Back-to-back 5-1 Saturdays has our overall record looking extra crispy heading into our preferred day for wagering on the NHL's schedule. Before getting too far ahead of ourselves here, let's stick to the basics: preparation, research, and picking the best possible betting spots by taking a deep dive into our three favorite matchups.

Trade chips are starting to move and with the NHL's impending deadline for deals looming, this can be a bit of a tricky stretch to navigate from a betting perspective as rosters fluctuate and coaches tinker with lineups to get the right mix. With that said, we still have you covered with at least a few advantageous spots to sprinkle a wager – or two, or three.

With only three games Friday night, we're in store for a juicy 13-game board of betting options on Saturday. Good luck, let's get this paper.

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Updated 2023-24 Saturday Record (Complete Daily Record Tracked/Posted @Flips_Picks):

Gold: 9-4-0
Silver: 8-5-0
Bronze: 8-5-0
Side Bets (Located at Bottom of Article) : 20-19-0
Overall Record: 45-33-0

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Gold Selection
San Jose Sharks @ Dallas Stars – Pick: Stars PL -1.5 (-180)

Aside from a lot of positive buzz around the Dallas Stars stemming from the recent addition of bruising blue-liner Chris Tanev, this Stars team was already a legit Cup threat, one that's also sitting three points adrift for top spot in the NHL with 81 points. A talented forward group with three potent scoring lines, a balanced backend that touts one of the best young defensemen in the game with Miro Heiskanen, and, arguably, one of the best goaltending duos in the Western Conference – this team is built for winning and is only getting better as front-office savant Jim Nill continues to work his magic.

No disrespect to the San Jose Sharks, but wow, this lineup is straight up bad. Sitting at the bottom of nearly every important statistical category, including the one that matters the most … wins, the Sharks are a team that should be faded in every single opportunity for the rest of the season. Especially on the road, where they have the second-least victories with a staggering total of six.

Head-to-head, it should be noted the Sharks have actually given Dallas some trouble over the last 10 meetings, as San Jose has a 5-5-0 record including a 5-3 victory on home ice only last month. Revenge game, anyone? With the front office investing in the on-ice product with major additions and potentially more coming, expect a big game from the Stars tonight with an excellent chance to pad their division lead and inch closer to home-ice advantage.

Only the Colorado Avalanche and Vancouver Canucks score more goals than Dallas. Given their opponent, the overall vibes in Big D, and a bit of a revenge angle in the mix, this has all the makings of a blowout-type tilt. Bust out the pocketbook, it's hammer time on the Stars for my Gold Pick of the evening.

Silver Selection
Sidney Crosby Anytime Assist (-115)

If anybody can put a franchise on his back and carry an average team to the postseason, it's Sidney Crosby.

What is there to say about this generation's best player that hasn't already been said? His resume does all the talking and so does his elite-level production, so how about his ability to elevate the play of those around him and make an average club a wild-card threat. Sid continues to be his sensational self despite poor play from the rest of his team, inconsistent play on the man advantage and penalty kill, and key injuries up front to the likes of his perennial linemates in Bryan Rust and Jake Guentzel.

An impressive 32 goals and 30 assists so far this season has Crosby on track for his 14th season of 70-or-more points, and he's really showing no signs of slowing down. In terms of this matchup with the Calgary Flames, credit due to the entire Flames roster who have really picked it up in the second half of the NHL campaign, posting a 7-3-0 record over their last 10 including a current four-game win streak. However, this is Sid, a generational player who rarely goes back-to-back games without his name all over the scoresheet. Crosby had no points in the Penguins' tilt against the Seattle Kraken earlier this week, so expect a motivated No. 87 coming into this one as Pittsburgh's narrow window for winning continues to evaporate.

Crosby has 10 goals and 11 assists for 21 points in his last 18 games overall and historically has good numbers in his limited action against the Flames. In 20 career regular-season games against Calgary, Crosby registered 12 assists and 25 points, more than enough for us to love this spot for another Sid apple.

Bronze Selection
New York Rangers @ Toronto Maple Leafs – Pick: Under 6.5 (-118)

Here we go, another week and another look at the Toronto Maple Leafs. However, this time around we're diving into the total. Two of the hottest teams in the league right now, Toronto and New York are both cooking, as the Rangers are 9-1-0 and Leafs 8-2-0 in their last 10 games overall. This one might be a bit more of a gut feeling than relying completely on numbers and recent head-to-head metrics, like we usually do, but we can't help but look at this matchup and lean to the under.

First reason: Igor Shesterkin is once again looking like his Vezina-level self, putting up wins in seven consecutive games while posting a sensational .953 save percentage and a shutout. Second reason: The Leafs are a group with a renewed commitment to responsible defensive play and protecting their own net. Combine those angles with the fact that both of these Eastern Conference foes are playing their best hockey of the season and we have a game that's lining up to have playoff-like intensity from the opening puck drop.

Don't be shy about teasing the line up a little for a lower payout. Slap it into your favorite Saturday NHL parlay and thank us later. Leafs-Rangers stays under the number for my Bronze Pick of the night.

Side Bets

Boston Bruins @ New York Islanders – Pick: Under 6.5 (-162)
Montreal Canadiens @ Tampa Bay Lightning – Pick: Lightning ML (-200)
Connor Bedard Anytime Point (-190)

Flip Livingstone is an NHL betting and NHL fantasy writer and daily podcast host with experience at outlets such as theScore NHL, Narcity Media, Postmedia, and Hockey Night in Canada. You can follow him @Flips_Picks.