I’m targeting two big names to score a goal during Sunday’s NHL slate.
The pregame narrative: Alex Ovechkin is 10 goals away from passing Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record and is a solid bet to get closer today. Elsewhere, look for the newly-acquired Mikko Rantanen to produce for the Dallas Stars.
Check out my NHL anytime goal picks for March 9.
NHL anytime goal picks
Best Bet: Ovechkin to score (+104)
It’s looking more and more likely that Ovechkin will be the league’s all-time leading scorer before the playoffs begin.
The future Hall of Famer holds -182 odds to accomplish that and is in a great spot to put one home against the Seattle Kraken.
Seattle played on Saturday and started Philipp Grubauer, meaning Joey Daccord is between the pipes tonight — and the American netminder has struggled lately.
- Daccord has an .848 save percentage in his last four starts.
- He’s allowed 16 total goals in that span with at least three in every game.
Ovechkin has 31 goals on the season despite missing 17 games with a broken leg. He’s scored 17 times in 29 games since returning from injury and has six goals in eight games following the 4 Nations Face-Off break.
The Russian machine can’t be stopped and everyone on Washington is hyper-focused on helping Ovechkin pass the finish line.
Seattle also has the 12th-worst PK in the NHL and that’s where Ovechkin is at his most dangerous.
Key stat: Ovechkin leads all skaters in goals per 60 (2.29) and is second in shots per 60 (12.68), according to Natural Stat Trick.
Quick picks
Rantanen to score (+160): It’s been a weird year for Rantanen, who was traded from the Colorado Avalanche to the Carolina Hurricanes before being flipped again to the Dallas Stars during Friday’s trade deadline.
The Finnish superstar inked an eight-year deal with his new club and scored a goal in his debut. Hopefully that’s a sign of good things to come.
We all know Rantanen can score. He has 55 and 42 goals in his last two full seasons with the Avs and has 28 this year despite playing for three different teams.
It’s unclear who will start in net for the Vancouver Canucks, Rantanen’s opponent, tonight.
But the Canucks give up the seventh-most chances per 60, so I like his chances regardless.
Picks made at 11:02 a.m. ET on 03/09/2025.
Avery joined NorthStar Gaming as an intern in 2022 before stepping into a full-time role soon after. He loves betting on and analyzing golf — mainly because it’s easier than actually playing — but is a fan of all sports, from the NFL to the UFC.