How are NHL anytime goal scorer predictions calculated?

Our anytime goal scorer predictions analyze each team's goal-scoring patterns including goals per game, the percentage of games where specific players score, and historical head-to-head matchup data. Teams with higher confidence badges (more games in the sample) produce more reliable predictions. Use these alongside line matchups and goaltender stats for best results.

What factors influence who scores the first goal in an NHL game?

Key factors include the player's overall goal-scoring rate, their line placement and power play usage, the opposing goaltender's save percentage, recent form and hot streaks, and historical performance in the specific matchup. Our stats show each team's first goal percentage and average first goal period to help you identify first goal scorer value.

NHL Goal Scorer Predictions Tonight

Tuesday, November 03, 2026 • 2027 Season

Who will score first tonight? Stats-based NHL goal scorer predictions with top scorers, team goal rates, and head-to-head history for tonight's games.

Updates Every 10 Minutes

Goal Tracker Goal Scorer Stats

Colorado Avalanche @ Columbus Blue Jackets

07:00 PM ET

Columbus Blue Jackets

12 Games

Goal Game %

100.0%

Goals/Game

2.42

First Goal %

58.3%

Top Goal Scorers

Kent Johnson 8 G (66.7%)

Denton Mateychuk 4 G (33.3%)

Adam Fantilli 4 G (33.3%)

Avg First Goal Period

1.7

Colorado Avalanche

14 Games

Goal Game %

100.0%

Goals/Game

4.07

First Goal %

50.0%

Top Goal Scorers

Artturi Lehkonen 10 G (71.4%)

Martin Necas 7 G (50.0%)

Nathan MacKinnon 7 G (50.0%)

Avg First Goal Period

1.4

Head-to-Head History

Dec 20, 2025

Brent Burns (COL)

Period 1st

Dec 21, 2025

Mikael Granlund (ANA)

Period 1st

Dec 23, 2025

Mason Marchment (CBJ)

Period 1st

Dec 24, 2025

Samuel Girard (COL)

Period 2nd

Winnipeg Jets @ Montreal Canadiens

07:00 PM ET

Montreal Canadiens

13 Games

Goal Game %

100.0%

Goals/Game

3.62

First Goal %

53.8%

Top Goal Scorers

Cole Caufield 9 G (69.2%)

Zachary Bolduc 6 G (46.2%)

Josh Anderson 5 G (38.5%)

Avg First Goal Period

1.5

Winnipeg Jets

15 Games

Goal Game %

93.3%

Goals/Game

2.27

First Goal %

26.7%

Top Goal Scorers

Kyle Connor 11 G (73.3%)

Cole Perfetti 6 G (40.0%)

Alex Iafallo 3 G (20.0%)

Avg First Goal Period

1.9

Head-to-Head History

Dec 20, 2025

Brent Burns (COL)

Period 1st

Dec 21, 2025

Juraj Slafkovský (MTL)

Period 1st

Dec 22, 2025

Oliver Kapanen (MTL)

Period 1st

Dec 24, 2025

Samuel Blais (MTL)

Period 1st

St. Louis Blues @ New York Rangers

07:00 PM ET

New York Rangers

14 Games

Goal Game %

92.9%

Goals/Game

3.21

First Goal %

57.1%

Top Goal Scorers

Alexis Lafrenière 9 G (64.3%)

Oliver Bjorkstrand 5 G (35.7%)

Gabe Perreault 4 G (28.6%)

Avg First Goal Period

1.3

St. Louis Blues

14 Games

Goal Game %

85.7%

Goals/Game

3.14

First Goal %

64.3%

Top Goal Scorers

Jimmy Snuggerud 8 G (57.1%)

Mason McTavish 6 G (42.9%)

Jake Neighbours 4 G (28.6%)

Avg First Goal Period

1.2

Head-to-Head History

Dec 20, 2025

Artemi Panarin (NYR)

Period 1st

Dec 22, 2025

Filip Forsberg (NSH)

Period 2nd

Dec 23, 2025

Pontus Holmberg (TBL)

Period 1st

Dec 24, 2025

Taylor Raddysh (NYR)

Period 1st

Minnesota Wild @ Philadelphia Flyers

07:00 PM ET

Philadelphia Flyers

15 Games

Goal Game %

100.0%

Goals/Game

2.4

First Goal %

40.0%

Top Goal Scorers

Matvei Michkov 11 G (73.3%)

