I’ve got one goalscorer pick for both of Monday’s NHL playoff games.
The pregame narrative: The Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars series is tied at 2-2, while the Tampa Bay Lightning can level things up with the Florida Panthers in Game 4. Look for Nathan MacKinnon and Brayden Point to make noise.
Check out my NHL anytime goal picks for April 28.
NHL anytime goal picks
Best Bet: MacKinnon to score (+120)
I was debating rolling with Artturi Lehkonen here but decided not to overthink things.
MacKinnon is the best player on the ice and a top-three player in the league. He’s scored four goals already this series, cashing this wager three times, and is at the top of the leaderboard in several offensive categories, according to Natural Stat Trick:
- 1st in shots (23)
- 5th in chances (35)
- 12th in scoring chances (15)
On the road, the power forward will draw Dallas’ toughest defensive matchups. But MacKinnon is second among all forwards in ice time, so head coach Jared Bednar will surely find ways to get him out in favourable situations.
And it’s not like the Stars have built a brick wall on defence.
Dallas is allowing the third-most shots (31.22) and the fourth-most high-danger chances (12.53) on a 60-minute basis this postseason.
Key stat: Mackinnon has cashed this wager in four of his last five playoff games against the Stars.
NHL prop predictions
Point to score (+170): Tampa Bay was in serious trouble hitting the road down 0-2, but the team responded with a 5-1 win on Saturday.
Point scored in that game, notching his second of the playoffs and 44th of the year (in 80 regular season/playoff games).
Only three players — William Nylander, Alex Ovechkin and Leon Draisaitl — have scored more than that.
His line with Jake Guentzel and Nikita Kucherov has generated a 61.9% Corsi rate at 5-on-5 this series and is constantly a threat to score.
Point is also a mainstay on the power play, which is just 1-of-13 so far. Tampa had the fifth-best man advantage during the regular season (25.9%) and is bound for some positive regression with Florida taking boatloads of penalties.
NHL anytime goal picks made at 12:09 p.m. ET on 04/28/2025.
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.