Connor McDavid and Kyle Connor are my picks to score during Sunday’s NHL slate.
The pregame narrative: McDavid has been awfully quiet lately but has a great opportunity to snap out of it against the New York Rangers. Connor, meanwhile, has been one of the NHL’s best goalscorers all season and draws a great matchup.
Check out my NHL anytime goal picks for March 16.
NHL anytime goal picks
Best Bet: McDavid to score a goal (+123)
McDavid hasn’t scored at an elite clip since winning the 2022-23 Rocket Richard trophy (64 goals) — and he’s been in a slump since sending the Americans packing from the 4 Nations Face-Off — but it would be foolish to think he’s lost a step.
Edmonton’s captain is fourth in the league with 84 points, doing most of his damage as a passer.
Tonight presents a prime opportunity for him to get off the schneid, though, against a Rangers team starting its No. 2 goaltender.
Igor Shesterkin played last night, meaning Jonathan Quick gets the call on Sunday. And to put it bluntly, his numbers are awful (NHL ranks in parentheses):
- 3.14 GAA (47th)
- .898 SV% (32nd)
- -0.136 goals saved above expected per 60 (59th)
That last stat, courtesy of Money Puck, shows us how far Quick has fallen from his days with the Los Angeles Kings. He allowed seven goals in his last start, which came against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
New York is a well-below-average defensive team, giving up the ninth-most chances and second-most high-danger chances on a 60 minute basis, according to Natural Stat Trick.
Without the Vezina-winning Shesterkin in goal, I can foresee McDavid and the Oilers cruising to a win.
Key stat: McDavid scored twice against the Rangers when he last played them in November.
Quick pick
Connor to score a goal (+116): All Connor does, year in and year out, is score goals.
Excluding his rookie campaign where he played 20 games, Connor has scored 30-plus all but once — and the outlier was the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season.
This year, Winnipeg’s sharpshooter has 35 goals and is on pace for 42.
He’s found the net in three of his last five games and scored two goals on Friday against the defensively-stout Dallas Stars.
On Sunday, he gets to go up against a Seattle Kraken team that is leaking oil.
The Kraken give up the sixth-most chances and 11th-most high-danger chances on a 60-minute basis.
They’re likely to start Joey Daccord in net, per Daily Faceoff, and he has a 3.68 GAA and .864 SV% in five March starts.
NHL anytime goal picks made at 1:51 p.m. ET on 03/16/2025.
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.