The NHL supplies two games for Monday’s sports equinox, and I’ve got one goalscorer pick from each of them.
The pregame narrative: David Pastrnak’s Boston Bruins are struggling, but have a winnable game tonight against the Ottawa Senators. I’m backing Pastrnak to score, and also expect Evgeni Malkin to continue his sizzling start to the season.
Check out my NHL anytime goal picks for Oct. 27.
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NHL anytime goal picks
Best Bet: Malkin to score (+220)
Malkin has turned back the clock through the early goings of his 20th season, logging two goals and 12 assists through nine games.
His Penguins currently sit second in the Metropolitan Division at 6-2-1 with the seventh-best offence (3.56 goals per game) in hockey.
No one saw that coming, and Malkin and Pittsburgh will likely regress soon. But I doubt it will happen on Monday.
-> Bet on Malkin and the Penguins tonight!
The St. Louis Blues, Pittsburgh’s opponent, have been getting demolished through eight games thanks to some atrocious goaltending:
- 31st in GAA (4.13)
- 32nd in team SV% (.850)
Joel Hofer is in the net tonight, and he’s been a big part of the problem. Jordan Binnington’s understudy has allowed 12 goals on 57 shots — netting out to a nasty 6.23 GAA and .789 SV%.
Key stat: Most of Malkin’s production has been as a passer, but he still ranks fifth on the team in xG (2.88) and fourth in shot attempts (33), per Natural Stat Trick.
NHL predictions
Pastrnak to score 1+ goals (+130): Boston snapped its six-game losing streak with a 3-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday night.
Pastrnak supplied an assist in that contest and now has eight points and four goals in his last six games. The Czech winger is doing everything he can to drive the bus, even if the team as a whole isn’t producing.
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Luckily for Boston, it gets another struggling team in Ottawa.
- The Senators are missing their captain, Brady Tkachuk, and are 4-4-1 with a 3.89 GAA (29th in the NHL).
- Leevi Merilainen is in goal for Ottawa. The netminder gave up seven goals to the lowly Buffalo Sabres in his only other start.
Pastrnak leads the Bruins in xG (3.57) and has more than double the shot attempts (83) than the second-closest player, Viktor Arvidsson (41).
NHL anytime goal picks made at 3 p.m. ET on 10/27/2025.
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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.