Best NHL Prop Bets & Anytime Goal Scorer Picks Today with Round 2 Matchups

Written By Nick Crain | Published at May 3, 2026
Apr 30, 2026; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Wild goalie Jesper Wallstedt (30) and forward Matt Boldy (12) celebrate a series win against the Dallas Stars after game six of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Grand Casino Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images

If you’re looking for anytime goal scorer picks today, Sunday’s NHL playoff slate is all about pressure. Tampa Bay is back home trying to keep leaning on its stars against Montreal, while Minnesota heads into Denver for a tough matchup against a Colorado team that came into Round 2 rested and dangerous.

That’s what makes this board interesting. You’ve got one game that feels tight and tense, another that features major star power on both sides, and markets that all tie back to usage.

Anytime Goal Scorer Picks Today

For bettors searching for NHL anytime goal scorer predictions today, this is a strong slate to trust top-line roles and proven offensive engines. As the playoffs go on, the biggest names will continue to stand out the most.

Nikita Kucherov Anytime Goal Scorer (+160 via DraftKings)

Kucherov is known more for his passing, but that’s part of why this market works for him. Defenses can’t fully sell out on the shot because they’re so worried about what he can create for everyone else. Tampa Bay is at home, the margin for error is tiny, and this is usually when stars like Kucherov take on even more responsibility. In a series where every game has been decided by one goal, backing one of the most gifted offensive players in hockey at plus money makes a lot of sense.

Matt Boldy Anytime Goal Scorer (+155 via BetMGM)

Boldy is a great fit here because he’s playing with confidence and coming off a strong close to the Dallas series. Minnesota needs more than just Kaprizov to generate offense against Colorado, and Boldy is exactly the kind of player who can step into that role. He’s active around the net, he doesn’t need a huge volume night to finish, and he’s the sort of winger who can cash this market with one clean chance in a fast playoff game.

Joel Eriksson Ek Anytime Goal Scorer (+252 via DraftKings)

This is the value swing of the group, but there’s a clear reason to like it. Eriksson Ek’s game translates really well to playoff hockey because so much of his offense comes from hard areas, rebounds, screens, and net-front work. Those are the kinds of goals that matter in a tighter series. This angle obviously assumes he’s in and ready to go, but if he is, this number is appealing for a player whose role naturally fits the postseason style.

Best NHL Prop Bets Today

If you prefer getting more creative, there are many other NHL player props to consider. But the same applies when considering the best player props today, with the most prolific players always having the most value.

Cole Caufield Over 3.5 Shots on Goal (+130 via BetMGM)

Caufield is a very logical shots-on-goal play because Montreal’s best path in a game like this is usually to keep leaning on its most dangerous pure shooters. Tampa Bay’s defense and goaltending can make life difficult, but that also means Montreal’s best creators can’t afford to pass up chances. At plus money, this is a good way to bet on Caufield staying aggressive. He’s the kind of player who can get to four shots simply by playing his normal game and hunting offense whenever the puck finds him.

Nathan MacKinnon Over 0.5 Assists (-210 via BetMGM)

This is one of the cleaner role bets on the board. MacKinnon is the engine for Colorado, and betting him for one assist is really just betting on the Avalanche creating enough offense with their best player involved, which is almost always a fair angle. Colorado has looked like a team that can generate pressure in waves. On a line like this, you’re not overthinking it. You’re trusting a superstar to touch the scoresheet as a creator.

Kirill Kaprizov Over 0.5 Points (-220 via DraftKings)

This is probably the most straightforward prop on the slate. If Minnesota is going to hang around in Denver, Kaprizov almost has to be involved offensively. He’s the Wild’s most dynamic player, and he just finished a strong series against Dallas that included a huge Game 5. A half-point line gives you multiple paths to cash it, and that matters in playoff hockey.

DraftKings New DraftKings Customers: Bet $5+ Get $100 in Bonus Bets Instantly!
GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). 21+ and present in most states. (18+ DC/KY/NH/PR/WY). Void in NH/OR/ONT/PR. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino (KS). Pass-thru of per wager tax may apply in IL. 1 per new DraftKings customer. $5+ first-time bet req. Max. $100 issued as non-withdrawable Bonus Bets that expire in 7 days (168 hours). Stake removed from payout. Terms: Promos | DraftKings Sportsbook . Ends 5/31/26 at 11:59 PM ET.

This is the kind of playoff slate where it makes sense to trust stars and trust role. As always, be sure to check multiple sportsbooks to ensure you get the best odds.

All Odds as of 11:59 p.m. on May 2.