We're dusting ourselves off after a rough 2-4 showing last week overall, which brings our record so far on the 2025-25 NHL betting campaign to a 28-31 mark – not good enough. We're looking to bounce back in a major way with 13 games on the NHL board for this fine Saturday. Only five of the 10 teams in action last night are back on the ice today, so there isn't a ton of goalie roster juggling to manage, so tap into our top three plays and favourite trio of side bets below. Good luck and let's get this paper. 

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

Gold: 5-5
Silver: 6-4
Bronze: 6-4
Side Bets: 11-18

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Gold Selection
Columbus Blue Jackets @ Pittsburgh Penguins – Pick: Sidney Crosby Anytime Assist (-138)

If you're looking for signs that Sidney Crosby is gearing up for one last Olympic run, just watch him shift to shift right now. This is full-on legacy mode for The Kid, and with one final kick at the Stanley Cup on the line in addition to Milan, now is a really excellent stretch to continue to back one of the best to ever lace 'em up.

Crosby is once again beasting through another season, piling up 51 points and single-handedly keeping the Penguins in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race. Pittsburgh is lurking, and the reason is painfully obvious — No. 87 is still driving the bus. From a betting standpoint, this is the type of spot we want to attack aggressively. Crosby has absolutely torched the Columbus Blue Jackets throughout his career, racking up 24 goals and 45 assists in 48 career regular-season games against them. That's nearly a point-per-game pace in assists alone, and it lines up perfectly with how the Penguins' offense continues to flow through Sid on both special teams and at five-on-five.

Straight up, while the Penguins' playoff fate remains in the balance, it's go-time for betting on Crosby. He's in Olympic prep mode, he's motivated, and he's facing a familiar opponent he's historically shredded. Gold-tier confidence here — Crosby setting the table at least once feels like the safest play on the board.

Silver Selection
Nashville Predators @ Vegas Golden Knights – Pick: Jack Eichel 2+ Points (+112)

While the hockey world has been buzzing about the played out narratives around Mitch Marner, Jack Eichel has quietly gone back to doing what he does best — carrying the Vegas Golden Knights. The Knights' talisman has been absolutely electric of late, piling up 12 points over his last five games, while Vegas pads its lead in the Pacific Division. Vegas gets a prime scheduling edge here, hosting a Nashville Predators squad playing on the second half of a back-to-back, and that's exactly the kind of spot where Eichel tends to feast. The matchup history only strengthens the case, as Eichel has posted 17 points in 16 career regular-season games against Nashville, showing a clear comfort level against a Preds squad that's tied for the seventh-most goals-against overall this season. With his current form, matchup history, and the Preds skating on tired legs, this feels like another night where Vegas' engine runs through the big American. Another productive night is on tap for Eichel, book it.

Bronze Selection
Boston Bruins @ Chicago Blackhawks – Pick: Connor Bedard Anytime Assist (-115)

This one's more of a feel play — but sometimes the gut knows. Connor Bedard has been relatively quiet since returning from injury, which has kept his betting numbers under the radar and, more importantly for bettors, has created some juicy, boosted odds in the player prop market. The bigger angle here is motivation. Much like Crosby's Olympic prep narrative, Bedard getting snubbed from the men's Olympic roster is the type of thing that lights a fire under elite talents. Before going down with injury, the third-year phenom was having an All-Star caliber season and despite the slow ramp-up since returning, he still sits with 27 assists on the year.

Boston is a tough opponent here, no doubt, as the B's have reeled off a five-piece of dubs, but just like Sid and Eichel, Bedard remains the focal point of Chicago's offense and every meaningful possession runs through him. With his confidence, vision, and playmaking ability, it only takes one moment to cash this ticket. Bronze-tier risk, but with upside baked into the price — exactly the type of spot we're willing to take a swing at.

Side Bets
Nashville Predators @ Vegas Golden Knights – Pick: Over 5.5
Edmonton Oilers @ Vancouver Canucks – Pick: Leon Draisaitl Anytime Goal
Montreal Canadiens @ Ottawa Senators – Pick: Over 6.5

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.