Kirill Kaprizov headlines Tuesday’s NHL anytime goal picks.
The pregame narrative: Kaprizov is living up to the hype as the NHL’s highest-paid player. The Russian winger is on a five-game goal streak and has a great chance to add to that total when he plays the Edmonton Oilers.
Check out my NHL goal picks for Dec. 2, featuring a play on Cole Caufield.
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NHL goal picks Dec. 2
Best Bet: Kaprizov to score (+100)
Kaprizov scores in bunches, and right now he’s got a red-hot stick.
The winger has a goal in five straight and in six of his last seven. In that span, he’s unsurprisingly leading the Minnesota Wild in the following categories, per Natural Stat Trick:
- Goals (7)
- Shots (34)
- Chances (44)
He’s also second to Matt Boldy in scoring chances, high-danger chances, and xG.
I think both Kaprizov and Boldy will have a field day tonight. Edmonton is a mediocre 11-10-5 with some serious goaltending issues.
-> Bet on Kaprizov and the Wild tonight!
Stuart Skinner, who is expected to start tonight, ranks outside of the top 30 in GAA (3.00) and SV% (.885). He did log a shutout against the Seattle Kraken on Saturday, but he’d allowed 19 goals on 113 shots in the previous four games (0.831 SV%).
The larger body of work is concerning, and I expect Kaprizov and Co. to run wild.
Key stat: Kaprizov ranks fourth in goals scored (17).
NHL predictions
Caufield to score (+155): Caufield has been touted as having 40-goal upside for a while, but he’s never reached that milestone.
That seems destined to change, barring injury. The Montreal Canadiens winger has tucked 14 goals in 24 games, putting him on pace for a 47-goal campaign.
That would be 10 better than his previous high, which he set last year.
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Tonight, the Canadiens host an Ottawa Senators team in the same boat as Edmonton: It can’t buy a save.
Linus Ullmark and Leevi Merilainen have identical .874 save percentages. That’s tied for 50th in a 32-team league.
Ullmark is expected to start tonight, and he ranks dead last in goals saved above expected (-9.5), per Money Puck.
NHL goal picks made at 12:52 p.m. ET on Dec. 2, 2025.
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Avery joined NorthStar Gaming as an intern in 2022 before stepping into a full-time role soon after. He loves betting on and analyzing golf — mainly because it’s easier than actually playing — but is a fan of all sports, from the NFL to the UFC.