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!
My published picks are 60-42 (.588) since Nov. 23, including a stellar 27-8 (.771) record cashing GIFTs and a 33-35 (.485) 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.
Monday’s Best GIFT & Anytime Goal Scorer Prop Bets
2024-25 Record: 98-95-1 | GIFT Record: 43-22 | ATG Record: 55-75-1 | Last: 0-3 | Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook
Edmonton Oilers at Buffalo Sabres
The Oilers are expected to send out Stuart Skinner to guard the crease. The 26-year-old Canadian comes in at 22-15-4, carrying a 2.87 GAA and an .897 Save% on the season. Edmonton is 40-23 (.635) cashing the GIFT this season, including a 21-9 record (.700) away from Rogers Place. The Oil have covered the GIFT in four of their last five and six of their last 10 games overall.
On the opposite end of the ice, Buffalo will likely roll out Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to defend the net. The 26-year-old Finn is 20-20-4, carrying a 3.14 GAA and an .890 Save% this season. The Sabres are 41-21 (.661) cashing the GIFT this season with a 22-10 record (.688) on the friendly KeyBank Center ice. The Charging Buffalo have trampled the GIFT in four of their last five and seven of their last 10 games overall.
These teams’ combined 81-44 record (.648) cashing the GIFT this season including a 43-19 (.694) in these home/road conditions should mean red lamps lit early and often tonight in Upstate New York!
Pick: Goal In First Ten (-160)
Anytime Goal Scorer Picks
Brady Tkachuk (+130) – 6G in L5, 5G in L5 at home, 15-of-26 G (.577) at home, G vs. DET on Jan. 7
Matthew Knies (+250) – 3G in L5, 2G in L4 on road, 5-of-L6 G (.833) on road, G in L1 vs. UTH (ARI)
ATG Parlay Odds: +705
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.
