NHL picks: He shoots, he scores! Best anytime goalscorer bets for Monday 4/8

Penguins vs. Maple Leafs

Monday, April 8, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN+
Sidney Crosby (+165, BetMGM)

The first game of Monday's NHL doubleheader features an Eastern Conference tilt with the Toronto Maple Leafs hosting the Pittsburgh Penguins. Father Time is usually undefeated, but every once in a while, an all-time great defies age.

Enter Sidney Crosby. I personally believe this is the best season Crosby has had in five years, which is remarkable for the 36-year-old future first-ballot Hall of Famer.

He leads Pittsburgh in goals with 40 and has now buried the puck five times over his past four games. Not only does Crosby lead the Penguins in goals, but he also leads the team in power-play goals, which is worth noting against a Toronto team that ranks in the bottom 10 of the league in both penalty minutes taken per game and penalty-kill percentage.

And it's not like the Leafs are any better at 5-on-5, ranking 24th in expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60) at 5-on-5.

Pick: Sidney Crosby (+165 at BetMGM)

Penguins vs. Maple Leafs

Monday, April 8, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN+
Evgeni Malkin (+270, BetMGM)

I'm risking a half-unit on Crosby to score along with another half-unit on his teammate and fellow future first-ballot HOFer Evgeni Malkin. My thinking here is that I am fairly confident that at least one of these two guys will find the back of the net, which would guarantee a profit.

And, if both score – all the better.

I already talked about Toronto's poor defensive play, and predictably, goaltender Ilya Samsonov has struggled to deal with it. Through 37 starts between the pipes this season, Samsonov possesses a fade-worthy .893 SV% and 3.03 GAA.

With this combination of poor defense and goaltending, it's not shocking that the Maple Leafs rank in the bottom half of the league in goals allowed per game.

That bodes well for Malkin, who has scored six goals over his past six games. Two of those goals came on the man-advantage, which, as stated above, is likely to come into play tonight.

At least one of Crosby or Malkin has scored in six of the Penguins' past eight games. They both scored in two of those six outings.

Pick: Evgeni Malkin (+270 at BetMGM)

Golden Knights vs. Canucks

Monday, April 8, 10 p.m. ET, ESPN+
Jack Eichel (+170, FanDuel)

The second matchup of Monday's NHL doubleheader features a Pacific Division tilt with the Vancouver Canucks hosting the Vegas Golden Knights. Goaltender Casey DeSmith is slated to guard the cage for Vancouver and could be a good fade candidate, considering he possesses a fade-worthy .891 SV% this season.

DeSmith also got shelled in each of his past two starts against Vegas, surrendering a total of 11 goals on 61 shots for a troubling .820 SV%. Knights forward Jack Eichel scored two of those 11 goals, and he could find success yet again on Monday.

Eichel enters this contest in great form, potting 11 goals over his past 18 games. He is always a threat to score at even strength, but he also leads the Golden Knights in power-play goals.

That is noteworthy for this matchup as the Canucks rank in the bottom half of the league in both penalty minutes taken per game and penalty-kill percentage.

Pick: Jack Eichel (+170 at FanDuel)