If not for the massive egg laid by the Calgary Flames in last Saturday’s late game, I would have had my third perfect day of the year. Obviously, I will still take the 5-1 record last week and try to keep this momentum going for the end of the regular season. This is a time on the NHL calendar when I cannot help but get a bit greedy with some favorable looking matchups.

I know I’ve been saying it at points throughout the year, but the stretch-run portion of the season is an opportune time to hammer some of the top teams in the league who are looking to lock down prime postseason positioning.

A total of 12 games await us today, so do your research and let’s make some coin. Good luck!

2018-19 Record

Gold: 10-4     
Silver: 10-4
Bronze: 6-8
Side Bets: 19-23

Overall combined: 45-39 (53%)

Gold

Ottawa Senators @ Boston Bruins – Pick: Bruins

You can never really go wrong with betting on the Bruins these days, as Boston has been on an absolute tear over the past month. The Bruins are riding a five-game win streak and have not lost in regulation since BEFORE THE ALL-STAR BREAK. That stat is staggering, but the B’s are hitting their stride at the most opportune time of year, so betting against them right now is not the play.

Obviously, Ottawa is a complete dumpster fire, sitting alone in last place in the NHL with only 23 wins and 52 points. The Sens are in full-blown rebuild mode, and their roster currently resembles an AHL squad, so you know the drill.

Ottawa actually holds a strong record playing in Boston of late, winning six of the last nine contests against the Bruins in Beantown. But that number doesn’t exactly hold water given the current state of the Sens’ group, so expect Boston to cruise to an easy victory in this one by at least two goals.

Silver

Detroit Red Wings @ Tampa Bay Lightning – Pick: Lightning

Again, much like the above matchup, let’s not overthink this. Sure, betting on the Bruins or Lightning straight up won’t provide a ton of value, but throw them together in a nice little parlay with a sizeable bet, and now we’re talking.

The Lightning just punched their playoff ticket earlier in the week, but they still have home ice to play for, so don’t expect Tampa to simply roll over in this one. The Bolts have also dominated Detroit over their last ten games, winning all ten in regulation, including the last five in south Florida.

It might seem too good to be true, and I am definitely leaning on the favorites heavy this week, but a win is a win. Tampa hammers the Wings tonight. Lock it in for my Silver play of the week.

Bronze

L.A. Kings @ Arizona Coyotes – Pick: Coyotes

Don’t look now, but these aren’t your grandpa’s Coyotes.

Arizona is on fire right now and is closing in on the final Western Conference wild-card spot with wins in eight of its last ten contests. The Desert Dogs currently sit three points adrift of the Minnesota Wild for that eighth spot, but given their consistent play at both ends of the ice these days, don’t be surprised if playoff hockey returns to Arizona this spring for the first time since 2012.

The Kings struggle on the road against the Coyotes, winning only three of their last nine in Glendale, and have been one of the bigger disappointments of the 2018-19 season, as the club sits in dead last in the Western Conference.

I’m going with the hot hand here, and the team that still has a lot to play for seems like the move. Take the Coyotes for the W, my Bronze pick of the week.

Side Bets

Vegas Golden Knights @ Vancouver Canucks – Pick: Golden Knights

Carolina Hurricanes @ Nashville Predators – Pick: Hurricanes

Toronto Maple Leafs @ Edmonton Oilers – Pick: Maple Leafs

Flip Livingstone is a former NHL writer for theScore with past experience at such outlets as Postmedia, Hockey Night in Canada, and the CBC. You can follow him on Twitter @FlipLivingstone.