An anytime goal-scorer bet is one of the most popular and straightforward player prop wagers in NHL betting. It allows you to bet on a specific player to score a goal at any point during the game, whether it’s the first goal, last goal, or any goal in between. This bet type offers an exciting way to stay engaged with the game, as your selected player can score at any moment to cash your bet.
Let’s take a look at three skaters to parlay to score a goal in the NHL on Thursday night, which prices out at +5444 on bet365. I’d personally recommend also staking as a round-robin wager, allowing us to profit off hitting two of three of our goal-scorers finding the back of the net.
Nick’s AGS parlay
Cole Caufield to Score: +140
In terms of actual production, Caufield has been in a bit of a quieter stretch of play with just three goals and seven points over his last 10 games played. However, he’s actually generated chances at a higher than usual rate in that span, having poured 3.3 shots on target per game (season average 2.87) totalling 5.11 individual expected goals.
Caufield had some notably threatening chances over the last two games versus the Vancouver Canucks and Washington Capitals, and the Canadiens’ new-look top line of Caufield, Nick Suzuki, and Alexandre Texier continues to look quite dangerous. In 105.4 minutes together, the trio has generated 3.53 xGF/60, and 5.12 goals per 60 where it counts.
The Buffalo Sabres currently look to be a more formidable side than the ones that Caufield has typically faced off against in his career. While the Sabres have been improved lately, the Canadiens are still road favourites Thursday in a game with a total of 6.5, which makes sense given that Buffalo is playing the second leg of a back-to-back and likely to start Colten Ellis in goal. Ellis owns a -1.2 GSAx rating and a 3.11 GAA across 10 appearances this season.
Caufield holds a career shooting percentage of 13.3%, and is undoubtedly one of the better finishers in the league. Given how many chances he’s generated of late, playing on a top line that has looked really strong offensively, he looks to be a strong bet to score Thursday.
Ethen Frank to Score: +320
At Wednesday’s presser, Washington Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery stated that Ethen Frank would potentially play with Dylan Strome and Alex Ovechkin on Thursday night while answering a question related to the potential ceiling of the ultra-speedy young winger. Frank finished Tuesday’s matchup in that role, tallying two important goals in the third period to force overtime.
If we read between the lines a little bit, it seems reasonable to assume Frank will play on the top line in Thursday’s matchup. Tom Wilson has officially been confirmed out once again for Thursday’s matchup, therefore Frank seems positioned to be the top line right winger based on Carbery’s comment, which was likely stated in a speculative manner at that time because he was uncertain of Wilson’s status.
Frank has been a highly efficient goal-scorer this season, as he ranks third on the team with 1.33 goals per 60, and has 10 goals across 36 games. He also ranks third in expected goals per 60, and that’s despite playing a fair bit of time on what has been a highly ineffective Capitals fourth line.
In terms of straight line speed, Frank is among the fastest skaters in the NHL. His skates are in the Hockey Hall of Fame from when he recorded the fastest lap of the ice in hockey history at the 2023 AHL All-Star Game. What’s been more apparent of late though, is he has solid finish around the net and is capable of finding open pockets of space in dangerous areas.
Over the last six games, Frank has generated 22 shots on goal and scored four times. He’s not going to stick on the Capitals’ top line when they are at full-health, but he currently looks like a skater capable of making the most of the opportunity, and Carbery has praised him quite heavily all week long.
Frank also worked on the Capitals’ top power play unit at the end of Tuesday’s matchup, though Ryan Leonard had an off night and it’s possible Leonard will receive the opportunity to start the game in that role once again.
Frank’s Capitals are heavy favourites Thursday in a matchup versus the San Jose Sharks in a matchup featuring a total of 6.5 (over -120). Given his expected usage and the favourable matchup, he looks like a strong bet to add to our parlay at a price of +320.
Evan Bouchard to Score: +450
Connor McDavid will look to extend his points streak to 21 games Thursday as the Edmonton Oilers face off against the New York Islanders. McDavid has racked up 27 assists and 46 points during his 20-game streak, and several of those assists have come on goals by Bouchard, who’s also been hot of late and is getting a ton of quality scoring opportunities.
Over the last 20 games, Bouchard has scored seven goals and also added 17 assists. Over the last 10 games, Bouchard has netted five goals, from a total of 25 shots on target and poured 4.9 attempts on goal per game. He’s proven to have one of the more accurate one-timers from the point in the NHL, which is one of the many reasons it’s so hard to shut down the Oilers’ power-play unit given how the top unit is able to move the puck, and that it is a livable threat relative to Leon Draisaitl’s one-timer from the low right circle.
The Islanders have allowed 9.2 shots against per game to defenders over their last 10 matchups. I’m not an overly large believer in shots against by position data as a predictive indicator, but shots allowed to defenders is the one that I put the most stock into given that it can actually indicate structures where teams are collapsing lower in the defensive zone and not picking up four-man attacks as effectively.
At +450, Bouchard seems to be a strong bet to find the back of the net Thursday.
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