Monday’s NHL slate features four games and I’ve got goalscorer picks from two of them.
The pregame narrative: Every team involved in these picks is fighting for their playoff lives. I like Logan Cooley to find the net when the Utah Hockey Club host the Detroit Red Wings and Bo Horvat to score for the New York Islanders against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Check out my NHL anytime goal picks for March 24.
NHL anytime goal picks
Best Bet: Cooley to score a goal (+175)
It might be too early to call this a “must-win” game for either team, but it’s pretty darn close.
The Red Wings are five points back of the Eastern Conference’s final wild-card spot while the Hockey Club are six points back of the Western Conference’s eighth seed.
Utah is coming off consecutive blowout wins, while Detroit has dropped eight of its last 10. It’s no secret which team is hotter, and Cooley is in a good spot to produce.
The centre is having a solid sophomore season, with 21 goals and 53 points in 63 games. He’s found the net in three of his last four games, with six total points (4 G, 2 A) in that span.
If you’re looking for a safer play, I love the value on Cooley to notch a point at -139.
Cooley is playing with Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz on Utah’s top line, and that unit owns a solid 66.67% goal share, per Natural Stat Trick.
Key stat: Detroit is allowing 3.5 goals per game across its last 10. That would be the fifth-highest rate in the NHL on a season-long basis.
Quick pick
Horvat to score a goal (+170): Horvat and the New York Islanders are also in the thick of a playoff race, sitting just two points behind the Montreal Canadiens, who occupy the final wild-card spot.
The veteran centre is doing his part to push his club across the line with goals in three of his last five games.
The Blue Jackets once occupied a playoff spot but have completely unravelled, losing eight of their last nine games. In that span, they’re allowing an ugly 3.78 goals per game.
It’s unclear who will start in goal for Columbus at the time of writing, but I don’t think it really matters.
Elvis Merzlikins seems the likely candidate and he’s been awful this season, ranking outside of the top 35 in goals against average (3.04) and save percentage (.896).
NHL anytime goal picks made at 9:52 a.m. ET on 03/24/2025.
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.