With Craig Anderson injured, Dustin Tokarski has taken the reins in net for Buffalo, recording a career-high 45 saves in Tuesday's win against Pittsburgh.
The Calgary Flames have had mixed success on a long road trip and make their lone visit this season to Buffalo on Thursday night.
Calgary opened as a -170 favourite to win on the NHL odds with a total of 6.0 goals.
Flames vs. Sabres NHL Betting Odds
Thursday is the fifth game of a seven-game road trip for Calgary and the Flames have gotten at least a point in three of them. The atmosphere they see on Thursday in Buffalo will be nothing like what they will see Saturday as the New York Islanders get set to play their first home game of the season in their new billion-dollar arena.
Buffalo has been the NHL’s worst-run franchise for about a decade as the Sabres haven’t made the post-season since 2011. They are better this year so far and finally got rid of the Jack Eichel headache, not long ago trading their former franchise player to Vegas. The team’s No. 1 goaltender is former Ottawa Senator Craig Anderson, but he’s currently injured and thus not likely to start Thursday.
Calgary hosts Buffalo on March 18. The teams didn’t play last season, while the Flames won both the season before. The favourite is 16-4 in the past 20 meetings. The over is 7-3 in the previous 10.
Calgary Flames
Calgary lost for the sixth time in eight games Tuesday, 2-1 in overtime at Philadelphia. Oliver Kylington’s third goal of the season gave the Flames the 1-0 lead midway through the first period but they lost it at 4:37 of the second. Cam Atkinson won the game at 0:45 of OT. Johnny Gaudreau was clearly fired up playing in plenty of friends and family – he grew up not far away in New Jersey — as he had a career-high 10 shots on goal but didn’t score. Jacob Markstrom allowed two goals on 43 shots to fall to 5-3-4 with a 1.82 goals-against average and .938 save percentage. He should be back in there Thursday. Calgary is 8-1-2 against Eastern Conference opponents this year. It is 6-13 in its past 19 playing on one day of rest.
Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo has followed a five-game losing streak by winning two of three, off a 2-1 upset victory in Pittsburgh on Tuesday. As noted above, No. 1 netminder Craig Anderson is hurt so Dustin Tokarski is the temporary No. 1 and he was terrific Tuesday with a career-high 45 saves (second-most in league this season) to improve to 3-3-2 with a 2.71 GAA and .920 SV. Colin Miller had his second goal of the year and Kyle Okposo his fourth. The Sabres are also without the likes of forwards Victor Olofsson (undisclosed), Alex Tuch (shoulder), Casey Mittelstadt (upper body) and defenceman Henri Jokiharju (lower body) with injuries. Tuch was part of the package back from Vegas in the Jack Eichel trade. Buffalo is 6-14 in its past 20 after a win.
NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Flames vs. Sabres?
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
| time | fav | line | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening 17 Nov 6:26pm | CAL | -1.5 +142 | O +5.5 -108 |
| Closing 18 Nov 9:41pm | CAL | -1.5 +140 | U +5.5 -121 |
- Regular Season
Flames Team Leaders
| Points |
43 |
| + / - |
23 |
| Shots |
121 |
| Penalty Mins |
38 |
| Wins |
13 |
| GAA |
2.18 |
| Points |
24 |
| + / - |
5 |
| Shots |
114 |
| Penalty Mins |
36 |
| Wins |
4 |
| GAA |
1 |
- Regular Season
Sabres Team Leaders
| Points |
43 |
| + / - |
23 |
| Shots |
121 |
| Penalty Mins |
38 |
| Wins |
13 |
| GAA |
2.18 |
| Points |
24 |
| + / - |
5 |
| Shots |
114 |
| Penalty Mins |
36 |
| Wins |
