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Top Goal Picks: William Eklund , Cole Caufield & Tomas Hertl
Anytime Goal Prop Predictions & Odds: NHL Best Bets for Thursday, October 8th
Thursday opens up the flood gates with twenty teams set to take the ice, giving us plenty of Anytime Goal Scorer props to wager on, including William Eklund in a matchup against Philadelphia who continues to underwhelm on defense.
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Up to $1,500 in Bonus Bets if Your First Bet Doesn't Win*
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To pair with Eklund, we also turn our attention towards Cole Caufield and Tomas Hertl, a pair of lethal scorers who are both in a favorable position to find the back of the net. For more information, check out our NHL betting trends page for the latest daily game odds, insight, and data.
William Eklund (Senators vs. Flyers) Goal Odds
With Brady Tkachuk joining his brother in Florida, William Eklund has been able to shoulder a heavier workload while consistently pressuring the net, generating 0.89 Expected Goals and three Shots on Goal per game.
In a favorable matchup against the reeling Philadelphia Flyers, Eklund will be able to build on his momentum by relentlessly attacking a back line who ranks dead last in Expected Goals Against in All Situations. Even with Joseph Woll masking the Flyers regression while walling off shots at a high rate, Eklund’s aggression will force the Flyers goalie to stretch away from the net, creating wider shooting lanes beside him.
When in 5-on-4 Situations, Eklund gets to skate alongside Tim Stutzle, a productive center who is capable of pulling defensive attention to the middle while weaving the puck through stretched out coverage. Once collapsed, Eklund will be able to pick apart the gaps on the outside, improving the quality of his Shots on Goal.
Cole Caufield (Canadiens vs. Predators) Goal Odds
It has been a forgettable start to the year for Cole Caufield, kicking off his 2026-27 campaign generating just 0.19 Expected Goals per game, a steep drop off from last year’s total when he led the Montreal Canadiens with an average of 0.42.
Fortunately for Caufield, positive regression is looming large in a matchup against the Nashville Predators, drawing a back line who struggles to defend their net per their below league average marks in Expected Goals Against in All Situations and in 5-on-5 Play. Especially with Juuse Saros failing to give the Preds the protection they need to avoid playing in highly volatile contests, giving up nearly three Goals Against per game.
In the Power Play, Caufield shifts to the blue line, giving him the ability to crash to the middle when a shooting lane opens up. With the Preds incapable of keeping a defender in front of the puck, Caufield will be able to convert his shot attempts into Shots on Goal at a higher rate, increasing his chances of finding the back of the net.
Tomas Hertl (Golden Knights vs. Maple Leafs) Goal Odds
Since the start of the regular season, Tomas Hertl has been efficient with his time on the ice, generating 0.72 Expected Goals while averaging 3.5 Shots on Goal per game. Hertl’s aggression was on full display against Seattle, netting two Goals en route to a 6-2 victory over the Kraken.
Heading into Thursday night’s contest against the Toronto Maple Leafs, expect Hertl to continue to light the lamp by taking advantage of a back line who resides near the bottom of the board in Expected Goals Against From High Danger Shots in All Situations. Sergei Bobrovsky has also struggled to find his footing in his new home, averaging a Save Percentage of .887 in two starts.
Even when surrounded by Mark Stone, Mitch Marner, and Jack Eichel in the Vegas Golden Knights first Power Play unit, Hertl’s usage has been unaffected, averaging 0.43 Expected Goals per penalty. If you want to diversify your risk, place a separate wager on Hertl to score the first Goal at loftier odds.
Photo Credit: REUTERS
