Hockey’s top goalscorer has a plus matchup and headlines my NHL anytime goal picks.
The pregame narrative: Leon Draisaitl leads the league in goals by a wide margin and is an excellent choice to score a goal on Monday. Two Colorado Avalanche stars — Artturi Lehkonen and Brock Nelson — round out the ticket with a plus matchup on deck.
Check out my NHL anytime goal picks for March 10.
NHL anytime goal picks
Best Bet: Draisaitl to score a goal (-113)
Draisaitl is in the midst of the best goalscoring season of his career.
The Edmonton Oilers superstar leads the league with 46 goals, sitting 11 ahead of the next closest players (Mark Scheifele and William Nylander).
He’s on pace for 60 goals, and if he can reach the mark, it’ll be his first time reaching that milestone.
I’m betting on the German forward to inch closer to that mark in a juicy matchup on Monday night.
Edmonton visits the Buffalo Sabres, which is a plus for Draisaitl’s outlook. Buffalo’s defence ranks:
- 30th in goals/game (3.50)
- 31st in team SV% (.879)
- 27th in expected goals/60 (3.2)
- 25th in high-danger chances/60 (11.61)
The Sabres are struggling to keep the puck out of their net, allowing four-plus goals in six consecutive games. They face an Oilers squad that ranks ninth in goals per game (3.25).
Expect Draisaitl to lead an overwhelming offensive onslaught for Edmonton on Monday.
Key stat: Draisaitl has scored a goal in 13 of his last 18 games, including nine of his last 11.
Quick picks
Nelson to score a goal (+175): Nelson didn’t score in his Avalanche debut but he did chip in with an assist.
Before being traded, Nelson was heating up as a goalscorer. The ex-New York Islanders star had scored in two of three games before the deal, totalling three lamp-lighters.
What’s encouraging to see is that Nelson is skating on Colorado’s top power play. He shares premium ice time alongside top-tier talents Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar and Martin Necas.
The matchup is mouthwatering with the Chicago Blackhawks on the schedule for Monday night. Chicago is allowing the fourth-most goals per game (3.47).
The Blackhawks have allowed three-plus goals in eight of their last 10.
Lehkonen to score a goal (+155): I expect another Avs forward to get in on the scoring.
Lehkonen is sneakily putting together a quality offensive campaign. The winger has produced a career-high 26 goals in 52 games, putting him on pace for 35 tallies in 2024-25.
Lehkonen has been scoring at a decent rate recently, finding the back of the net in seven of his last 15 games (eight total).
Chicago has the third-worst expected goals against per 60 mark (3.37), according to Natural Stat Trick, making this a prime opportunity for Lehkonen to score.
NHL anytime goal picks made at 2:56 p.m. ET on 03/10/2025.
Stevie’s an avid NFL, NHL, and tennis bettor who has no problem talking himself into the underdog. His previous stops include Yahoo! Sports Canada and Toronto Metropolitan University, where he received a degree in Sport Media.