Trevor Zegras 4 G (26.7%)

Christian Dvorak 3 G (20.0%)

Avg First Goal Period

1.7

Minnesota Wild

16 Games

Goal Game %

100.0%

Goals/Game

3.25

First Goal %

68.8%

Top Goal Scorers

Kirill Kaprizov 15 G (93.8%)

Matt Boldy 6 G (37.5%)

Danila Yurov 5 G (31.2%)

Avg First Goal Period

1.4

Head-to-Head History

Dec 20, 2025

Artemi Panarin (NYR)

Period 1st

Dec 21, 2025

Martin Necas (COL)

Period 1st

Dec 23, 2025

Nikita Grebenkin (PHI)

Period 2nd

Dec 24, 2025

Brock Faber (MIN)

Period 1st

Vegas Golden Knights @ Pittsburgh Penguins

07:00 PM ET

Pittsburgh Penguins

13 Games

Goal Game %

100.0%

Goals/Game

3.23

First Goal %

46.2%

Top Goal Scorers

Rickard Rakell 5 G (38.5%)

Evgeni Malkin 5 G (38.5%)

Sidney Crosby 5 G (38.5%)

Avg First Goal Period

1.5

Vegas Golden Knights

15 Games

Goal Game %

100.0%

Goals/Game

3.4

First Goal %

33.3%

Top Goal Scorers

Mark Stone 9 G (60.0%)

Jack Eichel 6 G (40.0%)

Brett Howden 5 G (33.3%)

Avg First Goal Period

1.5

Head-to-Head History

Dec 21, 2025

Juraj Slafkovský (MTL)

Period 1st

Dec 22, 2025

Oliver Kapanen (MTL)

Period 1st

Dec 23, 2025

William Nylander (TOR)

Period 1st

Detroit Red Wings @ Tampa Bay Lightning

07:00 PM ET

Tampa Bay Lightning

13 Games

Goal Game %

100.0%

Goals/Game

3.69

First Goal %

53.8%

Top Goal Scorers

Brandon Hagel 8 G (61.5%)

Jake Guentzel 8 G (61.5%)

John Carlson 5 G (38.5%)

Avg First Goal Period

1.2

Detroit Red Wings

15 Games

Goal Game %

86.7%

Goals/Game

3.13

First Goal %

26.7%

Top Goal Scorers

Viktor Arvidsson 9 G (60.0%)

Emmitt Finnie 7 G (46.7%)

Alex DeBrincat 7 G (46.7%)

Avg First Goal Period

1.5

Head-to-Head History

Dec 20, 2025

John Leonard (DET)

Period 1st

Dec 21, 2025

Eric Robinson (CAR)

Period 1st

Dec 23, 2025

Pontus Holmberg (TBL)

Period 1st

Utah Mammoth @ Toronto Maple Leafs

07:00 PM ET

Toronto Maple Leafs

14 Games

Goal Game %

100.0%

Goals/Game

4.07

First Goal %

42.9%

Top Goal Scorers

Auston Matthews 11 G (78.6%)

William Nylander 8 G (57.1%)

Kirill Marchenko 7 G (50.0%)

Avg First Goal Period

1.5

Utah Mammoth

15 Games

Goal Game %

100.0%

Goals/Game

3.6

First Goal %

40.0%

Top Goal Scorers

Logan Cooley 8 G (53.3%)

Nick Schmaltz 7 G (46.7%)

Dylan Guenther 5 G (33.3%)

Avg First Goal Period

1.5

Head-to-Head History

Dec 20, 2025

Daniil But (MAM)

Period 1st

Dec 21, 2025

Nicolas Roy (TOR)

Period 1st

Dec 22, 2025

Jason Robertson (DAL)

Period 1st

Dec 23, 2025

William Nylander (TOR)

Period 1st

Dallas Stars @ Washington Capitals

07:00 PM ET

Washington Capitals

13 Games

Goal Game %

100.0%

Goals/Game

3.38

First Goal %

38.5%

Top Goal Scorers

Alex Tuch 10 G (76.9%)

Boone Jenner 5 G (38.5%)

Cole Hutson 4 G (30.8%)

Avg First Goal Period

1.2

Dallas Stars

14 Games

Goal Game %

92.9%

Goals/Game

2.93

First Goal %

50.0%

Top Goal Scorers

Mikko Rantanen 7 G (50.0%)

