Pastrnak among trio of snipers worth backing on Tuesday night

The NHL is back in full force on Tuesday night with a hefty eight-game slate.

Let's look at a few of the best ways to attack it.

David Pastrnak: Over 4.5 shots

Pastrnak is one of the most consistent volume shooters in the NHL, especially on home ice. He's averaged 5.4 shots on 10.5 attempts per game in Boston this season, helping him go over his total at an impressive 65% clip at home.

His shooting success should continue against the Flames. They're embracing a retool and starting to sell off key contributors, as we saw with Elias Lindholm. That means they'll spend less time on the front foot, which should help Pastrnak. So should home-ice advantage and the ability to get him away from Calgary's matchup line of Andrew Mangiapane, Mikael Backlund, and Blake Coleman.

An additional feather in the cap is that Pastrnak was recently put on a line with James van Riemsdyk. The former has averaged over 31 attempts per 60 minutes with van Riemsdyk on his opposite wing. That's a noticeable jump from the 24 he generates with Marchand on the other side.

With optimal linemates for individual shot generation and the ability to avoid Calgary's best defensive personnel, Pastrnak is well-positioned for another active offensive performance.

Odds: +100 (playable to -130)

Alex Ovechkin: Over 3.5 shots

Ovechkin just isn't having a great season. From his shot volume to his point outputs, his numbers are down across the board.

That said, he's still capable of strong shooting performances, and the Canadiens are the perfect team to bring one out of him.

They've bled shots all season and show no signs of improvement. The Canadiens rank dead last in five-on-five shot suppression over the past 10 games and struggle while undermanned. Montreal also takes a ton of penalties, which should give Ovechkin plenty of extra shooting opportunities in his prime location.

When the two sides met earlier this year, Ovechkin made the most of the matchup and generated five shots on eight attempts.

I expect a well-rested Ovechkin to take advantage of the Canadiens once again.

Odds: -122 (playable to -135)

Kyle Connor: Over 3.5 shots

Mark Scheifele is expected to return to the Jets' lineup tonight and reclaim his spot in the middle of the top line. That's good news for Kyle Connor and Gabriel Vilardi, who have formed what looks to be an elite first unit in Winnipeg.

This trio spent a few games together early in the season and feasted on opponents, controlling 80% of the expected goals share while generating shots at an absurd clip.

A lot of those shots came from Connor, Winnipeg's best and most consistent shooting threat.

Unlike many snipers, he isn't negatively impacted by playing on the road. In fact, his volume - be it attempts or shots on goal - is higher on the road than in Winnipeg.

The Penguins can be vulnerable defensively and frequently play in high-event games. That should create an environment for Connor to make his mark.

Odds: +115 (playable to -120)

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

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