My NHL goalscorer predictions went 3-0 on Tuesday night, as Trevor Zegras scored twice, Connor McDavid opened the scoring for Edmonton en route to a hat trick, and Macklin Celebrini netted an empty-net goal to complete a perfect evening.
I’ll try to keep the heater going on Thursday night, which features a slate of 12 NHL games to choose from.
Let’s dig into 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. 8, and courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
Nathan MacKinnon: Anytime Goalscorer (-125) vs Senators
These odds aren’t the most appealing, but I can’t resist the NHL’s top scorer in a fabulous matchup on Thursday night.
MacKinnon has 35 goals in 42 games this season, including 17 tallies in 19 home games. The Avalanche are the league’s highest scoring team (3.95 goals per game), and that number gets even more ridiculous at Ball Arena (4.53).
Tonight, Colorado will host an Ottawa Senators team that allows 3.62 goals per game on its travels, the fifth-most in the league. The Sens are also playing on the second night of a back-to-back after falling 3-1 in Utah on Wednesday.
MacKinnon hasn’t scored in consecutive contests, and he’s only gone goalless in three straight games on two occasions this season. I’m backing him to light the lamp as my NHL pick of the day.
Tage Thompson: First Goalscorer (+1100) @ Rangers
Surprisingly, four of the top five players in the NHL first goalscorer odds for Thursday’s matchup between the New York Rangers and Buffalo Sabres at Madison Square Garden play for the hosts. Thompson is the only Sabres player at the top of the board.
Why is that surprising? Well, NHL first goalscorer stats show that the New York Rangers have been horrific on home ice this season, scoring first in just five of 19 games. Not only does New York struggle to take leads at MSG, but it also ranks last in the league in goals scored per home game (1.89).
While the Sabres haven’t been fast starters on their travels, taking the lead in eight of 21 road games, they’ve been in scorching hot form lately, winning nine of their last 10 games.
Thompson leads the team in goals (21) and shots (144), and he scored four times against the Rangers in three games last season.
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Seth Jarvis: Anytime Goalscorer (+155) vs Ducks
For my other NHL anytime goalscorer prop, I’m targeting Carolina Hurricanes center Seth Jarvis.
Jarvis has scored 20 goals in 35 games this season, including a pair against the Anaheim Ducks in the first meeting between these teams on Oct. 16.
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This play is also a fade of a Ducks team that has lost seven straight games and conceded 35 goals over that stretch. Anaheim also allows the most goals on the road in the NHL (3.86 per game).
Carolina ranks fourth in the NHL in goals per game at home (3.61), so this is a great spot for Jarvis to find the back of the net.
