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Jeremy Perry
Calgary Flames vs. Chicago Blackhawks: NHL Odds, Prediction
Fresh off ending a long losing streak with a win over the Blackhawks, the Calgary Flames make their lone visit of the season to Chicago on Tuesday night. It starts a six-game road trip.
Flames vs. Blackhawks Betting Analysis
The Flames already have clinched the season series, which could be important for wild-card purposes. They won 4-3 in overtime against the Blackhawks on New Year’s Eve and then 4-3 in OT again on Saturday to end a season-high six-game losing streak in which Calgary had scored more than three goals just once. Sean Monahan had the OT winner 59 seconds into OT on Saturday. It was his team-best 24th goal of the season. Monahan now has 27 career game-winning goals, tied with Gary Roberts for sixth in Flames franchise history. Monahan also has 10 career OT regular-season goals (a team record), tying for the most in the NHL with Alexander Ovechkin since 2013-14, which was Monahan’s rookie season. He’s on pace to easily surpass his career high of 63 points set in 2015-16.
Matt Stajan, Johnny Gaudreau and Michael Frolik also scored for Calgary, and Mike Smith stopped 25 shots. Jeff Glass, who had been a minor-league journeyman his entire pro career until this season, allowed all four goals on 39 shots for Chicago. Former Hart Trophy winner Patrick Kane had two assists and has 499 career. That’s the third-most ever by a U.S.-born player before turning 30. Kane won’t turn 30 until November.
Calgary Flames
This six-game trip is easily the longest for the rest of the season for the Flames (26-18-8) and could be a defining point on whether this team makes the playoffs again. There are no pushovers on the trip as the Flames go to New Jersey, both New York teams, Boston and Nashville. Should be Smith back in net on Tuesday. He’s 21-15-6 with a 2.52 goals-against average and .922 save percentage on the season. His numbers have been much better on the road, going 9-3-3 with a 1.83 GAA and .948 SV. In his career against Chicago, Smith is 9-9-1 with a 3.16 GAA, .907 SV and three shutouts. Monahan has seven goals and three assists in 14 games vs. the Blackhawks.
Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago (24-20-8) sits last in the Central Division despite a goal differential of plus-8. One problem has been a mediocre home record of 12-10-3. Saturday’s loss was the Hawks’ second straight and wrapped up a four-game trip. It likely will be Anton Forsberg in net; he has been the primary goaltender with Corey Crawford out injured. Forsberg wasn’t good last time out, allowing four goals on 21 shots Thursday in a defeat in Vancouver. The Swede is 5-8-3 on the season with a 2.94 GAA and .911 SV. He has never faced the Flames. Kane has 19 goals and 24 assists in 36 career games against Calgary.
