Colorado Avalanche vs. Calgary Flames Prediction, NHL Odds
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Jeremy Perry
It’s been a rare site to see the Colorado Avalanche get listed as an underdog in a matchup. So far this season, they have only been listed as the dog three times, losing two of them. They find themselves in a similar situation against the Calgary Flames.
The Avalanche have the best record in the league and are atop the Western Conference while the Flames are second in the West. Even though they’re trailing by 10 points, the fact that they’re No. 1 and No. 2 means there’s significance here.
With the regular season winding down, can the Flames make a statement?
Avalanche vs. Flames NHL Betting Odds
While the Avalanche are 42-14 in their last 56 games overall, they are not great when posted as the underdog. They are a measly 1-5 in their past six in that spot.
As for Calgary, they hold a 7-1 record in their last eight games against teams in the Central Division. They are also 6-1 in their past seven against teams that have a winning percentage greater than .600 on the year.
Colorado Avalanche
The Avalanche are coming into this game following a tough overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild. It’s another team that’s near the top of the standings in the West (the Wild are second in the Central Division behind the Avs) and it’s another team they could bump into in the playoffs.
It has become evident that this team isn’t as explosive since losing Gabriel Landeskog, scoring just 2.88 goals per game in their last eight contests. This number isn’t bad by any stretch but they are held to higher standards this season considering their record. They average 3.79 on the season, so they’re nearly a goal-per-game off that pace.
Another interesting stat to be cautious of is their goaltenders record on the road. Darcy Kuemper is 30-9-3 on the season but eight of those losses have come on the road. He’s 17-3-1 at home compared to 13-6-2 in away games and his GAA goes from 2.33 to 2.48, so the difference is notable.
Calgary Flames
The Flames are a phenomenal all-around team. They may not have the best record in the league, but they are ranked high both offensively and defensively. They score the fifth-most goals per game at 3.52 and hold their opponents to the second-fewest at 2.46. Out of all that success on both ends, you can’t miss the impact that Jacob Markstrom has had on this team this season. He has a 31-12-7 record with a .925 save percentage on the season. To tie this all together, Calgary just had one of their most convincing wins of the year. They took down a surging Edmonton Oilers squad 9-5 in their last game. Momentum is on their side as they are 20-4-2 in their last 26 games. This could be a spot where they add to the win column.
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