🏒 NHL Anytime Goal Scorer Predictions Today: Best Bets to Score for Saturday, May 16

The lone NHL game tonight is a big one, as the Montreal Canadiens can advance to the Eastern Conference Final with a win at home over the Buffalo Sabres.

My NHL anytime goal scorer predictions today for Game 6 are riding the red-hot Cole Caufield to score in a fourth straight game for the Canadiens. I'm also taking a shot on a lesser-known Sabre to return fire tonight for Buffalo, which needs secondary production to overcome the struggles of its top line in this series.

🏒 NHL anytime goal scorer predictions today: May 16

See all of our experts' NHL picks based on the latest NHL odds.; picks rated on a 1-to-5 star confidence scale based on betting value.

Total wagered: 1.5 units | Max profit: 3.2 units

🥅 Best anytime goal scorer pick today

Cole Caufield (+140) vs. Buffalo

Caufield often scores goals in bunches, and he appears to be on a heater right now. After potting just one goal in his first nine playoff outings this spring, he's scored in each of Montreal's last three games.

He's generated at least 0.6 expected goals in each of those outings. Caulfield has also attempted at least five shots in four of the series' five games, and he logged five unblocked attempts from high or medium danger areas in Game 5, per Moneypuck. DraftKings' +140 price is the best value in a market I'd play down to +130.

🔥 More NHL goal scorer picks

Zach Benson (+360) vs. Montreal

With Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch, and Peyton Krebs struggling to generate offense at even strength in this series, we could see Buffalo's top line broken up for Game 6.

If the Sabres do shake up their lines, Zach Benson is a likely candidate for a promotion to a more dangerous unit. The youngster has produced two goals and 2.3 expected goals in the series, including the winner in Game 4. He was also given 21 minutes of ice time in Game 5 and has attempted 19 shots in his last four games.

At +360 odds, I'll take a flyer on Benson notching another big goal for Buffalo tonight. DraftKings once again is offering the best price on this prop, compared to +325 at BetMGM and +320 at Caesars. The latter is the lowest price I'd take here.

🚀 Best NHL goal scorer parlay

With their top line struggling and some questions emerging in net, the Sabres likely need production from role players like Benson to stave off elimination tonight with an upset victory.

That was the case in Game 4, when Benson tallied the game-winning goal in the third period. In fact, the Sabres have won three of the four playoff games in which Benson has found the net.

Another way to parlay a Benson anytime goal could be replacing the Sabres moneyline with the Over on 6.5 goals, which returns +575 odds at DraftKings. Montreal has lit the lamp at least five times in three of the last four games of this series, so Buffalo may need to open things up offensively to keep pace.

Elsewhere, our Liam Fox is backing Montreal to cover -1.5 in his Sabres vs. Canadiens prediction.

💡 How I'm betting NHL goal scorer picks today

Follow all of our NHL analysis and expert predictions this season.

With just one game on tonight's NHL card, I'm limiting my anytime goal scorer plays to one per each team.

Caufield's anytime goal price is a bit shorter than the +175 that was available for Game 5 and the +160 in Game 4. But the updated number reflects the roll he's on, and I still think the sniper is worth a full unit stake at +140 odds. Meanwhile, Benson is clearly a darkhorse pick at +360 odds, but the chances of him seeing an increased role makes me comfortable risking a half unit with a chance at a fat return.