NHL Monday bets: Games to target for goals

The debut of team totals as the focused bets for our NHL nights was a good one, going 8-3 last week overall.

We'll keep the approach rolling into this new week, and despite just four games tonight, there are three teams in particular that offer goal-scoring value on Monday.

Let's get to the spots.

Toronto Maple Leafs

We have to start with Toronto, a staple in these pieces. The Maple Leafs are averaging the most goals per game on the road in their past five games at 4.2.

They get a Seattle team that is much softer against when it comes to scoring at home. The Kraken's 3.8 goals allowed average in their past five are the sixth-most in the league.

It doesn't get much more solid than this intersection, so we load up Toronto to get the night moving.

The cherry on top is a power-play edge. Toronto owns the second-best power-play success rate in its past 10 games, and Seattle has the seventh-worst penalty kill and average the 12th-most penalties per game.

Best Bet: Over 3.5 goals, excluding OT (-115 DK)

Favorite Goal-Scorer: Mitch Marner

There are plenty of strong options on the Maple Leafs, such as Auston Matthews and John Tavares, but I'm riding with Marner, who has been on a goal-scoring tear lately.

Marner hasn't scored in two straight, but prior to that, he had a goal in eight straight games, totaling 10 in that span.

That's about as good as it gets, and we're banking on a return to his scoring ways despite the two-game blip. It helps Marner is on the top power-play unit for the aforementioned advantage.

Five of the games he scored a goal in during this streak were on the road, where he'll be again tonight. 

Goal odds: +198 FD

Edmonton Oilers

Edmonton is in the late game tonight and finds itself in a great spot to pour on goals.

The Oilers are averaging 3.8 goals per game in their last five road games, the sixth-best mark in the NHL. They get San Jose playing its first game in two weeks.

The Sharks are allowing 3.4 goals per game in their last 10 at home, the 10th-highest total, and I do expect some rust here to give the edge to Edmonton.

Best Bet: Over 3.5 goals, including OT (+100 DK)

Favorite Goal-Scorer: Evander Kane

This is very much narrative-based, as Kane is playing his former team, the one that cut him just a month ago.

Revenge is real in sports, and I like following that angle in a game I expect four-plus Edmonton goals.

Kane has played three road games for the Oilers since joining the team, scoring a goal in two of them. He's also gotten three-plus shots on goal in every game, involvement I like following.

Goal odds: +180 (FD)

Minnesota Wild

We wrap with Minnesota, which has become a staple in these articles. It's another advantageous spot for the Wild, so we continue to bet the team to pile on goals.

Minnesota is averaging 4.8 goals in its last five games, which is the second-most in the NHL.

The Wild face Detroit, which is averaging the third-most goals allowed on the road in its past 10 games at 3.9. The Red Wings have tightened up a bit if you move the range to just last five (2.8), but they're still letting up a good chunk of shots on the road and facing one of the top offenses in hockey.

There's also a power-play edge again in this game. Minnesota's power-play unit ranks seventh-best, and Detroit averages the ninth-most penalties per game and owns the 12th-worst penalty-kill unit.

Best Bet: Over 3.5 goals, excluding OT (-115 DK)

Favorite Goal-Scorer: Kirill Kaprizov

The Wild are one of those teams with so many options to score that it can be difficult to peg the best option on a given night.

For this Monday, I'm rolling with Kirill Kaprizov, who has seven goals in his last nine home games, including on Saturday.

Few are generating as many points as Kaprizov, and it helps he's on the top power-play line for Minnesota.

Goal odds: +138 (FD)

Closing Thoughts

That'll do it for my favorite spots on this NHL Monday.

I again urge you to consider these games for points or goal parlays, if that's something you like taking stabs at.

I am parlaying my three favorites to score, which comes out to +1885 odds on FanDuel. Consider others on these teams for some two- or three-leg points parlays. The data suggests it's a strong choice.

Good luck tonight!