If you’ve been betting against my Gold Picks this year, props due, as my Gold Picks have been something out of a horror flick so far. I hope you’ve made some coin off my struggles. However, after a 5-2 showing a week ago, the rest of my record is starting to trend in the right direction – finally. So don’t jump ship just yet.

With the first month of the season now officially in the books, we are starting to get a better sense of where a lot of teams are at. Another 11 games on tap for today with even more opportunity to assess which teams are rounding into form and what teams are starting to slide back from the rest of the league.

Remember, always do your research, check the most up-to-date lines and good luck!

2019-2020 Record

Gold: 0-4   

Silver: 3-1

Bronze: 1-3

Side bets: 7-6

Overall total record: 11-14

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Gold

Carolina Hurricanes @ Ottawa Senators – Pick: Hurricanes

After a red-hot start to the 2019-2020 campaign that saw the club rack up wins in six of its first seven games, the Carolina Hurricanes now find themselves struggling to find points, as the Canes are currently riding a three-game skid.

Thankfully, Carolina has a date tonight with one of the worst teams in the NHL in the Ottawa Senators. Now, the Sens obviously have holes at basically every position in their lineup and the team is in the midst of a complete rebuild, so you aren’t going to get a ton a value here betting on the Hurricanes straight up.

With that said, however, Carolina is 6-1 in its last seven contests against Ottawa, and after losing their last three games while only managing six goals, the Canes are primed for a breakout night against an Ottawa group that sits near the bottom of the league in goals scored with only 41.

It’s time, people. The Hurricanes roll in this one and I snag my first Gold Pick win of the year.

Silver

St. Louis Blues @ Calgary Flames (O/U – 5.5 total goals) – Pick: Over

Two of the hottest teams in the league go toe-to-toe in Cowtown tonight in what should be a tantalizing matchup for hockey heads and betting degenerates alike. The Blues are riding a six-game win streak and are starting to show exactly why they hold the title of league champs. As for the Flames, wins in four of their last five have seen the club climb back into the top of the Pacific Division standings and rounding into form.

As for betting the Over here, shop around online a bit before game time and be sure to get the line at 5.5, as some books are currently offering it at 6. So make sure you’re getting this at the more favourable number. Also to note for considering the Over is both teams are clicking at the offensive end of the rink right now and both sit in the top-10 in team scoring, so I could see this matchup going over the number early on.

Like I said above, wait till closer to puck drop and find a book that is offering up the total at 5.5 and let’s get weird – throw a wager on the Over here and thank me later.

Bronze

L.A. Kings @ Montreal Canadiens – Pick: Canadiens

As a proud Toronto fan, you all know how much I like to talk trash about the Habs and bet against them with a passion whenever I can. But I have to give credit where it’s due.

Montreal continues to prove its haters wrong with wins in four of its last six games, including a few big Ws over the likes of the Vegas Golden Knights and Boston Bruins. L.A., meanwhile, continues to be exactly what most expected the club to be this season: a complete doormat. The Kings are a mess, as losses in six of their last seven games have seen L.A. slide to last place in the Western Conference with only 11 points so far this campaign.

L.A. carries an ugly 5-14 record in its last 19 games in Montreal into tonight’s matchup, and I fully expect the team’s struggles in La Belle Province to continue tonight against a Montreal team growing in confidence. Hammer the Habs by at least a couple goals.

Side Bets

Minnesota Wild @ Arizona Coyotes – Pick: Coyotes

Chicago Blackhawks @ Pittsburgh Penguins (O/U 6 total goals) – Pick: Over

Philadelphia Flyers @ Toronto Maple Leafs – Pick: Maple Leafs

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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