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 60-45 (.571) since Nov. 23, including a stellar 27-9 (.750) record cashing GIFTs and a 33-37 (.471) 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.
Tuesday’s Best GIFT & Anytime Goal Scorer Prop Bets
2024-25 Record: 98-98-1 | GIFT Record: 43-23 | ATG Record: 55-77-1 | Last: 0-3 | Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook
Montreal Canadiens at St. Louis Blues
The Canadiens are expected to send out Sam Montembeault to guard the crease. The 28-year-old Canadian comes in at 25-21-6, carrying a 2.88 GAA and a .900 Save% on the season. Montreal is 41-28 (.594) cashing the GIFT this season, including a 20-14 record (.588) away from Centre Bell. The Habs have covered the GIFT in their last six consecutive games, including three straight on the road, and eight of their last 10 games overall.
On the opposite end of the ice, St. Louis will likely roll out Jordan Binnington to defend the net. The 31-year-old Canadian is 23-21-4, carrying a 2.77 GAA and an .898 Save% this season. The Blues are 47-25 (.653) cashing the GIFT this season with a 24-12 record (.667) on the friendly Enterprise Center ice. The Notes have serenaded the GIFT in four of their last seven games.
These teams’ combined 88-53 record (.624) cashing the GIFT this season including a 44-26 (.629) in these home/road conditions should mean the lamp is lit early and often in The Lou!
Pick: Goal In First Ten (-140)
Anytime Goal Scorer Picks
Alex Ovechkin (+150) – 5G in L11, 4G in L8 on road, 18-of-35 G (.514) on road, 8G in L8 vs. WPG dating back to Feb. 25, 2020
Rickard Rakell (+200) – 3G in L5, 7G in L11, 2G in L2 vs. TB, G vs. TB on Jan. 12
ATG Parlay Odds: +650
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.
