Saturday’s NHL Picks: Sabres Look to Give Leafs a Rough Ride

Flip Livingstone

2021-11-13

Here. We. Go (Joker voice). It's Saturday, boys and girls. With an absolutely stacked NHL board featuring 13 games, we have a plethora of opportunities to pick our spots, stack some loot, and have a bit of fun while we're at it.

Even though the past few weeks of picks have been a bit of an up-and-down ride personally, sitting at an even 12-12 record one month into the season isn't the worst outcome I could have envisioned. That's just it, though, there is a lot of hockey left to be played. We still have a long way to go on this gambling journey that is the 2021-22 campaign.

This is the week. The week I get a Silver Pick winner, feeling it. Please see below for the details. In all seriousness, do some digging behind these matchups and make sure you also shop around a little bit to get the best prices ahead of puck drop. Another Super Saturday awaits, my degenerate gambling friends. Good luck and enjoy the show.

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2021-22 Saturday Record Breakdown (Complete Record Tracked/Posted @Flips_Picks)

Gold: 3-1
Silver: 0-4
Bronze: 2-2

Side bets: 7-5

Total Saturday Record: 12-12

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Gold Pick
St. Louis Blues @ Carolina Hurricanes (Over/Under 5.5) – Pick: Under

Let's kick this fine Saturday off with a Blues-Hurricanes tilt showcasing two of the stingiest defensive clubs in the league. Two teams that also employ vastly-underrated blue-line corps and hot netminders. Straight up, neither of these teams' defense games get enough love, as both Carolina and St. Louis have been tough to play against defensively from the first tilt of this young season.

Of course, it helps that both Frederik Andersen for the Canes and Jordan Binnington for the Blues have also been lights out. Freddie has seen a resurgence in his game, he's confident and comfortable in his crease, and a 9-2-0 record, .938 save percentage, and 1.78 goals-against average as him in the early mix for Vezina conversations. Now, it has to be noted here that Andersen manned the blue paint for Carolina Friday in a tight 2-1 loss, so he might be riding the pine tonight in favour of career backup Alex Lyon (go to GoaliePost for updated starter information).

If that is indeed the case and Lyon starts his first NHL game since last May, make sure you jump all over the Blues on the moneyline. Either way, I still like this game to be a close, tight-checking affair that produces a 3-1 or 3-2 final score.

Carolina sits first in goals-against in the NHL, allowing only 23 in 12 games while St. Louis is no slouch, sitting third in goals allowed with 30 in the same amount of games. Bottom line, it looks like an Under, smells like an Under, and the numbers back up that inkling. Blues-Hurricanes stays Under the number for my Gold Pick of the week. Thank me later.

Silver Pick
New York Rangers @ Columbus Blue Jackets – Pick: Rangers (ML)

I know. I know. Another week, another bet on the Rangers. Sue me. However, before you start button mashing and throwing shade, slow your roll and hear me out for a quick minute. The Blue Jackets had their three-game win streak snapped last night in back-breaking fashion when Conor Sheary of the Washington Capitals snuck a shot past Joonas Korpisalo with less than 90 seconds to play in regulation. Tough loss to swallow, no doubt.

Columbus has also been dominated by the Blueshirts over the last two meetings, as a 4-0 shutout and 3-1 beatdown would indicate.

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Look, this is one of those spots I can really get behind for New York, even if they are the road team. The Rangers are also fresh off arguably their biggest win of the season after handing the first-place Panthers a 4-3 loss on Monday. I like the momentum working in New York's favor here, especially after four nights’ rest and a really tough loss less than 24 hours ago for the Jackets.

My first Silver Pick banger of the year comes with a big two points for New York tonight against Columbus. Lock that in.

Bronze Pick
Toronto Maple Leafs @ Buffalo Sabres – Pick: Sabres (+1.5)

Yes, you read it right, I am betting against the Leafs for a change. Unfortunately, right now, that means betting against one of the hottest teams in the league. So let's get weird, shall we?

All jokes aside, the Sabres really haven't been that bad this year aside from their recent five-game skid. Actually, a closer look at their numbers overall would reveal an above-average team looking to shed the moniker of being the league laughing stock for the better part of the past two decades.

There is no denying the fact that Buffalo still has a long way to go in terms of being a relevant postseason threat, but with last week's trade of Jack Eichel and decent play so far you cannot help but feel the page starting to turn for this Sabres franchise. Now, in terms of tonight's matchup against the Leafs, between the pipes is where you will find the two most intriguing storylines when it comes to laying a wager.

First, rookie netminder Joseph Woll will be getting his first NHL start for the Leafs, while journeyman veteran Craig Anderson mans the crease for the Sabres. Advantage Buffalo, as the 40-year-old Anderson obviously has the edge in experience while also owning a strong career record against Toronto. Anderson has been solid over 33 regular-season matchups when facing the Leafs, repping a 17-9-4 record, .917 save percentage, and three shutouts.

Also, believe it or not, Buffalo has one of the best home records in the league this season with a respectable 5-1-1 showing. The Sabres beat arguably the best squad in the NHL this season in the Edmonton Oilers just last night, so why not knock off another juggernaut in a primetime Saturday showdown tonight? Buffalo keeps this one close, my Bronze Pick of the week.

Side Bets

Florida Panthers @ Tampa Bay Lightning (Over/Under 6) – Pick: Under

Montreal Canadiens @ Detroit Red Wings – Pick: Red Wings (ML)

San Jose Sharks @ Colorado Avalanche (Over/Under 6) – Pick: Over

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

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UPCOMING GAMES

Dec 27 - 19:12 DET vs TOR
Dec 27 - 19:12 BUF vs CHI
Dec 27 - 19:12 CBJ vs BOS
Dec 27 - 19:12 N.J vs CAR
Dec 27 - 20:12 DAL vs MIN
Dec 27 - 20:12 STL vs NSH
Dec 27 - 21:12 UTA vs COL
Dec 27 - 22:12 S.J vs VGK

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