Wednesday’s short slate would’ve been ideal for NHL goalscorer predictions, as each of the league’s three games featured at least seven goals.
Let’s hope the high-scoring environment continues into Thursday’s 15-game slate.
Here are my best NHL goalscorer bets today.
NHL Goalscorer Predictions Today
All hockey odds used for these NHL goalscorer predictions today are current as of Thursday, Jan. 29, and courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
Leon Draisaitl: Anytime Goalscorer (+110) vs Sharks
It’s risky taking Draisaitl over Oilers leading scorer Connor McDavid at the same odds, but McDavid has scored in back-to-back games while Draisaitl is goalless in his last four.
The German forward has still been plenty productive during this recent stretch, notching seven assists on the 13 goals that Edmonton has scored across its last two games.
The Oilers are the second-highest scoring team in the NHL at home (3.77 goals per game), while the Sharks surrender 3.12 goals per game on their travels.
This matchup sets up well for Draisaitl to find the back of the net, so I’m backing him as my NHL pick of the day.
Bo Horvat: First Goalscorer (+1100) @ Rangers
NHL first goalscorer stats point toward the New York Islanders taking the lead against the New York Rangers tonight at Madison Square Garden.
The Isles have scored first in 15 of 27 road games this season (55.5%), while the Rangers have taken the lead in an NHL-low 7 of 23 home contests (30.4%). The Islanders have also scored first in the three previous meetings between these teams this season, including Wednesday’s 5-2 win at UBS Arena.
Despite that, oddsmakers have three Rangers among the top four candidates in the NHL first goalscorer odds for this matchup. I’ll go with the lone Islander, Bo Horvat, who leads New York in goals (21) despite playing just 39 games this season due to injury.
He has scored twice against the Rangers this season, including the opener in a 5-0 win on Nov. 8, when the Blueshirts had Igor Shesterkin, Adam Fox, and Artemi Panarin in the lineup.
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Cutter Gauthier: Anytime Goalscorer (+165) @ Canucks
For my other NHL anytime goalscorer prop, I’m targeting Anaheim Ducks winger Cutter Gauthier.
The 2022 first-round pick ranks third in the NHL in shots (198) behind Nathan MacKinnon and Connor McDavid, so it’s highly likely Gauthier will have several scoring chances tonight against the Vancouver Canucks.
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Vancouver has lost 14 of its last 15 games and allowed at least four goals in 11 of those defeats. The Canucks allow a league-high 3.68 goals per game, a mark that rises to 3.96 on home ice.
Gauthier leads the Ducks with 23 goals this season and scored in a 5-4 loss to the Canucks on Nov. 26, so I like his chances to light the lamp tonight.
