The pregame narrative: Jason Robertson has an eye for the goal, and that’s been apparent in the early goings of the new season. Later on, take the value on Evgeni Malkin during his hot streak to begin the campaign.
Check out my NHL anytime goal picks for Oct. 14.
NHL anytime goal picks
Best bet: Robertson to score (+140)
The value is too good here to pass on.
Robertson has scored in both games so far, and his advanced analytics show that it’s no fluke.
- The winger leads the NHL with 4.43 xG per 60 minutes, according to MoneyPuck.
- He ranks second in shots on goal per 60 (20.26), and his -0.8 goals above expected show how his production could be even greater.
Robertson has two 40-goal seasons under his belt at age 26, with his best years still to come.
Everything is pointing to a career year, and that’s saying a lot since he averages over a point per game in the NHL.
In his third game, he gets a go at the Minnesota Wild, who have allowed three or more goals in back-to-back contests.
That includes getting lit up for seven at home by the Columbus Blue Jackets. In that game, another proficient goal scorer, Kirill Marchenko, buried a hat-trick.
Key stat: The Wild allow 30.7 shots per game and kill penalties at a below-average 75% rate.
NHL predictions
Malkin to score a goal (+275): This is definitely a long shot pick, considering the price, but Malkin is worthy of a look with how he’s producing.
- The 39-year-old has five assists in three games, but he’s still looking for his first goal.
- All five helpers were the primary assists. It doesn’t help this wager directly, but it helps paint a picture of how much offence Malkin is creating.
- He plays over three minutes a night on the power play, which increases his chances of finding the back of the net.
And that goes before mentioning the matchup. The Pittsburgh Penguins play the Anaheim Ducks, who will struggle to defend this season.
- On opening night, they allowed three goals vs. the Seattle Kraken.
- In their second game, they conceded six in a 7-6 shootout win over the San Jose Sharks.
To make it even worse, the Sharks only needed 23 shots to score that many times.
This is a good spot for the Penguins to have an offensive explosion, and Malkin holds the best value of the bunch.
NHL anytime goal picks made at 11:11 a.m. ET on 10/14/2025.
Spencer is a true sports junkie. A graduate of the Sports Journalism program at Centennial College, he first joined NorthStar Gaming as an intern in 2023. He is now a contributing writer. He loves finding the edge to bet on in all sports but has a deep passion for the NBA and UFC. Previous stops include Sportsnet.