the Power Play, Hertl was efficient with his opportunities, averaging nearly one Shot on Goal per two minutes.
Photo Credit: REUTERS
