Ladies and gentleman, here we are. Following a tumultuous second half of the season trying to guide you in your betting endeavors, we've now reached the final Saturday of play in the 2021-22 NHL season.

Thank you to everyone who's been reading these articles on a weekly basis. They always are loads of fun for me to write, despite the unbearable guilt and shame I get those weeks when only one of my six picks turns out correct.

Last week, I kept it simple and went for some basic winner picks, so I'll try to make things funkier this time around.

Gold Pick

Vancouver Canucks @ Calgary Flames (Over/under 6) – Pick: Over

Name something more iconic than all-Canadian matchups and tons of goals being scored. Whenever two teams from the Great White North face each other, it's always an enjoyable matchup for all fans since both punches and great goals are thrown around pretty easily.

Taking into account Vancouver's recent tendencies is also encouraging. Indeed, the Canucks have suddenly decided that making the playoffs may be something that could interest them and it may be worth using the abundance of talent they have all around their roster. With Elias Pettersson, J.T. Miller, Brock Boeser and seemingly Jason Dickinson being on hot streaks, expect Vancouver's attack to come all out tonight.

Meanwhile, it's the same weekly speech that goes for Calgary, so I'll make it brief. Their forwards are great. Their defenders are great. Their goalkeeper is great but can have some questionable nights.

Just keep it simple. Goals will be scored.

Silver Pick

Montreal Canadiens @ Ottawa Senators – Pick: Canadiens

Man, am I tempted to pick the over for this game as well. Remember, all-Canadian matchup. Last time these two teams faced each other, the tally ended with a score of 6-3. And, on that note, I do believe it's time for Montreal to have a massive game against Ottawa after an excruciatingly horrible streak that's gotten now to seven straight regulation losses.

The tide should turn around tonight as Carey Price is looking for his first victory of the season, Cole Caufield is looking to get to twenty goals, and Jeff Petry is still looking for a way out of Canada. All the pent-up shame and frustration will be mightily unleashed on the Senators.

Ottawa is playing for a second day in a row and, with only four more games left to the season, should feel some fatigue throughout its admittedly young lineup. In this basement battle that we have coming up, it's just a matter of picking the lesser of two evils, and, for tonight, that would be Montreal.

Bronze Pick

Toronto Maple Leafs @ Florida Panthers – Pick: Maple Leafs

Ohh yes, this has to be the creme de la creme of Saturday picks. It does not get better than that. A Habs fan picking Toronto to beat the best team in the league on the road right after favoring the Canadiens in their matchup. I couldn't end my season in a better way.

But, in all seriousness, come on Auston Matthews! You just got humiliated by Tampa, whom you'll quite likely see again in three weeks' time. Is this really how you guys want to finish the year? On a streak of embarrassing losses? Is that the mentality that'll get you past your demons and into the second round? That's what I thought. So I better see you all let your metaphorical psychological dogs out tonight and go hunt some Panthers like they were helpless kittens. Also, go get yourself those 60 goals. You deserve them. And I deserve to win some money tonight.

Side Bets

Seattle Kraken @ Dallas Stars – Pick: Kraken (+1)

St. Louis Blues @ Arizona Coyotes- Pick: Blues

Nashville Predators @ Tampa Bay Lightning (Over/Under 6) – Pick: Over