This Saturday has a loaded slate of action-packed hockey on the docket.
We’ll see an Original Six rematch between the Detroit Red Wings and Boston Bruins. Two of the best in the league will go toe-to-toe, when the 2022 Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche play the defending champion Vegas Golden Knights. And with 30 of the 32 teams all playing, that's just a taste of what's on tap.
If you want to get in on the action, here are some tips and strategies you can utilize to make the games more exciting.
Nashville Predators at Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers have had a rough start to their season, but have a chance to get back on the right track with a very favourable match-up against the Predators. Edmonton has a 10-0-2 record against Nashville in their past 12 meetings, with Connor McDavid collecting two or more points in all but three of those 12 games.
Winnipeg Jets at Arizona Coyotes
It’s hard to find a team that has a bad record against Arizona — and Winnipeg is no exception. It's been nearly two years since the Coyotes last beat the Jets (it was a 1-0 win on Nov. 29, 2021), who are riding a six-game winning streak between the two teams. A player to avoid in this one is, surprisingly, Winnipeg's Kyle Connor, who has a quiet history with only three points in his past eight games against Arizona.
Montreal Canadiens at St. Louis Blues
This game sets up to be one of the closer match-ups on the Saturday slate. The Habs have a 6-4-0 record in their past 10 games versus the Blues, but Montreal has won the last three games. The most comfortable play in this one looks like the over on goals. In their past 10 games, the Canadiens and Blues have combined for five or more goals nine times, which is an alternate line but will be something you can parlay and feel good about it.
Buffalo Sabres at Toronto Maple Leafs
Despite the Leafs being a contending team for the past few seasons, the Sabres have had their number. Buffalo has won four of the last six match-ups and stopped Leafs stars such as Auston Matthews, who had zero points in three of those six games. One thing that’s for certain, though, is that the goals will come in bunches as the Sabres and Leafs have combined for six or more goals in each of their past nine match-ups.
Boston Bruins at Detroit Red Wings
This one is a do-over of last Saturday’s tilt, which saw the Bruins beat the Wings 4-1 with ease. This Detroit team is different, however, as they’ve had their best start to the season since 2014-15 with a 6-3-1 record and rank fourth in goals per game (4.00) this season. There have been six or more goals in four of the past six match-ups, making the over the best play in this one.
Tampa Bay Lightning at Ottawa Senators
The Sens have won three in a row over the Bolts, and Ottawa has won all three games by three or more goals. And the over in total goals has hit regularly in this match-up, with each of the past five games seeing seven or more goals.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Washington Capitals
The Capitals have the fourth-worst offence in the league, averaging 2.13 goals a game, and the majority of their goals have been the result of quick passing on the fast break, which is not not exactly Alex Ovechkin's game these days. Ovechkin has 36 points in 45 career games against the Blue Jackets, but the sportsbooks will likely have him posted at an over/under of 1.5 points in this one. If so, the under speaks for itself.
Los Angeles Kings at Philadelphia Flyers
The Kings are ruling over the league when it comes to putting the puck in the back of the net, ranking first in goals per game (4.33). The Flyers have lost four straight heading into Saturday and have allowed the sixth-most goals against (33) through 10 games. The Kings will look to overpower the Flyers in a game that may not be close.
Carolina Hurricanes at New York Islanders
New York's Ilya Sorokin goes up against undefeated Carolina's Frederik Andersen in what will be the goalie match-up of the night. Three of the past four games between these two teams have had less than seven goals and the Islanders rank eighth in goals against per game (2.88). Hurricanes games have missed the over for total goals in four straight and likely won’t hit again in this one.
Florida Panthers at Chicago Blackhawks
Sergei Bobrovsky — and a little bit of Anthony Stolarz — has the Panthers ranked ninth in goals against per game (2.88), which should make them feel pretty good, right? The problem is, Florida has struggled to score as they rank near the bottom in goals per game (2.75). The good news for the Panthers, though, is that they’ve won five of their past six versus the Blackhawks and should again emerge victorious in this one, but it’ll probably be a low-scoring affair.
New York Rangers at Minnesota Wild
The Blueshirts have been lethal on defence, ranking second in the league in goals against per game (2.00), with the Wild on the other side of the spectrum, rank last in the league in GAA (4.11). New York has won five straight heading into Minnesota and they likely won’t feel bad taking away another chance for a win from Marc-Andre Fleury.
Pittsburgh Penguins at San Jose Sharks
A historically bad Sharks team that ranks dead-last averaging just a goal a game against an angry Penguins team that feels like they should be winning more often makes the Sharks’ team under feel like the best bet in an uncomfortable game.
Calgary Flames at Seattle Kraken
Coach Ryan Huska’s Flames are spiralling out of control with six straight losses. However, they have a shot against the Kraken, who have also been bad, ranking near the bottom of the league in goals per game. The Flames have an all-time record of 6-1-0 versus the Kraken, but both teams will do their best to make big stops and make the under look like a breeze.
Dallas Stars at Vancouver Canucks
The Canucks rank in the top three in goals per game and in the top five in goals against per game, all while riding an impressive 7-2-1 record. They’ve also won six straight versus the Stars with all but one of the games being decided by two or more goals. The Canucks’ puck line as favourites or moneyline as the underdog is the play of the weekend.
Colorado Avalanche at Vegas Golden Knights
It’s hard when two juggernauts play to decide on who to take. Colorado has won four of its past five versus Vegas, with three of those games being decided by one goal. It should be a close one but the hype train has been all over the Golden Knights and will likely have them as favourites, which makes the Avs on the puck line the best play.