Calgary Flames vs. New York Rangers: NHL Odds, Prediction
First of two meetings this season between these teams, with the Rangers visiting the Saddledome on March 2. The way New York is going right now, it might be eliminated from postseason contention by then.
Flames vs Rangers Betting Analysis
Last season, the Flames lost both matchups, 4-1 at home in the first and 4-3 at famed Madison Square Garden. Mikael Backlund (2 assists) and Matthew Tkachuk (1G, 1A) led Calgary players with two points each in the season series. Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan had just an assist each. Brian Elliott started both in net.
Michael Grabner (2G, 1 A) and J.T. Miller (3 assists) led New York with three points each vs. Calgary. Future Hall of Famer Henrik Lundqvist was in net for both and finished with a 2.00 goals-against average and .941 save percentage. King Henrik is up to No. 8 in all-time NHL wins with 426 and is second to Florida’s Roberto Luongo among active goaltenders. Lundqvist is 6-3-0 with a 2.63 GAA and .902 SV in nine career games vs. the Flames. He has never shut them out.
The Flames are 1-5 in the past six meetings overall and have dropped five straight at the Garden.
Calgary Flames
Calgary (28-18-8) is 2-0 on its six-game road trip following a 3-2 win in New Jersey on Thursday, so at least the Flames won’t have to travel far for Friday’s matchup. Monahan was the game’s No. 1 star with two goals, including what would prove to be the winner at 18:05 in the second period. He’s up to 27 goals on the season, at least one in four straight games, while Gaudreau added his 17th of the year. All three Calgary goals came in the second. Mike Smith got a rare night off in net, and David Rittich stopped 30 shots. Smith will be back in there Friday.
New York Rangers
The Rangers (25-24-5) haven’t missed the playoffs since 2010, but they have a lot of work to do to keep that streak going; Alain Vigneault, the former Canadiens and Canucks coach, is on the hot seat and almost surely won’t be back if the Blueshirts don’t play extra hockey. Many around New York are surprised he hasn’t been fired yet. New York enters in last place in the Metropolitan Division and on a four-game losing streak, totaling just four goals in that stretch.
Lundqvist was pulled in Wednesday’s 6-1 loss to the Bruins after allowing four goals on 16 shots. The Swede has lost six straight decisions and been pulled in three of his last five starts. The only bright spot from Wednesday was Rick Nash scoring his 16th goal of the season.The Rangers are reportedly shopping the 33-year-old winger but are asking a high price even though Nash will be a free agent this summer. The team recently asked Nash for his 18-team no-trade list, and he complied. The NHL trade deadline is February 26.
