Betting the GIFT (Goal In First Ten) is simple. Pick whether or not a game will have a goal scored in the first 10 minutes of play (00:00-09:59). It's that easy and all you have to do is root for anyone to score and you win. It is an area of hockey betting with a high success rate league-wide, with over 87% of the league currently cashing at 50% or better this season. By the end of the season, that number should be even closer to 90% meaning there is still plenty of money left to be made from GIFTs this season.
Anytime Goal Scorer props are even easier. Pick a player to score and if they light the lamp at any point, you win!
My published picks are 56-35 (.615) since Nov. 23, including a stellar 26-5 (.839) record cashing GIFTs and a 30-30 (.500) record on ATGs. Let’s roll!
For additional prop bets check out our brand new daily NHL Prop Bet Cheat Sheet. Additionally, I will post my favorite bets in the BettingPros Discord, which is free to join and filled with info from some of the sharpest analysts in the field, including myself.
Friday’s Best GIFT & Anytime Goal Scorer Prop Bets
2024-25 Record: 94-87-1 | GIFT Record: 42-19 | ATG Record: 52-70-1 | Last: 1-2 | Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook
Toronto Maple Leafs at New York Rangers
The Maple Leafs are expected to send out Joseph Woll to guard the crease. The 26-year-old St. Louis native comes in at 20-11-0, carrying a 2.63 GAA and a .910 Save% this season. Toronto is 38-20 (.655) cashing the GIFT this season, including a 19-8 record (.704) away from Scotiabank Arena. The Leafs have covered the GIFT in four of their last five games and seven of their last 10 overall. This includes two of their last three on the road.
On the opposite end of the ice, New York will likely roll out Igor Shesterkim to defend the net. The 29-year-old Russian is 20-20-2, carrying a 2.93 GAA and a .905 Save% this season. The Rangers are 40-18 (.690) cashing the GIFT this season with a 20-8 record (.714) on the friendly Madison Square Garden ice. The Rags have cashed the GIFT in seven of their last eight home games and seven of their last 10 games overall.
These teams’ combined 78-38 record (.672) cashing the GIFT this season and this includes a 39-16 (.709) in these home/road conditions should mean red lights in the Big Apple.
Pick: Goal In First Ten (-154)
Anytime Goal Scorer Picks
Nathan MacKinnon (+115) – 2G in L1 at home, 7G in L7 at home, 3G in L4, 15-of-23 G (.652) at home, 6G in L4 vs. MIN
Warren Foegele (+330) – 4G in L6, G+ in L2 vs. DAL, G vs. DAL on Feb. 7
ATG Parlay Odds: +824
Luke Monaldo is a featured writer at BettingPros. Follow him on Twitter @MoKnowsSports and Discord @alydar1227 AKA The GIFTing Crooner. For more from Luke, check out his archive.
