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 84% 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!
Last Saturday night we cashed my “Double Alex” parlay to the tune of +467!
My published picks are 60-39 (.606) since Nov. 23, including a stellar 27-7 (.794) record cashing GIFTs and a 33-33 (.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: 98-92-1 | GIFT Record: 43-21 | ATG Record: 55-73-1 | Last: 0-3 | Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook
Pittsburgh Penguins at Vegas Golden Knights
The Penguins are expected to send out Alex Nedeljkovic to guard the crease. The 29-year-old Ohio native comes in at 12-13-5, carrying a 3.14 GAA and an .892 Save% this season. Pittsburgh is 39-25 (.609) cashing the GIFT this season, including a 17-15 record (.531) away from PPG Paints Arena. The Pens have covered the GIFT in four of their last five and seven of their last 10 games overall including three of their last four on the road.
On the opposite end of the ice, Vegas will likely roll out Ilya Samsonov to defend the net. The 25-year-old Russian is 14-8-2, carrying a 2.91 GAA and an .887 Save% this season. The Golden Knights are 35-26 (.574) cashing the GIFT this season with a 21-11 record (.656) on the friendly T-Mobile Arena ice. The boys from Clark County have cashed the GIFT in two of their last three home contests.
These teams’ combined 75-51 record (.595) cashing the GIFT this season and this includes a 38-26 (.594) in these home/road conditions should make the lights even brighter in Sin City!
Pick: Goal In First Ten (-160)
Anytime Goal Scorer Picks
Alex Ovechkin (+110) – 9G in L11, 4G in L3 at home, 7G in L8 at home, 9-of-L15 G (.600) at home, G vs. DET on Dec. 29, 32G (leads WAS) in just 46 games
Ryan Donato (+210) – 4G in L3, 2G in L2 at home, 5-of-L8 G (.625) at home, G in L1 vs. UTH (ARI),
“DonatOvechkin” ATG Parlay Odds: +551
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.
