NHL Anytime Goal Scorer Picks, Odds, Predictions for Thursday, April 23, 2026

By Kody Malstrom | Apr 23, 2026, 6:47am

Heading into Thursday night’s trio of playoff games, there are plenty of Anytime Goal Scorer props to wager on, including a bet on Tage Thompson and Brady Tkachuk with an in-depth breakdown of their contests below. Be sure to check out our daily NHL betting trends page too for insights and data on each matchup.

Thursday’s Anytime Goal Scorer Picks

Viktor Arvidsson
Tage Thompson
Martin Necas
Brady Tkachuk

Viktor Arvidsson Anytime Goal Scorer

While David Pastrnak hogs the spotlight, Viktor Arvidsson has been a reliable source of production for the Boston Bruins front line, averaging 0.33 Expected Goals per game. Every bit of their combined talent has been needed just to keep the Bruins competitive in their contests this season, contributing to an offense who ranks below league average in Expected Goals For in All Situations.

Fortunately for Arvidsson, he will have a great opportunity to mask their struggles on offense against the Buffalo Sabres by exploiting a back line who resides in the bottom half of the board in Expected Goals Against in 5-on-5 Play. With the Sabres incapable of staying in front of the puck, the width of Arvidsson’s lanes to the net will widen, making it easier for him to convert his shot attempts into Shots on Goal.

Tage Thompson Anytime Goal Scorer

After kicking off the playoffs with two goals, Tage Thompson failed to build on his momentum, sitting out for 14 minutes in game two before making his return at the last second in a failed attempt to spark a rally. When on the ice, Thompson is one of the more aggressive forwards in the league, averaging 0.42 Expected Goals and 3.36 Shots on Goal per game.

In a favorable matchup against the Bruins, expect Thompson to round back into dominant form by relentlessly attacking a back line who ranks 29th in Expected Goals Against in All Situations. Especially if Joonas Korpisalo gets the start due to the quick turnaround as he has failed to protect the Bruins net this season, averaging 3.15 Goals Against per game and a .894 Save Percentage.

Martin Necas Anytime Goal Scorer

After joining the Colorado Avalanche, Martin Necas has been able to continue to play at a high level, averaging 0.34 Expected Goals per game. His production has helped turn the Avs front line into the most efficient and versatile unit in the league, ranking first in Expected Goals For in All Situations and in 5-on-5 Play.

Even with the Los Angeles Kings back line excelling in coverage per their above league average mark in Expected Goals Against, Necas still has plenty of room to work with when roaming on the outside while Nathan MacKinnon pulls defenders towards him. With the width of Necas’ shooting lanes widening, the quality of his Shots on Goal will drastically improve, increasing his chances of scoring.

Brady Tkachuk Anytime Goal Scorer

Since the start of the regular season, Brady Tkachuk has been dominant in his efforts of creating high quality scoring opportunities, averaging 0.50 Expected Goals and 3.68 Shots on Goal per game. With the Ottawa Senators offense running through Tkachuk, they have been able to turn into a competitive unit, sliding into the top-10 in Expected Goals For in All Situations.

Heading into Thursday night, Tkachuk will need to continue to be aggressive in his efforts of pressuring the net to break through a Carolina Hurricanes back line who ranks near the top of the board in Expected Goals Against. With Tkachuk leading the field in Expected Goals, increase your risk on the Senators forward and place a smaller wager on him to score the first goal as well.

Photo Credit: AP/Jeffrey T. Barnes

Kody Malstrom

Kody is a professional sports bettor and sports betting journalist with eight years of experience in the industry. He covers a wide range of sports, including NFL, NCAAF, NBA, NCAAB, NHL, MLB, and UFC. What started as a side gig has turned into a full time job, spending a majority of his time staring at odds screens and market movement. When away from the computer, Kody enjoys spending his time outdoors relaxing at the beach or golfing with friends.