Best NHL Prop Bets & Anytime Goal Scorer Picks Today: Can Colorado Bounce Back?

If you’re looking for anytime goal scorer picks today, Friday’s NHL playoff slate is all about one game and one response spot. Vegas stole the opener and grabbed a 1-0 series lead, but Colorado is still the team everyone is chasing in these playoffs, and that makes Game 2 feel like a big early swing game.

The Avalanche at home again, the pressure is already up a notch, and there is no shortage of star power on either side. For bettors searching for NHL anytime goal scorer predictions today and the best NHL prop bets today, this is the kind of one-game board where it makes sense to trust top-line roles, strong usage, and a few well-placed plus-money shots.

Anytime Goal Scorer Picks Today

Starting with the goal scorer picks, this is all about finding the heroes who will find the back of the net today. Here are the three best anytime goal scorer picks for today.

Nathan MacKinnon Anytime Goal Scorer (-107 via BetMGM)

MacKinnon is the cleanest goal-scoring look on the board because Colorado’s offense still runs right through him. In a Game 2 spot at home after dropping the opener, it is easy to see the Avalanche leaning even harder on their biggest star. He is one of the few players in hockey who can create a goal out of almost nothing, and in a game Colorado badly wants, backing him to find the net is a very straightforward angle and one of the best NHL bets today.

Nazem Kadri Anytime Goal Scorer (+275 via FanDuel)

Kadri is a strong plus-money look because he gives Colorado another experienced offensive threat behind the obvious headliners. In a one-game slate, there is real value in targeting a player who can benefit from all the attention MacKinnon and the top line draw. He does not need a huge volume night to cash this either. One good look in the slot or one rebound chance can be enough, and this is the kind of number worth taking seriously.

Brett Howden Anytime Goal Scorer (+300 via FanDuel)

Howden is the value swing from the Vegas side, and this is the kind of playoff board where that makes sense. The Golden Knights already landed the first punch in the series, and secondary scorers often become especially valuable in these tighter playoff games. At this price, you are not asking him to dominate. You are betting on one moment, one bounce, or one finish off a strong Vegas shift.

Best NHL Prop Bets Today

Outside of goal scorers, there are plenty of other ways you can bet on individual players in this game. Here are the best NHL player props today.

Mitch Marner Over 0.5 Assists (-155 via BetMGM)

This is one of the cleaner role bets on the board because Marner’s game is built around creating offense for others. He is always a threat to set up one key finish, whether it comes in transition or in the offensive zone once Vegas gets established. In a one-game slate, a single-assist prop on a high-end playmaker is usually one of the better ways to back a star without needing him to score himself.

Gabriel Landeskog Over 0.5 Points (-165via FanDuel)

Landeskog is a really solid points play because he gives you more than one path to cash. He can score one himself, pick up an assist around the net, or benefit from the chaos that Colorado’s top players create. In a game where the Avalanche should be pushing hard to even the series, this is a simple way to bet on one of their most trusted playoff pieces to get involved. That makes this one of the best NHL player props today.

Jack Eichel Over 2.5 Shots on Goal (-180 via BetMGM)

Eichel is a very logical shots-on-goal play because so much of Vegas’ offense still flows through him. Even if Colorado comes out sharper and controls more of the game, Eichel should still have enough puck touches and enough offensive responsibility to stay active. Three shots is a fair number for a player with his role, especially in a playoff matchup where the Golden Knights will need their top center to keep applying pressure.

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This is the kind of one-game playoff slate where trusting stars and trusting role is usually the best approach. With Colorado trying to answer and Vegas trying to grab a commanding 2-0 lead, there should be plenty of action tied to the biggest names in this series. As always, be sure to check multiple sportsbooks to ensure you get the best odds.

All Odds as of 11:59 p.m. ET on May 21.