There's no getting around our ugly 2-4 start two weeks ago that kicked off the 2025-26 season on a losing note. But it's bounce-back season, my friends, and no better day to do it on then super Saturday in the NHL with an absolutely stacked 13-game betting board.

The first two weeks of hockey has been a rough ride to navigate from a betting perspective and that's putting it lightly. From multiple goalie injuries to lineup shuffling to young stars emerging seemingly overnight, trying to take it all in while laying down sharp wagers can seem like a daunting task. However, we've got you covered this fine Saturday, breaking down our top-three spots below and serving up our favorite side plays that will also be catching a couple bucks.

Good luck this week and let's get this paper – oh, and, GO JAYS GO!

Updated 2025-26 Saturday Record (Daily Record Tracked/Posted @Flips_Picks):

Gold: 0-1
Silver: 1-0
Bronze: 1-0
Side Bets (Located at Bottom of Article): 0-3

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Gold Selection
Edmonton Oilers @ Seattle Kraken – Pick: Connor McDavid 2+ Points

Once again the Edmonton Oilers have launched into a season with mixed results, and until a three-assist night on Thursday, a relatively quiet start from Connor McDavid. However, in this spot against a very average Kraken side, No. 97 is poised to pop off for another mitt full of points following what was a massive come-from-behind win for the Oilers on the back of McDavid's apple-happy performance. Yes, the win came on the heels of a number of bad penalties from the Montreal Canadiens, and sure, Edmonton definitely needed the two points, but more importantly was McDavid doing what he does best by creating elite scoring chances with his next-level skating and precision passing.

As for the Kraken, they deserve some credit for rocking a solid 4-2-2 record to begin the 2025-26 NHL campaign, but this roster just doesn't move the needle for us and following a treacherous six-game road trip which saw them criss-cross the Canadian-U.S. border three times in nine days, this could be a bit of a letdown spot returning home for the first time in nearly two weeks. As for the recent head-to-head in this spot, the last 10 games the Oilers have completely dominated Seattle, racking up an impressive 9-1-0 record dating back to January of 2023, setting up an ideal matchup for McDavid and the boys to continue to put pucks in the back of the net with regularity.

One of the keys to the Oilers' success runs through their ability to score on the man advantage, and with their power-play currently clicking at the sixth-best rate in the NHL at 28%, this could be a spot that if Seattle gets sloppy, McDavid could torment the Kraken defense and rack up yet another multi-point night. In his career against Seattle across 12 regular-season games, McDavid flaunts eight goals and 11 assists and we expect those totals to get a nice boost following a meeting with a team in the Kraken that just simply cannot match the offensive output of Edmonton's forward group.

Silver Selection
Buffalo Sabres @ Toronto Maple Leafs – Pick: Over 6.5 (+102)

Two teams that have already been through the media ringer and fan meat grinder this season meet in a home-and-home back-to-back that culminates with Toronto playing host to Buffalo in a classic QEW clash that should feature goals a plenty. With both clubs dealing with absences in the cage, this is quite possibly going to be a battle of the back-ups between rookie Colten Ellis and long-time Habs peripheral option Cayden Primeau, so a few softies here and there could easily propel this one over the number in a hurry. We're keeping this breakdown very short, sweet, and simple, as the Sabres' and Leafs' total has gone over the number in six of the last nine and we expect more goal horns tonight in what should be a high-tempo, high-scoring affair from the opening puck drop. Don't be shy about taking this at 6.5, but the bottom line is we're feeling a 4-3-type finish in this one.

Bronze Selection
Utah Mammoth @ Minnesota Wild – Pick: Mammoth ML (+116)

These ain't yo momma's Mammoth. This Utah team is really starting to look like a dangerous offensive unit; one loaded with young talent and a deep prospect pool. Dylan Guenther, Clayton Keller, Nick Schmaltz, Logan Cooley, and JJ Peterka form one of the best young cores the NHL has seen in a number of years, one that's really starting to cook on the offensive end – that's going to be a problem for Western Conference opponents. That can especially be said of the Minnesota Wild, a team that has dropped three consecutive games to Utah to the tune of a 12-2 goal differential. Utah is currently tied for fourth in the NHL in scoring with 28 tallies and it feels like they are really just starting to hit their stride. With the Wild dropping four of their last five while managing a total of only seven goals, this is shaping up to be a great spot to back the Mammoth on the road for plus money. Hammer time for our bronze pick of the week.

Side Bets
Edmonton Oilers @ Seattle Kraken – Pick: Oilers ML (-188)
Columbus Blue Jackets @ Pittsburgh Penguins – Pick: Sidney Crosby Anytime Assist
L.A. Kings @ Nashville Predators – Pick: Kings ML (-128)

Flip Livingstone is an NHL betting expert, fantasy writer, and daily podcast host with the Locked On Fantasy Hockey pod. He also has experience at outlets such as theScore NHL, Postmedia, and Hockey Night in Canada. You can follow him @Flips_Picks.