4 |
| GAA |
1 |
Injuries
Tyler Pitlick (C)
Jacob Markstrom (G)
Dan Vladar (G)
Tyler Pitlick (C)
Dan Vladar (G)
Mikael Backlund (C)
Oliver Kylington (D)
Rasmus Andersson (D)
Byron Froese (C)
Johnny Gaudreau (LW)
Tage Thompson (RW)
Vinnie Hinostroza (LW)
Colin Miller (D)
Jacob Bryson (D)
Zemgus Girgensons (LW)
Dustin Tokarski (G)
Malcolm Subban (G)
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (G)
Kyle Okposo (RW)
Alex Tuch (RW)
Injuries
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tyler Pitlick (C) | Ques Sat | Undisclosed - 18 / 01 / 22 | 0-1 | 0-1 | + - |
|
Pitlick missed the previous game due to an undisclosed injury, and it is unknown if he will be available for Saturday's game versus the Oilers. |
|||||
| Jacob Markstrom (G) | Ques Tues | Undisclosed - 14 / 01 / 22 | 0-2 | 1-1 | + - |
|
Markstrom is dealing with an unknown issue, and it is up in the air if he will line up for Tuesday's battle with the Panthers. |
|||||
| Dan Vladar (G) | Out indefinitely | Illness - 30 / 12 / 21 | 2-4 | 4-2 | + - |
|
Vlader has ended up in the COVID-19 protocol, and it is undetermined how long he will remain on the shelf. |
|||||
| Tyler Pitlick (C) | Ques Thurs | Undisclosed - 27 / 12 / 21 | 2-4 | 4-2 | + - |
|
Pitlick is dealing with an unspecified issue, and it remains to be seen if he will lace up for Thursday's clash with the Kraken. |
|||||
| Dan Vladar (G) | Out indefinitely | Illness - 21 / 12 / 21 | 2-4 | 4-2 | + - |
|
Vlader has been ticketed for the COVID-19 protocol, and there is no timetable for recovery. |
|||||
| Mikael Backlund (C) | Out indefinitely | Illness - 17 / 12 / 21 | 2-4 | 4-2 | + - |
|
Backlund has been shuttled to the COVID-19 list, and it has yet to be established when he will return to the lineup. |
|||||
| Oliver Kylington (D) | Out indefinitely | Illness - 16 / 12 / 21 | 2-4 | 4-2 | + - |
|
Kylington has been assigned to the Covid-19 protocol, and it is unknown when he will return to the lineup. |
|||||
| Rasmus Andersson (D) | Out indefinitely | Illness - 15 / 12 / 21 | 2-4 | 4-2 | + - |
|
Andersson has been shuttled to the COVID-19 protocol, and it is undecided when he will return to the lineup. |
|||||
| Byron Froese (C) | Out indefinitely | Illness - 15 / 12 / 21 | 2-4 | 4-2 | + - |
|
Froese has been designated to the COVID-19 list, and it is unclear when he will return to the lineup. |
|||||
| Johnny Gaudreau (LW) | Out indefinitely | Illness - 15 / 12 / 21 | 2-4 | 4-2 | + - |
|
Gaudreau has been shuttled to the COVID-19 protocol, and it has yet to be established when he will return. |
|||||
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tage Thompson (RW) | Out Tues | Personal - 18 / 01 / 22 | 2-0 | 0-2 | + - |
|
Thompson will not be in the lineup on Tuesday versus the Senators, due to COVID-19 restrictions. |
|||||
| Vinnie Hinostroza (LW) | Ques Thurs | Undisclosed - 18 / 01 / 22 | 2-0 | 0-2 | + - |
|
Hinostroza sat out the last contest managing an undisclosed injury, and it has yet to be established if he will battle the Stars on Thursday. |
|||||
| Colin Miller (D) | Out indefinitely | Undisclosed - 17 / 01 / 22 | 2-1 | 0-3 | + - |
|
Miller has been shifted to the injured reserve list with an undisclosed injury, and it has yet to be established when he will return to the lineup. |
|||||
| Jacob Bryson (D) | Ques Thurs | Upper Body - 16 / 01 / 22 | 2-1 | 0-3 | + - |
|
Bryson has missed the last two contests due to an upper-body injury, and it is unclear if he will be active for Thursday's tilt against the Stars. |
|||||
| Zemgus Girgensons (LW) | Out indefinitely | Lower Body - 15 / 01 / 22 | 3-1 | 0-4 | + - |
