Don’t look now, but we’re starting to cook with our Saturday picks, as a near clean sweep a week ago has us primed for another big day of NHL bets. The NHL trade deadline brought about a flurry of activity with a number of teams waving white flags of mediocrity by moving multiple major pieces, such as the Calgary Flames, Vancouver Canucks, and New York Rangers – teams to keep in mind as obvious fade options for wagering down the stretch. Speaking of which, with 14 teams on the ice Friday, there should be a number of interesting goalie matchups to keep an eye on that could impact today’s lines.
Onto today’s board that features 11 games. Tap into our favorite three picks outlined below followed by our top-three side plays. Good luck, and let’s get this paper.
Updated 2025-26 Saturday Record (Daily Record Tracked/Posted @Flips_Picks):
Gold: 7-6
Silver: 7-6
Bronze: 9-4
Side Bets: 17-20
*
Gold Selection
Carolina Hurricanes @ Calgary Flames – Pick: Hurricanes ML (-190)
The Hurricanes may have been one of the quieter teams at the trade deadline, and some around the league were quick to label them losers for not making a splash. But here’s the thing – this team was already loaded, and the results keep showing it. Carolina just picked up its 40th win of the season last night, continuing a year where they’ve quietly looked like one of the most complete teams in the Eastern Conference. With veteran netminder Frederik Andersen getting the start in that win, the crease now turns to the revelation Brandon Bussi, who owns a ridiculous 25-3-1 record this season. That’s the kind of depth in net contenders dream about this time of year.
On the other side is a Flames team that looks like it waved the white flag. Nazem Kadri is now back with the Colorado Avalanche and Calgary has also moved out its top two defensemen in recent weeks. In short, this roster looks nothing like the one that started the season. Carolina has also been excellent away from home, winning five of their last seven road games, and they’ve had Calgary’s number lately with five wins in their last six meetings.
The Flames are cooked and the Canes are about to put the pedal down on a playoff push. This one feels like a business trip win for Carolina.
Silver Selection
Vancouver Canucks @ Winnipeg Jets – Pick: Kyle Connor 2+ Points
If you’re looking for a player prop that screams value tonight, look no further than Kyle Connor to pile up points. The sharpshooter for the Winnipeg Jets already has 20 multi-point games this season, and he’s quietly sitting second on the team in scoring with 70 points. Connor continues to be one of the most underrated offensive weapons in the NHL, producing elite numbers without the spotlight he deserves. When it comes to tonight’s opponent, the matchup history is loud. Connor has more points against Vancouver than any other team in his career, putting up 17 goals and 22 assists for 39 points in just 29 games against the Canucks.
The team trends only make the case stronger. Vancouver has been brutal on the road with just one win in their last 10 away games, and things haven’t been much better historically in Winnipeg. The Canucks have lost their last five visits to Manitoba, while the Jets have dominated the recent head-to-head matchup with an 8-2-0 record across the last 10 meetings overall.
Put it all together and the stage is set for Connor to feast again. In a game that heavily leans Winnipeg’s way, the Jets sniper is primed for another big night on the scoresheet.
Bronze Selection
Nashville Predators @ Buffalo Sabres – Pick: Sabres ML
Sometimes a pick doesn’t need a deep dive — it just needs a look at the direction both teams are heading. Right now, the Buffalo Sabres are a wagon. Plain and simple. They’re arguably the hottest team in the NHL, riding a five-game winning streak that has them tied for first place in the Atlantic Division and sitting just six points behind the Hurricanes for the top spot in the Eastern Conference.
Buffalo is rolling offensively, playing with confidence, and looking every bit like a team ready to make serious noise down the stretch. Meanwhile, Nashville continues to feel stuck in the middle. The Predators moved out pieces like Michael Bunting, Michael McCarron, and Nick Blankenburg at the deadline, names that don’t jump off the page but moves that still indicate where this team is trending. The bigger picture remains the same — another season heading toward missing the playoffs. It’s the kind of identity-less team that bettors tend to fade this time of year. The numbers back that up too. Nashville is just 4-3-3 over its last 10 games and the defensive issues remain glaring. The Predators have allowed the fourth-most goals in the NHL this season with 213, making them one of the leakiest defensive groups in the league.
This one feels like a classic case of two teams going in opposite directions. Buffalo is flexing its muscle – that momentum should carry them to another win tonight.
Side Bets
Montreal Canadiens @ L.A. Kings – Pick: Over 6.5
Vancouver Canucks @ Winnipeg Jets – Pick: Jets PL -1.5
Utah Mammoth @ Columbus Blue Jackets – Pick: Mammoth ML
Flip Livingstone is an NHL betting expert, fantasy writer, and daily podcast host with the Locked On Fantasy Hockey pod. He also has experience at outlets such as theScore NHL, Postmedia, and Hockey Night in Canada. You can follow him @Flips_Picks.
