Can you feel it? Maybe you can even smell it? It's the scent all degenerate gamblers and hockey fans clamor for: Super Saturday in the NHL. That's right, people, Saturday Picks are back at DobberHockey and to say that I'm fired up for my fourth season rocking with y'all on the picks front would be a massive understatement.

If you've been following along the past few seasons, much love, I really appreciate it and seriously enjoy engaging with passionate bettors and hockey heads on a weekly basis. This year feels special when it comes to laying wagers on hockey: maybe it's a new franchise in the league, or single-game betting in Canada is finally here, or it could just be the opportunity that a legitimate full NHL season provides. Either way you want to break it down, it's time to get this paper.

Let's lock in for the first big day on the betting calendar, shall we? Fourteen games await us today, and aside from a snoozer matinee tilt between Arizona and Buffalo (hard pass on that one), we should be treated to a number of tantalizing matchups to take in.

The beginning of any season in any sport can always be a tough one to navigate from a betting perspective, so don't do anything too crazy right off the jump. Do your research, make sure you're following @Flips_Picks on Twitter, and good luck this year!

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2021 record:

Gold: 6-7
Silver: 9-3
Bronze: 7-5

Side bets: 18-18

Overall: 40-33

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Gold Pick
Vancouver Canucks @ Detroit Red Wings (O/U 5.5) – Pick: Over

If you haven't tuned-in to the last game for both the Red Wings or Canucks then you're likely unaware they've arguably been two of the most exciting of the young campaign. Two wild run-and-gun showdowns that produced 21 total goals while showcasing how to NOT play good defense. Point I'm trying to make here is that both teams are trending positively when it comes to putting pucks in the back of the net. And while Detroit might not exactly tout the same caliber of offensive weapons Vancouver employs, this young Red Wings team should not be ignored when it comes to scoring potential.

Whether it be Tyler Bertuzzi fresh off a four-goal performance, or up-and-coming young guns like Lucas Raymond (4th overall pick 2020) or Filip Zadina (6th overall pick 2018), don't sleep on Detroit this season when it comes to its ability to light the lamp on the regular.

The last two meetings between these two young teams have gone Over the number, then factor in both team's offensive output so far and I am feeling a nice, juicy bet on the Over 5.5. This number could easily rise by puck drop, so make sure you jump on it before it moves closer to the 6 or even 6.5 it should be at.

Wings-Canucks goes Over 5.5 total goals for my first Gold Pick of the 2021-22 season.

Silver Pick
Winnipeg Jets @ San Jose Sharks – Pick: Jets -1.5

Before we get into how bad San Jose is, first thing you need to know about this tilt is the Jets have their top scorer, face-of-the-franchise, and arguably most important player back in the lineup tonight for the first time since last June.

Mark Scheifele's four-game suspension following Game 1 of Winnipeg's second-round series against Montreal last spring has now officially been served and with that, the Jets will be looking for a big bounce-back win following a lack-luster showing against the measly Ducks to open their season this week.

The Jets are one of those teams I really like as a darkhorse this season, so get ready for them to be in regular rotation when it comes to the picks. Sure, their bottom-six forward group could use a little love and the blue-line leaves something to be desired, but with Scheifele, Connor Hellebuyck, Blake Wheeler, and others, Winnipeg has more than enough talent to go on a run this year – both regular season and post.

As for the Sharks, well, maybe Adin Hill and James Reimer have great years … . Don't hold your breath on that one. But seriously, other than cap restraints due to some really bad contracts and transactions, I don't really know what the heck is going on in San Jose. Actually, scratch that, I know what's going on: a lot of losing.

The Jets have won four of their last five when playing in the Bay Area, Scheifele's return will have a major impact, and their most-recent loss to Anaheim should have Paul Maurice's crew fired-up and ready to dominate from puck drop. Hammer Winnipeg on the puckline tonight -1.5.

Bronze Pick
Ottawa Senators @ Toronto Maple Leafs – Pick: Maple Leafs

You know I had to include these Maple Leafs in the first picks article of the year, right? As much as I am still very much not over the dumpster fire that ignited at ScotiaBank Arena to end last season, I am ready to strategically take advantage of a Toronto team that still reps one of the most-dangerous offensive units in the league – even without Auston Matthews.

Props due to an emerging Senators crew that is looking better and better with each passing month (shoutout to Pierre Dorion), one that just beat the Leafs only two nights ago. Now, two things on that front: Toronto started a second straight game looking like half the team was still on the bus, and down the stretch that 3-2 game could have easily bounced the Leafs' way. So take Ottawa's win with a grain of salt.

Jack Campbell and his 4-1-0 career record against the Sens will be back manning the blue paint for the Buds tonight after holding Montreal to only one goal in the opening game of the year for Toronto on Wednesday. I won't lie, I love this guy's game. Campbell has a lot to prove this season in a contract year at the most pivotal time in his career, and I like that angle for him to have a great season for the Maple Leafs. That continues tonight with a big win on home ice for the first Hockey Night in Canada showdown of the new campaign.

Brady Tkachuk is likely still one game away from returning to Ottawa's top line, and until then, I will take my chances with the superior team at both ends of the ice. Toronto gets the two points tonight for my Bronze Pick.

Side Bets

Seattle Kraken @ Columbus Blue Jackets (Over/Under 5.5) – Pick: Over

Calgary Flames @ Edmonton Oilers – Pick: Oilers

New York Rangers @ Montreal Canadiens – Pick: Rangers

 

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