Check out our NHL anytime goalscorer picks as hockey returns Thursday night with a stacked 11-game slate.
Our hockey experts have identified six players from five different games who have big potential for anytime goals tonight. You can tail their best bets and watch all of the action on ESPN+ beginning at 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT).
For newer NHL bettors, a bet on anytime goal is pretty simple: If your player scores a goal during the game, you win.
Bettors can also bet on which player will score the first and the last goal of the game. However, for this feature, we're focused solely on anytime goals.
Check out all of the picks for tonight's NHL lineup below.
NHL Anytime Goalscorer Best Bets
In the table below, you'll find each of our NHL betting staff's top anytime goalscorer picks from today's slate of games. Click on any pick or team logo to navigate to a specific bet discussed in this article.
| Time (ET) | Anytime Goalscorer |
|---|---|
| 7 p.m. | |
| 7 p.m. | |
| 7 p.m. | |
| 7 p.m. | |
| 7:30 p.m. | |
| 9 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NHL Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | |
Blue Jackets vs. Canadiens
Johnny Gaudreau
Gaudreau anytime goalscorer (+200)
By Ryan Dadoun
Johnny Gaudreau is more of a playmaker than a goalscorer, but he certainly is capable of finding the back of the net, especially early in a campaign. He started 2019-20 with a goal in back-to-back games, which he followed in 2020-21 with six goals through eight games, and then four markers through five contests last year.
The 2022-23 season was an exception with him registering eight assists through six games, but no goals. To date that stands as his longest goal slump to open a campaign, and it ended when he bested Penguins goaltender Casey DeSmith in the subsequent outing.
Now Gaudreau has matched that slump, going without a goal in his first six contests of the 2023-24 campaign.
It hasn’t been for lack of trying. Gaudreau is averaging 3.83 shots per game this season, which is way above his career average of 2.71. If he keeps playing like this, the slump will be broken. Tonight versus Montreal, which is without defensemen David Savard (hand), Chris Wideman (back) and possibly Kaiden Guhle (upper body), it seems like a good time for him to break through.
The potential payout for a Gaudreau anytime goal is also very generous, which is part of what sealed the deal for me and makes me regard this bet as being worth the risk.
Wild vs. Flyers
Bobby Brink
Brink anytime goalscorer (+470)
Bobby Brink has had an excellent start to the season and is earning the trust of Flyers head coach John Tortorella as a result. His 19:08 of time on ice Tuesday in Las Vegas was the second-highest mark of any Flyers forward.
Most importantly a portion of those minutes came on the Flyers top power-play unit.
He has been snakebit in front of goal with none of his 11 shots on goal allowing him his first career marker this season.
Brink was drafted 34th overall with scoring upside thought to be a potential strength, and he should eventually be able to finish quality chances at a league-average level.
What a great time to finally break through against his hometown team, the Minnesota Wild, who have defended poorly this year.
The Wild have given up 4.16 goals against per game and own a 27th-ranked xGA/60 of 3.61.
Wild vs. Flyers
Cam Atkinson
Atkinson anytime goalscorer (+270)
By Tony Sartori
Philadelphia's brand of hockey has been much stronger through its first six games than its 3-2-1 record indicates. The Flyers look good in all three zones – but particularly offensively as they rank sixth in expected goals for per 60 minutes (xGF/60) at 5-on-5.
Cam Atkinson is a huge part of that success, leading the team in individual xGF/60 at 5-on-5 and is second in goals scored (four) behind Travis Konecny (five). Thursday presents a good spot for Atkinson to keep it going for multiple reasons.
First, Atkinson's play always seems to tick up when playing at Wells Fargo Center. In his first season with Philly, he scored 17 of his 23 goals on home ice.
Secondly, Minnesota's blue line is reeling without Jared Spurgeon and Alex Goligoski, both of whom remain on long-term IR. At 5-on-5, the Wild rank 29th in the league in expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60).
The goaltending has not been able to bail out such a defensively poor group with Filip Gustavsson posting a .897 SV% and 3.95 GAA through four starts.
Atkinson plays on the first line alongside Owen Tippett and Sean Couturier as well as the first power-play unit, so ice time and offensive opportunities are going to be there throughout the night for the winger. Finally, Atkinson has scored five times over his past nine games against Minnesota.
Pick: Cam Atkinson anytime goalscorer (+270 at DraftKings)
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Avalanche vs. Penguins
Artturi Lehkonen
Lehkonen anytime goalscorer (+275)
By Andy MacNeil
Artturi Lehkonen, whose Colorado Avalanche are in Pittsburgh to play the Penguins tonight, is currently playing on the top forward line and the first power-play unit alongside Nathan MacKinnon.
The 28-year-old has two goals and six points in six games. He also sits second on the team in shots on goal per 60 minutes – behind his linemate MacKinnon. He actually leads the Avalanche in expected goals per 60 minutes, though, according to Evolving Hockey.
I expect Lehkonen to make the most of his opportunity tonight and break through with a goal.
You can get +275 odds on him doing so at bet365.
Pick: Artturi Lehkonen anytime goalscorer (+275 at bet365)
Senators vs. Islanders
Brady Tkachuk
Tkachuk anytime goalscorer (+175)
By Carol Schram
After starting off their recent homestand with three dominating wins, the Ottawa Senators then fell flat in multi-goal losses to their division rivals from Detroit and Buffalo.
And in lockstep with his team’s fortunes, Ottawa captain Brady Tkachuk is now goalless in his last three games.
But Tkachuk is at his best when he’s leading with his heart. And after avoiding suspension when he dropped the gloves to go after Buffalo’s Alex Tuch late in the third period of Tuesday’s loss, he should be grateful to be in the lineup and still fired up to get his team back into the win column.
Brady Tkachuk takes exception to a hit and DROPS Alex Tuch 😳👊 pic.twitter.com/gj2Y6B1S3v
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) October 25, 2023
Even better for him, the Senators are facing a usually stout New York Islanders team that has sprung a leak in the early going. The Islanders sit 26th in expected goals share at 5-on-5 at just 46.2%, their penalty kill is tied for 28th at just 68.8%, and their normally Vezina-caliber goaltender Ilya Sorokin sits at minus 1.2 goals saved above expected through four games.
Add that up, and it sheds some light on how the Islanders have given up 15 goals in their last three games — not what you’d normally expect.
The struggling Islanders should provide a fertile shooting gallery for the Senators to get back on track on Thursday. And Ottawa goes where Brady Tkachuk takes them. Look for him to light the lamp.
Rangers vs. Oilers
Mika Zibanejad
Zibanejad anytime goalscorer (+195)
By Greg Liodice
Mika Zibanejad is due. The full-time hockey player/part-time DJ has made his career on Broadway lighting the lamp and causing havoc for the opposition.
In my game Rangers vs Oilers betting guide for tonight, I mentioned that Zibanejad has yet to score but has racked up the assists. In the past few seasons, he’s managed to become more of a facilitator while chipping in 25-35 goals.
Well, after six games, he has the perfect opportunity to tickle the twine. The New York Rangers face the ever-so-struggling Edmonton Oilers, and the Oilers are vulnerable. Their goaltending has been among the league’s worst, and they are 31st in goals against per 60 minutes with 3.44.
To go with that, Zibanejad has been dangerous on the ice in all aspects. He’s fifth on the team in high danger chances created, third in expected goals, and third in scoring chances.
FanDuel has him scoring at +195. It’s just been too many games for him to not score. He’s always been a prolific goal scorer, and not only that, the Rangers’ power play is lethal. Pair that with Edmonton’s sloppy goaltending, and you have a bet that has a good chance at hitting.
