Calgary Flames vs. Winnipeg Jets: NHL Odds, Prediction
For the first time in franchise history, the Jets hit the magical 50-win total this past Tuesday night. They join only Nashville and Tampa Bay as the only teams currently in that category. Winnipeg hopes to improve on those numbers Thursday night, meeting a Calgary Flames team who will not qualify for the post season.
Flames vs. Jets Betting Analysis
These two teams have met twice this season, both in Calgary, with the teams splitting the games. In their last seven games against the Jets, the Flames are 5-2 dating back to December of 2015. The Jets are 31-1-4 against the Western conference, and a remarkable 17-4-2 against the Pacific division. The Flames are 22-21-5 against the Western conference, and 11-7-2 against the Central division.
Calgary Flames
The flickering Flames are currently in a nose dive in the Western conference standings as they enter this NHL matchup with the Winnipeg Jets Thursday night. The team is 2-8 in their last 10 games after a 4-1 setback to the Arizona Coyotes, and like a number of teams the Jets have been facing as of late, the Flames are in evaluation of talent mode, rather than postseason mode. It’s hard to say which Calgary Flames regulars will be in the lineup and which ones won’t be, but if Tuesday’s game against the Coyotes is any indication, expect to see a good number of younger prospects sprinkled throughout the lineup.
Winnipeg Jets
The Jets return home for their final two games of the regular season against the Flames on Thursday and the Blackhawks on Saturday. In their most recent road trip the team went 3-1 and enter this game on a three-game winning streak. This past Tuesday, the Jets knocked off the Canadiens 5-4 in overtime. Rookie Kyle Connor registered his 30th goal of the season. Meanwhile, defenceman Sami Niku scored his first goal on his first shot in his first NHL game.
Connor Hellebuyck is expected to start in goal and he is chasing American history. With a win against the Flames Hellebuyck would tie Tom Barrasso for most wins in a season by an American-born goaltender. He also has 28 wins on home ice this season, sitting one win behind former Flames goaltender Mikka Kiprusoff for most all-time wins at home. It truly has been a remarkable season for the 24 year-old who is a restricted free agent at season’s end and is expected to get a serious pay increase.
