NHL Picks: Anytime Goalscorer Best Bets, Expert Predictions
Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images. Pictured: Carter Verhaeghe #23 of the Florida Panthers
Check out Tony Sartori's expert NHL picks with anytime goalscorer predictions for Panthers vs. Rangers Game 2 on Friday, May 24.
We have just one NHL game tonight as the Eastern Conference Final of the Stanley Cup Playoffs continues. I have two NHL anytime goalscorer picks for that lone matchup: Panthers vs. Rangers Game 2 (8 p.m. ET, ESPN & ESPN+).
Betting on NHL anytime goalscorers is simple enough: If your player scores a goal at any point in the game, your bet is a winner. MLB has its dingers; the NHL has its anytime goalscorers. And with both types of player props, the bets usually come with plus-money odds attached to them, so they're a favorite among all types of sports bettors.
Check out all of the analysis with my favorite anytime goalscorer predictions for tonight's NHL postseason action below.
(NHL fans: Use our FanDuel promo code for your Stanley Cup Playoffs action!)
NHL Picks – Anytime Goalscorers Tonight
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
| 8 p.m. | ||
| 8 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. | ||
Panthers vs. Rangers
Florida forward Matthew Tkachuk kicked off the scoring in Game 1 when he snuck a shot past goaltender Igor Shesterkin in the opening frame, and I want to continue to back a guy who always seems to elevate his game in the postseason. He has now scored recorded a goal in 11 of his past 20 playoff games, which bodes well for betting on him to do so once again at a sizable +200 payout.
Furthermore, Tkachuk has traditionally fared well against New York, scoring seven goals through 15 career meetings. He also co-leads the team in even-strength goals this postseason.
I mention that stat because the Rangers rank 11th out of the 16 playoff teams this postseason in expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60) at 5-on-5. Surrendering high-danger scoring chances at even-strength was one of the few problems for New York in the regular season, hovering around the league average in that same category.
Tkachuk is just simply a player who possesses the ability to find the back of the net from anywhere on the ice, whether it be a snipe from the top of the circle or in the middle of a scrum net-front. (That's also why Tkachuk is part of the Panthers vs. Rangers same-game parlay for Game 2.)
Pick: Matthew Tkachuk (+200 at FanDuel)
Panthers vs. Rangers
I'm risking a half-unit on Tkachuk to score along with another half-unit on his teammate Carter Verhaeghe.
I am fairly confident that at least one of these two guys will find the back of the net, which would guarantee a profit. And, if both score – all the better.
That scenario is exactly what occurred in Game 1 as Verhaeghe made it a two-goal game late in the third period when a slot pass went off New York forward Alexis Lafreniere's stick. Hey, it was ugly, but a goal is a goal in terms of this betting market.
I mentioned in the previous section that Tkachuk co-leads the team in even-strength goals this postseason. His co-leader is Verhaeghe, and these two have been a problem for opposing defenses.
I already highlighted the Rangers' defensive woes in the previous section, which has led to Shesterkin trying his best to bail out this team. However, due to this pressure in front of him, New York's netminder has now allowed three or more goals in three of his past four games.
Shesterkin possesses a modest .900 SV% and 3.06 GAA over that stretch.
Finally, at least one of Tkachuk or Verhaeghe has scored in eight of the team's 12 postseason games thus far. They have both scored in three of those eight outings.
Pick: Carter Verhaeghe (+200 at FanDuel)
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