We're back off the IR and just in time for our favourite NHL betting day of the week. There's no denying the last 72 hours in the hockey world have been nothing short of must-see TV, which should translate into yet another day of exciting action to get degenerate with. With a few matinee and early-evening tilts on tap, we're focusing on the evening matchups to allow as much time as possible for pregame research and find the best lines. Let's keep this loot train running and have a big day.

Good luck today, and let's get this paper.

Complete 2024-25 Saturday Record (Daily Record Tracked/Posted @Flips_Picks):

Gold: 4-3
Silver: 7-0
Bronze: 4-3
Side Bets (Located at Bottom of Article): 13-8
2024-25 Combined Saturday Record: 28-14

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Gold Selection & Silver Selection
Colorado Avalanche @ Detroit Red Wings – Picks: Avalanche ML + MacKinnon 2+ Points

We rarely smash our breakdowns together but this switch up in formatting is actually just indicative of how much we love this spot for the Colorado Avalanche heading into Detroit to take on a sputtering Red Wings group that's dropped four straight one-goal games. Even though it has to be noted that the Avs are clearly going through their own issues, mostly in their own zone where they've allowed the second-most goals against in the Western Conference, but they are a dangerous offensive bunch who has also dominated Detroit over the last 10 games. Jared Bednar's group heads into D-Town tonight flaunting a 9-0-1 record of the last 10 tilts and seven of those have come by two-or-more goals. Enough said.

This one is also shaping up to be a prime spot for a high-scoring affair especially on the Colorado side of things. We would also suggest the over, especially if a same-game parlay is being considered. All of these angles also play right into the hands of the ever-dangerous MacK Daddy. Nathan MacKinnon is clearly the straw that stirs the drink in Colorado. When he goes, this team goes. Given their woes in the defensive zone, the Avalanche will go as far as MacKinnon carries them. Fortunately, he's off to another strong start with a 40-piece of points through 27 games. Sure, fantasy owners and anytime goal bettors would like to see him shoot the puck more and up his goal total from the somewhat lackluster nine he currently rocks, but he's still a game changer. He's feasted on the Wings in his career with 29 points in 19 career regular-season meetings with Detroit.

MacKinnon and the Avs have a big night at Little Caesars Arena. Book it for our Gold selection of the night.

Bronze Selection
Toronto Maple Leafs @ Pittsburgh Penguins – Pick: Maple Leafs ML

The inevitable let down, dud-type game happened last night for Craig Berube's club, as the Maple Leafs were smothered by Charlie Lindgren and the Washington Capitals while only mustering a single tally. However, believe it or not, this is a different Toronto club playing a very responsible brand of defensive hockey that has the Buds rocking the second-best goal differential in the Atlantic while allowing the fewest goals against in the Eastern Conference to this point. Sure, the Penguins have reeled off four wins in their last five games, but this is a prime bounce-back spot for a Toronto club that's changing the narrative around their style of play that carries itself as a legit winner.

Teams with those kinds of expectations don't pass up these kinds of opportunities. While the second night of a back-to-back on the road seems less than ideal, Joseph Woll in the cage tonight is the main angle we're reading into here as one of the hottest goaltenders in the league right now. Woll has been nothing short of surgical over his last six starts, holding down Toronto's blue paint with aplomb to the tune of six wins, a shutout, and .935 save percentage. Simply put, the kid's looked cerebral in there, and that's going to be a problem for a Pittsburgh squad very much lacking in secondary scoring punch. Toronto also has owned Pittsburgh over the last 3 games, taking all three meetings in convincing fashion while outsourcing the Pens 14-4.

Don't be shocked if Captain Canada eventually impacts this one and gets on the scoresheet, as Sid tends to do on against teams from north of the 44th parallel. But this is still a spot we're feeling quite comfortable riding with the much better team that's got a red-hot goaltender ready to cook. Maple Leafs on the moneyline for our Bronze play of the evening.

Side Bets
St. Louis Blues @ Edmonton Oilers – Pick: Oilers ML
St. Louis @ Edmonton Oilers – Pick: McDavid 2+ Points
St. Louis @ Edmonton Oilers – Pick: Over 6.5

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.