Pastrnak to shoot the lights out at home vs. Blues

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We only have four games on the schedule to begin the week, but several of the NHL's top snipers are set to hit the ice. Let's take a closer look at a few worth backing.

David Pastrnak: Over 4.5 shots

Pastrnak's shot outputs have fallen off of late, even on home ice. He's normally extremely efficient in Boston, but he's gone under his total in eight of the past 10 home games.

I'm not worried. The volume remains strong, as Pastrnak is averaging 8.9 shot attempts per contest. That's not too far off his season average of 9.6.

He's also faced a tough schedule. He's gone under the total in his straight home games, against the Kings, Stars, Golden Knights, Oilers, Leafs, and Penguins. All except the Pens are comfortably in a playoff spot, and several are very strong defensively. But Pastrnak has still been right there knocking on the door.

Monday night's contest against the Blues is a fantastic bounce-back spot. St. Louis has allowed 33.17 shots per game over the last 10 appearances. That's one of the worst marks in the NHL.

The Blues are giving up a lot at even strength and on the power play, where Pastrnak's shot is one of the league's most lethal. Look for him to get back on track against St. Louis.

Odds: -110 (playable to -135)

Pavel Buchnevich: Over 2.5 shots

Buchnevich is a rare breed in the NHL. His hit rate is much higher on the road than at home (62% versus 48%), and he always seems to have his best shooting performances against good teams.

Take the past nine games as an example. Buchnevich combined to record just four shots in losses against the Wild, Devils, and Red Wings - three teams outside the postseason picture. On the other hand, he went over his total against teams in playoff positions like the Flyers, Oilers, Rangers, and Jets, often recording four shots or more.

Over the Blues' last 10 outings, Buchnevich has led the team in shots on goal and scoring chances. In that same span, the Bruins have looked surprisingly vulnerable defensively, ranking 24th in shot suppression. Expect Buchnevich to take advantage.

Odds: +107 (playable to -120)

Jack Hughes: Over 4.5 shots

Hughes is one of the most consistent volume shooters in the league. He's dominant with the puck and routinely plays 22 minutes a night, giving him a high shooting floor and ceiling each time out.

There's plenty of reason to anticipate that Hughes' shot generation will be at its best in this one. He's expected to skate on a line with Jesper Bratt and Erik Haula. The former is the best playmaker on the roster, while Hughes' shot rates with Haula on his line are higher than any other player he's skated with.

The Rangers, meanwhile, are struggling to limit shots. No team has given up more at five-on-five over the last 10 games.

Hughes also seems to have New York's number: He's scored eight goals over his last seven regular season matchups versus the Rangers, and his shot volume has been out of this world. Hughes piled up at least seven shots on goal in five of the past six games against them.

The Devils need every point they can get to keep their slim playoff hopes alive, so Hughes will undoubtedly get as much ice as he can handle in this one.

Odds: +107 (playable to -125)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X at @ToddCordell.

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