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Top Goal Picks: Brayden Point , Joel Eriksson Ek & Jordan Eberle
Anytime Goal Prop Predictions & Odds: NHL Best Bets for Thursday, October 1st
After a pair of small slates to kick off the year, Thursday brings us a full helping of Anytime Goal Scorer props to comb through, including Brayden Point and Joel Eriksson Ek who get the benefit of playing alongside a productive scorer to help create more space in front of the net.
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Up to $1,500 in Bonus Bets if Your First Bet Doesn't Win*
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Later in the night, we turn our attention towards Jordan Eberle who will continue to be the focal point of Seattle’s offense, leading to a high volume of Shots on Goal. Be sure to check out our NHL betting trends page for the latest daily game odds, insight, and data.
Brayden Point (Lightning vs. Rangers) Goal Odds
While Nikita Kucherov hogged the spotlight en route to winning the Hart Trophy, Brayden Point was quietly successful in his efforts of pressuring the net in the same line as the award winner, generating 0.32 Expected Goals and 2.06 Shots on Goal per game.
In a favorable matchup against the New York Rangers, expect Point to pick up from where he left off by taking advantage of a back line who is currently averaging 3.38 Expected Goals Against in All Situations. Igor Shesterkin being just one game removed from his last start will also affect the speed of his transitions, creating larger gaps beside him when he is unable to make a quick cut across the crease.
When in the Power Play, Point runs the first unit while Kucherov and Jake Guentzel surround him on the edge, freeing more space in the middle with opposing back lines having to stretch out their coverage. If Joonas Korpisalo gets the start in net instead of Shesterkin, increase the size of your wager.
Joel Eriksson Ek (Wild vs. Predators) Goal Odds
When at full health, Joel Eriksson Ek gives the Minnesota Wild the versatility they need to be competitive, contributing to a front line who ranked above league average in Expected Goals For in All Situations while averaging 0.37 Expected Goals per game.
Heading into Thursday night’s contest against Nashville, expect Eriksson Ek to get off to a hot start and light the lamp by relentlessly attacking a back line who struggles to stay in front of the puck per their bottom ten mark in Expected Goals Against. Especially with Juuse Saros incapable of masking the Predators back line with his lack of protection in net, coming off of a 2025-26 campaign where he averaged 3.16 Goals Against per game and a .894 Save Percentage.
In 5-on-4 Situations, Eriksson Ek gets paired with Kirill Kaprizov and Quinn Hughes, creating high quality rebound opportunities while the duo fires the puck from the blue line. If you want to diversify your risk, split a wager in three equal parts and place a piece on Eriksson Ek, Kaprizov, and Matt Boldy to score the first goal as well.
Jordan Eberle (Kraken vs. Flames) Goal Odds
Even though the Seattle Kraken severely underwhelmed on offense last season, Jordan Eberle was still able to play at a high level, leading the team in Expected Goals with an average of 0.36 per game.
With Dustin Wolf surrounded by a back line who ranks 28th in Expected Goals Against in 5-on-5 Play, Eberle will be able to generate a higher volume of shot attempts in front of Calgary’s net, leading to an uptick in Shots on Goal which increases his chances of scoring. Wolf has also shown signs of regression while operating behind an underwhelming back line, giving up more than three Goals Against per game last season.
Not only does Eberle run the second line, he also gets bumped to the first Power Play unit, joining Jared McCann and Bobby McMann who are two productive scorers in their own right. This will force the Flames to shade their coverage towards the duo, widening the width of Eberle’s shooting lanes on the outside.
Photo Credit: REUTERS
