Calgary Flames vs. Toronto Maple Leafs: NHL Odds, Prediction
Toronto is in the midst of a road-heavy chunk of its schedule but returns home for one game Wednesday night as the Calgary Flames make their only visit of the season.
NHL Odds and Betting Analysis
On Nov. 28, the Leafs were slight underdogs in Calgary but won 4-1. Frederik Andersen made 19 saves and was the game’s No. 2 star. Roman Polak, Nikita Zaitsev, Nazem Kadri and Leo Komarov (empty net) scored for Toronto. Michael Stone had the Calgary goal in the third with his team down 3-0. Mike Smith had 26 saves.
Last year in its lone visit to Toronto, the Flames lost 4-0 to split the season series. Kadri (No. 2 star) had two goals in that one and Andersen (No. 1 star) stopped 26 shots. Mitch Marner and Zach Hyman also scored for Toronto. Brian Elliott, now with Philadelphia, was in net for the Flames.
This starts a quick two-game trip for the Flames, who go to Montreal on Thursday. Calgary is 7-4-1 away from home, while Toronto is 8-5-0 at home. The Leafs have dropped their past two at Air Canada Centre, however, 4-2 to Washington and 4-1 against Arizona.
The home team has won 20 of the past 26 in this series. The under is 5-1 in the past six in Toronto.
Calgary Flames
Calgary (14-12-1) has lost two straight and three of four and comes off arguably its worst defeat of the season, 5-2 at home Monday to a Philadelphia Flyers team that entered on a 10-game losing streak. That was also the return of Elliott to Calgary, and he had 43 saves in being named the game’s No. 1 star.
The game was tied 1-1 entering the second but the Flyers scored three times in just over a minute. Smith allowed five goals on 21 shots overall in a shaky effort. Troy Brouwer (first goal of season) and Sean Monahan (15th) scored for Calgary. Defenceman Travis Hamonic received a match penalty and a game misconduct in the third period for a hit to the head of Dale Weise.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto (17-10-1) is trying to stay on the tail of first-place Tampa Bay in the Atlantic Division as the Lightning have the most points and best goal differential in the Eastern Conference. The Leafs concluded a three-game road trip Saturday at 2-1 with a 2-1 loss in Vancouver. James Van Riemsdyk scored the Toronto goal late in the third, his 13th of the season but first since Nov. 24. JVR, Auston Matthews and Kadri are all tied for the team lead in goals.
Andersen had 26 saves; Toronto outshot Vancouver 36-26 and dominated faceoffs (34-24) with Matthews winning nine of his 14. Toronto is just 1-7-1 in its past nine in Vancouver. The Leafs were without centre Tyler Bozak due to illness. He has four goals and seven assists in 27 games. Josh Leivo took his spot vs. the Canucks.
Flames vs. Maple Leafs Prediction
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