We're in the thick of an NHL Playoff race, so for today, I've compiled three anytime goal scorer picks.
These three players that I singled out have been on a tear as of late, holding significant value to light the lamp tonight, so why not cash out on their successes?
Let's dive into my NHL anytime goal scorers, predictions, and picks for Sunday, April 12.
NHL Anytime Goal Scorer Picks, Sunday, April 12
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 3:00 p.m. | |
  | 8:00 p.m. | |
| 8:00 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NHL Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Penguins vs. Capitals
Rickard Rakell of the Pittsburgh Penguins has been enjoying a solid stretch toward the end of the season.
For the 12 years he’s been in the NHL, Rakell has been an underrated goal scorer, often hiding behind the stars that typically grab the spotlight. Which is what makes players like him so important.
Pittsburgh has had a surprising season to say the least. I don’t think many had the Pens lined up for a playoff spot, but first-time head coach Dan Muse has done a remarkable job at getting the boys ready each game.
Which brings us to Rakell. This season took a little bit longer for him to get going, but he managed to flourish right when it got most important.
Since returning from the Olympic break, he’s been on a point per game pace with 14 goals and 10 assists. And because of that, he’s been finding himself in premium scoring opportunities.
In the last 10 games, Rakell is ranking toward the top of the league in high danger attempts, as well as high danger expected goals.
Since this is on the back end of a home-and-home against the Washington Capitals, this forces me to think that Washington is going to roll out its backup netminder, Charlie Lindgren, who’s had a rough season.
I think Rakell at +195 is great value, so I’m rocking with him to score.
Pick: Rickard Rakell Anytime Goal Scorer (+195)
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Canucks vs. Ducks
Mikael Granlund has been in the NHL for 14 seasons, and yet, he’s still as steady as ever.
He won’t ever wow you, but there’s a reason why he’s found a way to stay relevant in this league.
A guy like Granlund is crucial for a team like the Anaheim Ducks. This team is built on young, exciting talent, but GM Pat Verbeek has done a fantastic job at mixing in veterans who have been through the rigors of the playoffs.
Even more important, veterans who haven’t turned into liabilities, which is often the case with vets who are on the other side of age 30.
Toward the end of March, Granlund went on a total heater, notching eight points in six games, including a hat trick against the Flames.
He even threw down a pair of goals against tonight’s opponent, the Vancouver Canucks.
As we all may know by now, the Canucks are horrible this season. And in a time where bad teams usually wake up to play spoiler, Vancouver hasn’t even done that. It’s been a totally lost season for this team and the franchise.
Granlund has been held goalless once April hit, but he’s still been generating chances with six high danger opportunities and a 3.11 high danger expected goals rate.
At +250, there’s plenty of value here for the cagey veteran to get some shine against a horrible team.
Pick: Mikael Granlund Anytime Goal Scorer (+250)
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Canucks vs. Ducks
On the other side of the coin, I’m turning to a player who helped me win a few dollars earlier this season.
Amidst all the ugliness surrounding the Canucks, Jake DeBrusk has certainly been a bright spot for this team. And even though he’s had periods where he’s gone cold, he’s currently on a heater.
He’s fifth among all players over the last 10 in high-danger expected goals and ninth in overall expected goals.
The kicker with DeBrusk is that you want to capitalize on him when he’s hot, and right now, there’s no better time than to throw a half-unit or more on a +245 ticket.
He’s always been a quality goal scorer, and given that the Ducks have allowed, on average, 4.2 goals per game in the month of April, this seems like a great time to back him.
Pick: Jake DeBrusk Anytime Goal Scorer (+240)
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