Calgary Flames vs. Vancouver Canucks Prediction, NHL Odds
The Vancouver Canucks get a fresh start on Thursday night when they host the Calgary Flames in some more all-Canadian action to start this NHL season off. Calgary was in Edmonton last night where the Flames erased a three-goal deficit and escaped with a 4-3 shootout win.
Vancouver now welcomes in Calgary for the Canucks’ home opener which is a back-to-back spot for the Flames. This is key as Devin Cooley, a 28-year-old with six NHL games under his belt, will likely get the start in net for Calgary. A healthy Thatcher Demko is starting in between the pipes for Vancouver, something that didn’t happen a season ago. Demko is one of many new faces in the Canucks’ 2025 opening night lineup and casts hope that this season will end different for Vancouver after a drama-filled disappointment a season ago.
Puck drop at Rogers Arena goes at 10 p.m. EDT with the Canucks a -210 moneyline favourite and the over-under at six on the NHL odds.
Flames vs. Canucks NHL Betting Odds
The Flames have had recent struggles in Vancouver, winning one of their last five visits out to the west coast. Calgary has picked it up lately overall though, winning seven of their last 10 road games including last night. The over has hit in six straight Flames outings too, dating back to last to season. Vancouver ended last season on the opposite side of the total though, seeing five of their last six finish under the total and four of their last five at home go under.
Vancouver is +1600 to win the Pacific Division, the fourth-best odds. Currently their regular season points over-under is at 90.5 and the Canucks are +115 to make the playoffs. Calgary’s regular season points-under is at 83.5 while they are +230 to make the playoffs.
Calgary Flames
It may have needed a lucky bounce, but Matvei Gridin’s first NHL goal got yesterday’s comeback started for Calgary. Connor Zary and Blake Coleman also found the back of the net for Flames, something this team will need all season long without any star power up front. Instead, Calgary needs to rely on the depth that nearly lifted them into the playoffs last season. Veteran centre Nazem Kadri is still at the forefront of this offence and ended up with the shootout winner last night, winning the game in round eight of the breakaway contest.
Dustin Wolf was excellent in net last night with 32 saves, but he’ll presumably get the night off in Vancouver for Devin Cooley. The 28-year-old started six games in San Jose in 2023–24 and posted an .870 save percentage, before spending all of last season in the AHL. Good luck against this rejuvenated Canucks squad, Devin!
Vancouver Canucks
Nearly a dozen Canucks will be on the team’s opening-night roster who weren’t a season ago. Perhaps the most intriguing name is 2025 first-round pick Braeden Cootes, who had an impressive training camp despite coming it at 18 years old. Cootes is projected to centre Vancouver’s third line between Evander Kane and Jonathan Lekkerimäki, two more Canucks who weren’t on last year’s roster to start the season.
When it comes to the returning players, all eyes should be on Elias Pettersson. The star forward emphasized adding weight and strength this off-season and is hoping to return to the point-a-game form he was known for prior to signing a long extension. And speaking of long extensions, Brock Boeser is somewhat surprisingly back in Vancouver after signing a seven-year extension on July 1. Pettersson and Boeser will play alongside Jake DeBrusk on Vancouver’s top line.