Jason Robertson 6 G (42.9%)

Roope Hintz 6 G (42.9%)

Avg First Goal Period

1.5

Head-to-Head History

Dec 20, 2025

Oskar Bäck (DAL)

Period 1st

Dec 21, 2025

Ethen Frank (WSH)

Period 1st

Dec 22, 2025

Jason Robertson (DAL)

Period 1st

Dec 24, 2025

Taylor Raddysh (NYR)

Period 1st

Edmonton Oilers @ New Jersey Devils

07:30 PM ET

New Jersey Devils

14 Games

Goal Game %

92.9%

Goals/Game

3.43

First Goal %

57.1%

Top Goal Scorers

Arseny Gritsyuk 8 G (57.1%)

Nico Hischier 7 G (50.0%)

Jack Hughes 6 G (42.9%)

Avg First Goal Period

1.3

Edmonton Oilers

14 Games

Goal Game %

100.0%

Goals/Game

4.21

First Goal %

71.4%

Top Goal Scorers

Leon Draisaitl 12 G (85.7%)

Connor McDavid 9 G (64.3%)

Vasily Podkolzin 7 G (50.0%)

Avg First Goal Period

1.3

Head-to-Head History

Dec 20, 2025

Daniil But (MAM)

Period 1st

Dec 22, 2025

Jack Hughes (NJD)

Period 1st

Dec 24, 2025

Brett Pesce (NJD)

Period 1st

Carolina Hurricanes @ Nashville Predators

08:00 PM ET

Nashville Predators

14 Games

Goal Game %

92.9%

Goals/Game

3.07

First Goal %

50.0%

Top Goal Scorers

Steven Stamkos 9 G (64.3%)

Ryan O'Reilly 8 G (57.1%)

Filip Forsberg 5 G (35.7%)

Avg First Goal Period

1.4

Carolina Hurricanes

15 Games

Goal Game %

100.0%

Goals/Game

4.2

First Goal %

66.7%

Top Goal Scorers

Logan Stankoven 10 G (66.7%)

Sebastian Aho 9 G (60.0%)

Mark Jankowski 8 G (53.3%)

Avg First Goal Period

1.4

Head-to-Head History

Dec 20, 2025

Jordan Staal (CAR)

Period 1st

Dec 21, 2025

Eric Robinson (CAR)

Period 1st

Dec 22, 2025

Filip Forsberg (NSH)

Period 2nd

Dec 24, 2025

Eric Robinson (CAR)

Period 1st

Anaheim Ducks @ Vancouver Canucks

09:00 PM ET

Vancouver Canucks

15 Games

Goal Game %

100.0%

Goals/Game

2.73

First Goal %

33.3%

Top Goal Scorers

Elias Pettersson 6 G (40.0%)

Brock Boeser 5 G (33.3%)

Jonathan Lekkerimaki 5 G (33.3%)

Avg First Goal Period

1.5

Anaheim Ducks

14 Games

Goal Game %

100.0%

Goals/Game

3.5

First Goal %

57.1%

Top Goal Scorers

Beckett Sennecke 8 G (57.1%)

Cutter Gauthier 7 G (50.0%)

Judd Caulfield 4 G (28.6%)

Avg First Goal Period

1.4

Head-to-Head History

Dec 20, 2025

David Kampf (VAN)

Period 1st

Dec 21, 2025

Morgan Geekie (BOS)

Period 1st

Dec 23, 2025

Nikita Grebenkin (PHI)

Period 2nd

Frequently Asked Questions

Our predictions are based on historical goal-scoring data for each team playing tonight. The "Top Goal Scorers" section shows players with the highest goal rates for each team, along with their goal counts and percentages this season. We also show team-level stats like Goal Game % and Goals per Game to help you identify the most goal-heavy matchups.

Goal-scoring outcomes in hockey depend on many variables, but our predictions highlight teams and players with the strongest scoring tendencies based on historical data. Teams with higher confidence badges (more games in the sample) tend to produce more reliable predictions. Use these as a research tool alongside factors like goaltender matchups, power play opportunities, and recent form.

Key factors include the player's overall goal-scoring rate and recent hot streaks, their line placement and power play time, the opposing goaltender's save percentage and recent form, home/away splits, and historical performance in the specific matchup. Our stats show each team's first goal percentage and average first goal period to help you make informed picks.