NHL First & Anytime Goalscorer Betting

BestOddsBetting OddsNHLFirst & Anytime Goalscorer Betting
Published:
Updated:
Malcolm DarnleySenior Writer
Lawrence Smelser
Fact Checker

NHL First & Anytime Goal Scorer Betting Stats

Legend

  • GP: Games Played
  • POS: Position of the player
  • SOG: Number of shots on goal the player makes per game on average
  • 1st G: Record of how many 1st goals the player has made
  • ANY G: Record of how many games the player has made any goal
  • Last G: Record of how many games the player has made the last goal of the game
  • Last 5: How many goals the player has made over the last 5 games
  • AVG. G/G: Average goals per game for the player

NHL Goal Scorer Betting

One of the most popular NFL prop bets is to wager on players to score the first touchdown or a player to score a touchdown at any given point of the game.

That type of wager is now available for hockey bettors. In the NHL, just like the NFL, some of the most popular prop bets are NHL First Goalscorer, NHL Last Goalscorer, and NHL Anytime Goalscorer.

If you enjoy the fastest game on ice and are looking for some NHL goal scorer betting tips, we have you covered below.

Best Sportsbooks for NHL First & Anytime Goalscorer Betting

NHL first goalscorer and anytime goalscorer betting allows bettors to wager on which players will find the back of the net during a game. These markets are among the most popular hockey prop bets because they focus on individual player performance and often provide attractive odds on both stars and value selections.

DraftKings Sportsbook

DraftKings - Logo with green background and crown.

DraftKings offers extensive first goalscorer and anytime goalscorer betting across regular-season and playoff games. Bettors can choose from a wide range of players while also accessing numerous player props and specialty hockey markets.

The sportsbook provides detailed player statistics, recent form data, and matchup information that can help identify scoring opportunities. Same-game parlays also allow bettors to combine goalscorer wagers with game outcomes and totals.

Pros:

  • Extensive goalscorer betting markets
  • Strong player statistical resources
  • Same-game parlay availability
  • Broad NHL prop selection

Cons:

  • Popular player odds can move quickly
  • First goalscorer markets are inherently volatile

FanDuel Sportsbook

Fanduel - Logo with blue shield and text.

FanDuel features first and anytime goalscorer betting on a large selection of NHL games throughout the year. Bettors can evaluate scoring trends, power-play opportunities, and recent player performance when making selections.

The platform offers a streamlined betting experience and competitive hockey odds. Goalscorer markets are updated regularly as line combinations and injury reports evolve.

Pros:

  • Competitive goalscorer odds
  • User-friendly mobile platform
  • Strong hockey betting menu
  • Frequent sportsbook promotions

Cons:

  • Some player markets vary by game
  • Odds can fluctuate before puck drop

BetMGM Sportsbook

BETMGM - Logo with a lion and sports text.

BetMGM includes first and anytime goalscorer betting as part of its comprehensive NHL wagering lineup. Bettors can target elite scorers or search for value among secondary scoring options.

The sportsbook provides broad hockey coverage throughout the regular season and Stanley Cup Playoffs. Player props remain one of the most popular sections of its NHL betting menu.

Pros:

  • Strong player prop coverage
  • Broad NHL wagering menu
  • Regular sportsbook promotions
  • Extensive futures markets

Cons:

  • Market availability varies by jurisdiction
  • Some specialty props may be limited

Caesars Sportsbook

Caesars Sportsbook - Logo with gold accents.

Caesars Sportsbook provides first and anytime goalscorer betting across a wide range of NHL matchups. Bettors can wager on individual players to score while also exploring game lines, totals, and period betting options.

The sportsbook offers comprehensive hockey coverage throughout the season. Goalscorer markets are particularly appealing during nationally televised games and playoff matchups.

Pros:

  • Reliable goalscorer betting markets
  • Caesars Rewards integration
  • Strong NHL coverage
  • Multiple wagering options

Cons:

  • Specialty markets vary by game
  • Popular player odds can shift rapidly

bet365 Sportsbook

bet365 - Logo with green background and bold text.

Bet365 showcases one of the deepest NHL player prop menus available, including first goalscorer and anytime goalscorer betting. Bettors can access numerous player-specific markets alongside alternative scoring props and live betting opportunities.

The sportsbook is especially popular among hockey bettors who focus on player performance and in-game wagering. Detailed market depth provides a variety of options beyond traditional goalscorer bets.

Pros:

  • Extensive player prop offerings
  • Strong live betting functionality
  • Numerous alternate hockey markets
  • Deep NHL wagering coverage

Cons:

  • Large menu may overwhelm some users
  • Market availability varies by location

BetRivers Sportsbook

BetRivers offers first and anytime goalscorer betting throughout the NHL season and postseason. Bettors can analyze player scoring trends, line combinations, and power-play usage when evaluating potential selections.

The platform delivers a straightforward betting experience while maintaining strong hockey market coverage. Goalscorer betting is available on many of the league’s marquee matchups.

Pros:

  • Competitive goalscorer odds
  • Easy-to-use sportsbook interface
  • Strong NHL player prop coverage
  • Multiple wagering options

Cons:

  • Fewer alternate markets than some competitors
  • Promotions vary by jurisdiction

Hard Rock Bet

Hard Rock Bet - Logo with sportsbook branding.

