Calgary Flames vs. Vancouver Canucks Prediction, NHL Odds
It’s a massive two points on the line for the Flames who are tied for the West’s final playoff spot.
Vancouver’s playoff chances have been eliminated for some time now, but they did snap a four-game losing streak the last time they took the ice. Saturday’s the final time the Canucks play on home ice this season. Calgary’s managed to get hot at the right time with wins in five of their last six. With three games remaining, their fate will likely come down to game 82. But if Calgary drops this gimme, it’s all but over for the Flames.
Puck drop at Rogers Arena gets started at 10 p.m. EDT with the Flames a -167 moneyline favourite on the road and the total at 6.5 on the NHL odds.
Flames vs. Canucks NHL Betting Odds
The Flames are 2-1 against Vancouver with both victories coming past regulation time. These clubs met in Vancouver last weekend in what resulted in a comeback overtime win for the Flames. Tyler Toffoli, Calgary’s top scorer (34 goals) buried twice in the win.
Calgary comes in having two regulation losses in their last 10 outings with Vancouver, and winning four of their last four visits to the province of BC. The over is 5-1 in the last six Flames–Canucks games played in Vancouver, and also a winner in six of Vancouver’s last eight at home.
Calgary Flames
The next game is always Calgary’s most important game, but they took care of business in a huge way the last time they took the ice. The Flames’ 3-1 victory at Winnipeg Wednesday tied them with Winnipeg for the West’s final playoff spot. Calgary also overcame an early deficit and had Walker Duehr and Nikita Zadorov score third period goals. Both Zadorov and Andrew Mangiapane had a goal and an assist, with the latter scoring three times in his last five games.
Goalie Jacob Markstrom started both legs of a back-to-back earlier this week and was stellar in Winnipeg with 34 saves on 35 shots faced. Markstrom has played 57 games this season and hasn’t been that solid with a 23-21-10 record and .891 save percentage.
Vancouver Canucks
Thursday’s 3-0 was Vancouver’s first shutout effort this season, and their second game this season in which a shutout occurred. It’s a pair of statistic that lines up with Vancouver allowing the fifth-most goals this season, but also possessing a top-11 offence. Thatcher Demko picked up the shutout Thursday with 33 saves. Demko is now 12-14-4 this season with an .898 save percentage.
With an assist on Andrei Kuzmenko’s opening/winning goal, Elias Pettersson is now two points shy of his first 100-point season. Kuzmenko is also a pair of goals shy of 40 in his first NHL season, and at 38 goals is one ahead of Pettersson for the team lead.
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