Last week's clean sweep of our three-side bet selections salvaged what could have been our first back-to-back losing Saturday of the year. However, we'll take a positive week and head into this fine Saturday of hockey ready to stack a little bit of holiday loot on what is sure to be yet another evening jam-packed with high-octane on-ice action.

With 11 games tonight, be aware of starting netminders and any lineup shuffling that could impact tonight's betting lines and action. We've got our three favourite spots analyzed below followed up by our three top side plays that should catch a little bit of cash. Good luck and let's get this paper.

Complete 2024-25 Saturday Record (Daily Record Tracked/Posted @Flips_Picks):
Gold: 5-4
Silver: 7-2
Bronze: 4-5
Side Bets (Located at Bottom of Article): 18-9
2024-25 Combined Saturday Record: 34-20

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Gold Selection
Pittsburgh Penguins @ New Jersey Devils – Pick: Sidney Crosby Anytime Assist

That's right, the ol' faithful wager is back and ready to cash for us once again. Just when media members and fantasy GMs began to question Captain Canada's production and lengthy goalless skid, he erupts for the 41st four-point game of his illustrious career in a big come-from-behind Penguins victory against the Nashville Predators. With Sid awakening from his nine-game slumber, this is a prime spot for 87 to keep the pedal down on the offensive end and do what he does best: creating elite, high-danger scoring chances for his teammates.

Much like most Metropolitan Division opponents, Crosby touts solid career numbers against the Devils with 41 goals and 51 assists in 85 regular season games. Sprinkle in the fact that the Pens are feeling it right now in the offensive zone and that the last three meetings between these two Metro foes produced 23 combined goals, this is shaping up to be a bit of a barn burner-type affair playing nicely into another big night for the best player of this generation. Crosby continues to cook in this one and cashes our gold pick of the week.

Silver Selection
Minnesota Wild @ Winnipeg Jets – Pick: Under 6.5

Sometimes a total just jumps off the page after a first glance of the Saturday slate and this one is screaming under. Even with Marc-Andre Fleury and Jesper Wallstedt manning the blue paint of late with Filip Gustavsson on the shelf, everything is pointing to a goalie duel with a lot on the line in a juicy Central Division showdown and two teams going toe-to-toe for divisional positioning. Wallstedt is confirmed to start for the Wild, as per GoaliePost.

Both Minny and Winnipeg sit in the top-five in goals against with 86 and 87 goals allowed, respectively. When you consider that five of the last six meetings between the Jets and Wild have stayed under the number, this matchup should have a playoff-like atmosphere and once again stay low scoring. Keeping this one short and sweet: Division rivals duking it out for the top spot in the Central and Western Conference has us feeling comfortable backing the under in this spot. Tease it up to seven-and-a-half if needed and slap into a juicer parlay. How ever you slice it, this one is going under the number.

Bronze Selection
Buffalo Sabres @ Boston Bruins – Pick: David Pastrnak Anytime Goal

This Buffalo Sabres situation is seemingly going to get a lot worse before it gets any better and it's almost at the point of embarrassment. Another blown opportunity to get off the schneid against the Toronto Maple Leafs was squandered by a clearly deflated group of Sabres players while the Leafs pumped them for a six-piece. Back at it tonight with James Reimer likely in the cage means an excellent opportunity for David Pastrnak and the Boston Bruins to improve on their 9-6-2 home record against a Buffalo side that will be in tough against an opponent in the Bruins that's owned them to the tune of a 8-1-1 record over their last 10 games.

You should definitely lean to the Bruins on the moneyline or even puckline here, but there is a lot more value in backing Pasta to have a big night and improve on his 12 goals on the season. Pastrnak has also had success against the Sabres in the past, racking up 16 goals and 22 assists in 37 career regular-season games. We expect that to continue tonight at home against the worst team in the NHL.

Side Bets
New York Islanders @ Toronto Maple Leafs – Pick: Auston Matthews 2+ Points
Pittsburgh Penguins @ New Jersey Devils – Pick: Over 5.5
Seattle Kraken @ Vegas Golden Knights – Pick: Knights ML

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.