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 feature in an anytime goal-scorer parlay in the NHL on Thursday night, which prices out at +1797 on bet365. I’d personally recommend also staking these anytime goal-scorer picks as a round-robin wager, allowing us to profit off hitting two of three of our goal-scorers finding the back of the net.
NHL Anytime Goal-Scorer Parlay
Connor Bedard (+155)
Bedard has scored just one goal in nine games since returning from a month-long absence on January 9th. Based on his dynamic performance in Minnesota on Tuesday night, though, the goals seem due to come soon for the ultra-talented young winger.
On his eighth shot and 11th attempt of Tuesday’s matchup, Bedard was inches from ending the game in overtime, as he blew the stick right out of Jesper Wallstedt’s hand with a heavy shot off the knob. Out of Bedard’s 11 attempts in the game, many were of high quality, and he finished with a total of 1.25 individual expected goals.
Over the last six games, Bedard has generated 3.80 individual expected goals from a total of 36 attempts on target. His shot still appears to have the same zip as before his upper-body injury, as confirmed by the NHL Edge data.
Bedard recorded 19 goals in 31 games prior to his injury. Based on how many chances he’s managed recently and his strong performance on Tuesday, this seems like a good time to buy into the idea that he is going to start filling the cage at a similar rate moving forward, and it seems likely that this slump will prove to be a blip on the radar.
Cole Caufield (+140)
Our most consistent readers are probably getting a little sick of reading similar analyses outlining why Caufield is a good bet to score, as he’s made the cut for our anytime goalscorer parlay four times during his current six-game goal streak. Still, I don’t really want to shake it up just to keep things fresh.
Caufield is priced a hair shorter to score in Thursday’s matchup versus the Colorado Avalanche than he was to score in Tuesday’s matchup versus the Vegas Golden Knights. That’s a very livable adjustment, given that, as we have repeatedly argued, prices in the +140 range for Caufield to score look to hold value, and his recent chance-creation numbers suggest he should keep scoring in close to 50% of games.
Over the last 21 games, Caufield has generated 10.73 individual expected goals. As we have touched on previously, these metrics generate the likelihood of a scoring chance going in from a given location based on a database tracking all skaters in the NHL, and Caufield continues to prove far more capable of finishing chances from tough locations than the vast majority of shooters.
The Colorado Avalanche have been tremendous defensively this season, but they have been much less dominant defensively of late. They have allowed 3.57 xGA/60 in 12 games during the month of January. Playing without elite shutdown defender Devon Toews is certainly taking a toll, and there may also be a level of complacency, and they will be playing the second leg of a back-to-back Thursday.
Caufield is obviously one of the most talented finishers in the NHL, and his current roles on a strong Montreal Canadiens side continue to help him get strong scoring opportunities. At +140, he looks to be a strong bet to score once again as he looks to extend his goal-scoring tear to seven games.
Matthew Tkachuk (+210)
It’s been a slow start to the year for Tkachuk, who has recorded just three assists in his first five games since returning from injury. While he’s not yet been able to break through, Tkachuk has been getting some looks from right out front both at even strength and on the top power play, as we have become accustomed to seeing.
Through five games, Tkachuk has generated 2.02 individual expected goals from a total of 21 attempts. He’s shown some rust and isn’t driving play at the rate we have typically seen, but it seems logical to expect things can only go up from here, and the St. Louis Blues provide a strong matchup for Tkachuk, which could lead to greater production.
The Blues have allowed 3.40 goals against per game this season, and 3.49 xGA/60 over the last ten games. Their penalty kill in particular has been highly ineffective, and that’s one area where Tkachuk seems most likely to start producing offence at a higher rate.