One week in the books and we're off to a running start with our Saturday picks as last week's 5-1 showing has us feeling fine heading into today's loaded 13-game slate. You know what is, do the research, pick the spots, tap into our top-three picks with breakdowns, and hit the bottom of the article for three fire side bets primed to put a little cash back in that pocketbook. As always: good luck, and let's get this paper.

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

Gold: 1-0
Silver: 1-0
Bronze: 0-1
Side Bets (Located at Bottom of Article) : 3-0
2023-24 Combined Record: 5-1

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Gold Selection
Connor Bedard Anytime Assist (-130)

Last week our Gold Pick of Sidney Crosby anytime assist cashed early against the Maple Leafs and were hoping for a similar play for the next great one of the game with a Connor Bedard anytime assist. Bedard is performing like a 10-year veteran already this season, fitting in comfortably with new linemates Teuvo Teravainen and freshly-minted captain Nick Foligno. Slicing-and-dicing opponents while creating elite scoring opportunities for his linemates, Bedard has already racked up six dimes in five games. Going up against the Sabres offers a juicy opportunity to put some points on the board.

There's no denying the Sabres have a bright future with a number of blue-chip young studs on the rise in JJ Peterka, Zach Benson, and Jack Quinn who serve as dangerous peripheral pieces to a core that already flaunts the likes of more established pieces in Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power, Tage Thompson, Dylan Cozens, and Alex Tuch. However, the Sabres are once again off to a slow start while looking ragged in their own end, allowing the second-most goals-against in the Eastern Conference and third-most NHL-wide with a crooked 24 through six games.

Bedard has only faced Buffalo once in his brief time in the NHL, but in that one game he registered an assist, and he takes that mark to two tonight at home in a very favourable spot. The Hawks have been solid on the power play so far, currently sitting fifth in the league while clicking at an impressive 31.3 percent.  Lock in a Bedard anytime assist for my Gold Pick of the week.

Silver Selection
New York Rangers @ Toronto Maple Leafs – Pick: Under 6.5 (-122)

With two clubs as stacked with offensive weapons as the Buds and Blueshirts, most would initially lean to a high-scoring run-and-gun type tilt. However, two key angles are factoring in to us loving a low-scoring affair between two of the best teams in the Eastern Conference so far. The first one is how sensational Igor Shesterkin has been, backing up his contract decision of wanting more money by going lights out to the tune of a 2-01 record, 2.28 goals-against average, .921 save percentage, and a shutout. The other angle to consider here is how good the Leafs have looked on the blueline backed by an emerging Anthony Stolarz, who has backstopped Toronto to allowing the second-least goals-against so far this season with seven.

Craig Berube has this Leafs group playing a committed defensive brand of hockey. With Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson fitting in seamlessly, Toronto is no longer a pushover-type team in their own zone. This one has low-scoring written all over it but tease the number up to 7.5 and slap it into a favourite parlay if the 6.5 is too spicy. Regardless, Rangers and Leafs stay under the number for my Silver selection on this fine Saturday.

Bronze Selection
Kirill Kaprizov Anytime Goal (-110)

Considering how lethal Kaprizov's release is, it's somewhat surprising he's only put 11 shots on target through four games this season. Kaprizov oozes 50-goal potential and as one the purer scorers in the game today, he's posed to go off against a Columbus Blue Jackets team he's lit up over the course of his five seasons in the NHL. Kill Bill owns the Jackets, tallying seven goals, including a game-winner, in six regular-season meetings, and he continues to stay hot in Cannon Country with a big performance tonight.

Side Bets
Carolina Hurricanes @ St. Louis Blues – Pick: Blues ML (+122)
Minnesota Wild @ Columbus Blue Jackets Pick: Wild ML (-178)
Calgary Flames @ Seattle Kraken – Pick: Flames ML (+132)

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.