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Top Goal Picks: Vasily Podkolzin , Matvei Michkov & Will Smith
Anytime Goal Prop Predictions & Odds: NHL Best Bets for Monday, November 9th
Even with just three games hitting the ice on Monday night, there are still an abundance of Anytime Goal Scorer props to wager on, including Vasily Podkolzin who gets the benefit of playing in the same line as Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
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Up to $1,000 Back in Bonus Bets Over First 10 Days*
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To round out the card, we turn our attention towards Matvei Michkov and Will Smith with the duo battling it out against a pair of back lines that struggle in coverage. Before Monday’s slate gets underway, check out our NHL betting trends page for the latest daily game odds, insight, and data.
Vasily Podkolzin
While Zach Hyman dealing with injuries, Vasily Podkolzin has been able to thrive since being moved to the Edmonton Oilers top line, averaging 0.34 Expected Goals per game.
With the New York Rangers on deck, Podkolzin will be able to continue to create high quality scoring opportunities at a consistent rate by taking advantage of a back line that ranks below league average in Expected Goals Against in 5-on-5 Play. Even with Igor Shesterkin playing at a high level, McDavid and Draisaitl will help pull the Vezina Trophy contender out of the net, creating larger gaps on the outside for the Oilers forward to pick apart.
When in the Power Play, Podkolzin bumps down to the second unit, leading to an uptick in his usage rate while the offense funnels through him. With the Rangers struggling to defend the net, Podkolzin will be able to blitz through the middle and anchor in front of the net, improving the quality of his shot attempts.
Matvei Michkov
While Matvei Michkov has been conservative in his efforts of shooting the puck, he has been able to maximize on the efficiency of his Shots on Goal, averaging 0.29 Expected Goals per game.
In a favorable matchup against the Vancouver Canucks, Michkov will be able to pressure the net at a higher rate by attacking a back line that struggles to keep a body in front of the puck per their near dead last mark in Expected Goals Against in All Situations. When left unprotected, Leevi Merilainen has been unable to hold his ground, giving up 3.52 Goals Against per game while averaging a Save Percentage of .889.
In 5-on-4 Situations, Michkov has been the Flyers most consistent source of production, leading the first unit in Expected Goals with an average of 0.14 per penalty. With Trevor Zegras and Porter Martone pulling defensive attention to the opposite side of the ice, Michkov will be able to rifle off a higher volume of Shots on Goal, increasing his chances of finding the back of the net.
Will Smith
After a brief cold stretch of play, Will Smith was able to snap his scoreless streak by scoring a Goal in his last game out against the Dallas Stars. During his skid, Smith was still productive, averaging 0.40 Expected Goals while generating 2.53 Shots on Goal per game.
Heading into Monday night’s matchup against the New York Islanders, Smith will be able to build on his momentum by exploiting a back line that resides in the bottom three in Expected Goals Against From High Danger Shots. With the Islanders struggling to smother shot attempts near the crease, it has been difficult for Ilya Sorokin to keep a clean sheet, dipping down to 18th in Goals Against per game.
With Macklin Celebrini joining Smith in the back line in 5-on-4 Situations, the Sharks forward is able to survey the coverage while playing away from the puck, putting himself in a favorable position to score by plugging a gap when one opens up near the net.
Photo Credit: REUTERS
