The NHL brings a huge 14-game slate to fans for the second consecutive Saturday! The start to the season has not remotely disappointed, and it gets even better this weekend. There are 3 excellent afternoon games beginning at 1 PM ET to start things off, and then the action goes all throughout the evening and night coast to coast. If you have any obligations, try to get them out of the way so you can post up to your favorite hockey watching spot, and enjoy the action.

If you will be watching and want to make a couple of wagers, here are a few bets we have our eyes on. 

Best Bet: St. Louis Blues vs Nashville Predators over 5.5 (-135)

Best Bet: Vegas Golden Knights -1.5 (+100) over Pittsburgh Penguins

Best Bet: Edmonton Oilers vs Utah Mammoth over 6.5 (-118)

Best Bet: St. Louis Blues vs Nashville Predators over 5.5 (-135)

The over in this one has appeal more so due to the Blues’ trends, as well as the number being set at 5.5 goals. An over would still be playable at 6.0 goals here. Early on this season, St. Louis has proven that unlike last season, they can score. But very much like last season, they struggle with goal prevention. Through 6 games, they have scored 3.57 goals per game and allowed 3.29 goals per game. That is an average game total of 6.86 goals per game. 

In their last 3 games, the Blues have won by scores of 5-3 and 7-2, and lost 5-4. The Predators have struggled to muster up much offense lately. But in 3 out of their last 5 games, either the Preds or their opponents have scored 5 goals. Still in those 5 games, the average game total was 6.60 goals. At 5.5 goals, the over looks good. Even at 6.0 or 6.5 goals, if the odds are reasonable, this one has the potential to be a high scoring affair.

Best Bet: Vegas Golden Knights -1.5 (+100) over Pittsburgh Penguins

The Penguins are not a pushover. But playing back to back games against the Avalanche and Golden Knights is just a brutal bounce. Entering Friday, Pittsburgh has 1 win in their last 5 games. This is a team that is already not in phenomenal form. They now go through a gauntlet of playing arguably the 2 best teams in hockey on consecutive nights on the road. The Penguins will not likely be fresh, and already are playing against a plain better team. They have an uphill battle in this one.

Meanwhile, it has been business as usual for the Golden Knights. After winning the Western Conference last year, Vegas is right back to their winning ways. They are 7-2-0 with a +14 goal differential, which is the best in the NHL. The Golden Knights are coming off of consecutive wins by scores of 5-2 and 6-2, and they are 4-1-0 at home. Even considering a puck line, the plus odds here are good value.

Best Bet: Best Bet: Edmonton Oilers vs Utah Mammoth over 6.5 (-118)

A second over for best bets may seem boring. But this matchup should be anything but boring, as evident by their game on Thursday. The Oilers and Mammoth have been 2 of the most exciting teams in hockey so far. Edmonton is 5-1-1 and their 4.43 goals scored per game are the most in the NHL. That strength of goal scoring has been able to somewhat disguise a weakness of goal prevention, as their 3.14 goals allowed per game is just 19th in the NHL. In just about any Oilers game, the over has a good look.

This will be the second of a home and home between these teams. The Mammoth won by a score of 4-2 on Thursday, contributing to their NHL 4th ranked goals scored per game, as well as exploiting the Oilers’ weakness. A team with Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Evan Bouchard, among other star players, are not likely to be held to 2 goals in consecutive games. Look for the Oilers to put the heat on offensively, and try to force the Mammoth to keep up. If it is the Mammoth that are up first thanks to their star talent, it will be the Oilers playing catch up. Either way, the strengths, weaknesses, team make up, trends, star power, and potential game script all bode well for another over.