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Top Goal Picks: Matt Boldy , Quinn Hughes & Jackson Blake
Anytime Goal Prop Predictions & Odds: NHL Best Bets for Sunday, October 18th
After a thrilling start to the weekend, Sunday’s double header gives us just two games to appease our appetite, narrowing the field of Anytime Goal Scorer props to groom through.
Kicking things off with Matt Boldy, the Minnesota Wild forward will be able to get the ball rolling against the Columbus Blue Jackets while simultaneously creating more space for Quinn Hughes on the back end. Later in the night, we turn our attention towards Jackson Blake who will have a great opportunity to get back on the sheet after being held scoreless in his last three games.
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Matt Boldy (Wild vs. Blue Jackets) Goal Odds
While Kirill Kaprizov has been the most efficient scorer for the Minnesota Wild, Matt Boldy has been by far more aggressive, leading the team in Shots on Goal with an average of 4.38 per game.
In a favorable matchup against Columbus, Boldly’s aggression will be rewarded while relentlessly attacking a back line who struggles to defend the net per the Blue Jackets below league average mark in Expected Goals Against in 5-on-5 Play. Jet Greaves has also been unable to protect the Blue Jackets net while scrambling between the pipes, giving up 3.42 Goals Against per game in five starts.
Even though Boldy has thrived in standard play, he has struggled to take advantage of the stretched out coverage in 5-on-4 Situations, dipping down the board in Shots on Goal per penalty while generating just 0.08 Expected Goals. With positive regression looming large, Boldly’s usage rate will tick back up, leading to a higher volume of Shots on Goal in front of the crease.
Quinn Hughes (Wild vs. Blue Jackets) Goal Odds
Since being traded to Minnesota, Quinn Hughes has given the Wild the versatility they need to be dynamic on offense, generating 0.17 Expected Goals and three Shots on Goal per game.
An impressive performance when factoring in Hughes production stems from the back line while weaving the puck through clogged shooting lanes from a distance. Luckily for the Wild defenseman, the Blue Jackets have struggled to wall off shot attempts, plummeting down to 26th in Expected Goals Against From High Danger Shots while residing in the bottom half of the board in Walled Off Shots Against.
In the Power Play, Hughes is able to inch closer to the net without fear of getting countered, improving the quality of his Shots on Goal. With Boldy, Kaprivoz, and Joel Eriksson Ek pulling defensive attention away from the middle, Hughes will be able to convert more of his shot attempts into Shots on Goal, increasing his chances of scoring.
Jackson Blake (Hurricanes vs. Flames) Goal Odds
Fresh off of winning the Stanley Cup, the Carolina Hurricanes have been able to quickly pick up from where they left off, leading the league in Expected Goals For. Jackson Blake has played a major role in the Hurricanes consistency on offense, generating 0.43 Expected Goals per game.
Heading into Sunday night’s contest against the Calgary Flames, Blake will be able to snap out of his skid by taking advantage of a back line who ranks in the bottom twelve in Expected Goals Against in All Situations. Especially with Dustin Wolf severely underwhelming in the Flames net, giving up nearly five Goals Against per game while averaging a Save Percentage of .834.
When in 5-on-4 Situations, Blake is joined by Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov, two lethal scorers who command defensive attention while on the ice. With the duo pulling the Flames away from the crease, Blake will be able to pressure the net at a higher rate and light the lamp for the second time this season.
Photo Credit: REUTERS