Hard Rock Bet incorporates first and anytime goalscorer betting into its growing NHL betting portfolio. Bettors can target leading scorers, rising stars, or value options across a variety of regular-season and playoff games.

The sportsbook provides a clean user experience and regularly updates player odds before puck drop. Goalscorer markets complement a broader selection of hockey props and futures.

Pros:

  • Clean and intuitive platform
  • Competitive player prop odds
  • Strong NHL coverage
  • Growing selection of betting markets

Cons:

  • Available markets vary by location
  • Fewer specialty options than larger operators

NHL First Vs. Anytime Goalscorer Betting

NHL first and last goalscorer betting is very similar. With first-scorer betting, we are betting on the player who will score the game’s first goal.

Important to remember that we are betting on the game’s first goal and not the first goal of a player’s team.

NHL last goalscorer betting is basically the same, except instead of the game’s first goal, we are focusing on the game’s last goal.

NHL anytime goalscorer betting is selecting a player who will score a goal at any point of the game. With any time betting, whether the goal is the first or last goal of the game is irrelevant.

Predicting who will score the first or last goal of the game is more difficult than predicting whether a player will score at any given time of a game, and the odds reflect it.

St. Louis vs. Colorado – Goalscorer Odds

Player First Goalscorer Last Goalscorer Anytime Goalscorer
M. Rantanen +1000 +1000 +125
V. Tarasenko +1300 +1300 +175

Our table above helps us visualize the difference in odds between betting on First, Last or Anytime scorer.

We can see that both Mikko Rantanen and Vladimir Tarasenko have attractive payouts if we wanted to bet them to be the first or last goal scorer. 

The odds drop significantly if we take either one of them to score a goal at any time.

How First, Last, And Anytime Goal Scorer Standings Work

You will want to make BestOdds.com your destination of choice for all things related to NHL goalscorer betting.

After each night of NHL action, we will update our First, Last, and Anytime goalscorer standings pages.

Bettors can search by an individual player to find valuable data to help you with all your NHL goal scorer prop bets.

Using NHL Goalscorer Standings For Betting

By making BestOdds.com your NHL goalscorer destination, you will get access to some important information regarding these prop bets.

Search individual players to quickly see how often they score first, last, or anytime during a game. Get an understanding of their most recent games and how many goals they average per game.

All of this NHL goalscorer information will help you make better, more informed decisions the next time you play these prop bets.

Strategies For First & Anytime Goalscorer Betting

As a bettor, we will want to focus on a couple of things when doing our research for NHL First or Last goalscorer.

When it comes to first goalscorer betting, we need to get an understanding of which team is expected to score first. We can do this in a couple of different ways. 

The first thing we can do is research how often a team scores the first goal of a game. Specifically, we might want to focus on a team’s last five or ten games and get an understanding of how they are performing in the first 20 minutes of those games.

You can refer to our First Period Totals O/U Stats page to find out more about how well your team scores in the first period.

The other stat that might be of interest to us is the NHL First To Score Odds.

Seattle vs. Florida – 1st To Score Odds

Teams Odds
Seattle +110
Florida -135

Looking at the odds above, if we convert -135 into a probability percentage, we see the sportsbooks believe Florida has a 57% chance of scoring the first goal.

We can then compare our own research to the 1st To Score Odds – and form our own opinion of which team has the best chance of scoring the first goal.

Having an understanding of which team will score the first goal is obviously going to make us a better First Goalscorer bettor.

Strategies For Anytime Goal Scorer Betting

When we are looking at NHL anytime goal scorer options, one stat provided by sportsbooks that could be of interest to us is a player’s Shots on Goals total. 

If a player is expected to have a lot of shots on goal, especially in comparison to his teammates and opponents, that might be a player we want to identify as a potential goalscorer.

Something else that might be of interest is getting an understanding of how teams are performing on special teams. (power play and penalty kill)

John Tavares and Auston Matthews are two prolific goalscorers on the Toronto Maple Leafs. However, if they are playing on the road in New Jersey and the Devils penalty kill has been performing exceptionally well of late, we might not be in such a hurry to bet on either Matthews or Tavares in this situation.

2021 NHL Goal-Scoring Leaders

Player Total Goals Games Played
Auston Matthews 60 73
Leon Draisaitl 55 80
Chris Kreider 52 81
Alex Ovechkin 50 77
Kyle Connor 47 79
Kirill Kaprizov 47 81
Connor McDavid 44 80
Matt Duchesne 43 78
Filip Forsberg 42 69
Elias Lindholm 42 82
Matthew Tkachuk 42 81
Steven Stamkos 42 82

Always Shop Around

For many of us who enjoy sports betting, we try to set personal profit goals for the different sports or types of bets we make.

Whether you are an experienced or novice bettor, your greatest edge against the sportsbooks is your ability to shop around for your Best Odds.

On a single wager, it may not seem like a big deal to try and shop around to find odds that payout at 10% or 15% better.

However, over the course of weeks, and months, as our winning bets add up, oftentimes the difference between profitability or not is whether someone shopped around for their Best Odds.

Studies and stats will show that simply by giving yourself several different odds to choose from, you can increase your overall ROI by more than 20%.

Looking for more stats? Check out NBA first basket stats for betting.

About the Author: Malcolm Darnley

Malcolm loves to watch all kinds of different sports. He also writes about them.

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