|
Girgensons has been added to the injured reserve list with a lower-body injury, and it is unclear how long he will be idle. |
|||||
| Dustin Tokarski (G) | Out indefinitely | Conditioning - 12 / 01 / 22 | 3-2 | 1-4 | + - |
|
Tokarski has cleared the NHL's COVID-19 protocol, but he remains idle as he works through conditioning. |
|||||
| Malcolm Subban (G) | Out indefinitely | Upper Body - 12 / 01 / 22 | 3-2 | 1-4 | + - |
|
Subban is out of the lineup with an upper-body injury, and team officials have yet to provide an exact return date. |
|||||
| Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (G) | Out indefinitely | Lower Body - 11 / 01 / 22 | 4-2 | 1-5 | + - |
|
Luukkonen has been shuttled to the injured reserve list with a lower-body injury, and it has yet to be established when he will return. |
|||||
| Kyle Okposo (RW) | Prob Thurs | Conditioning - 11 / 01 / 22 | 4-2 | 1-5 | + - |
|
Okposo has passed through the COVID-19 protocol, and it is expected that he will lace up for Thursday's matchup with the Predators. |
|||||
| Alex Tuch (RW) | Prob Thurs | Conditioning - 11 / 01 / 22 | 4-2 | 1-5 | + - |
|
Tuch has cleared COVID-19 protocol, and it is likely that he will be available against the Predators on Thursday. |
|||||
-
CALGARY FLAMES
3 -
BUFFALO SABRES
2
Score
Prediction
-
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time fav line total Opening 17 Nov 6:26pm CAL -1.5 +142 O +5.5 -108 Closing 18 Nov 9:41pm CAL -1.5 +140 U +5.5 -121 -
- Regular Season
Flames Team Leaders
Points 43
+ / - 23
Shots 121
Penalty Mins 38
Wins 13
GAA 2.18
Points 24
+ / - 5
Shots 114
Penalty Mins 36
Wins 4
GAA 1
-
- Regular Season
Sabres Team Leaders
Points 43
+ / - 23
Shots 121
Penalty Mins 38
Wins 13
GAA 2.18
Points 24
+ / - 5
Shots 114
Penalty Mins 36
Wins 4
GAA 1
-
Injuries
Tyler Pitlick (C)
Ques Sat Undisclosed - 18 / 01 / 22Jacob Markstrom (G)
Ques Tues Undisclosed - 14 / 01 / 22Dan Vladar (G)
Out indefinitely Illness - 30 / 12 / 21Tyler Pitlick (C)
Ques Thurs Undisclosed - 27 / 12 / 21Dan Vladar (G)
Out indefinitely Illness - 21 / 12 / 21Mikael Backlund (C)
Out indefinitely Illness - 17 / 12 / 21Oliver Kylington (D)
Out indefinitely Illness - 16 / 12 / 21Rasmus Andersson (D)
Out indefinitely Illness - 15 / 12 / 21Byron Froese (C)
Out indefinitely Illness - 15 / 12 / 21Johnny Gaudreau (LW)
Out indefinitely Illness - 15 / 12 / 21Tage Thompson (RW)
Out Tues Personal - 18 / 01 / 22Vinnie Hinostroza (LW)
Ques Thurs Undisclosed - 18 / 01 / 22Colin Miller (D)
Out indefinitely Undisclosed - 17 / 01 / 22Jacob Bryson (D)
Ques Thurs Upper Body - 16 / 01 / 22Zemgus Girgensons (LW)
Out indefinitely Lower Body - 15 / 01 / 22Dustin Tokarski (G)
Out indefinitely Conditioning - 12 / 01 / 22Malcolm Subban (G)
Out indefinitely Upper Body - 12 / 01 / 22Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (G)
Out indefinitely Lower Body - 11 / 01 / 22Kyle Okposo (RW)
Prob Thurs Conditioning - 11 / 01 / 22Alex Tuch (RW)
Prob Thurs Conditioning - 11 / 01 / 22Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Tyler Pitlick (C) Ques Sat Undisclosed - 18 / 01 / 22 0-1 0-1 + - Pitlick missed the previous game due to an undisclosed injury, and it is unknown if he will be available for Saturday's game versus the Oilers.
Jacob Markstrom (G) Ques Tues Undisclosed - 14 / 01 / 22 0-2 1-1 + - Markstrom is dealing with an unknown issue, and it is up in the air if he will line up for Tuesday's battle with the Panthers.
Dan Vladar (G) Out indefinitely Illness - 30 / 12 / 21 2-4 4-2 + - Vlader has ended up in the COVID-19 protocol, and it is undetermined how long he will remain on the shelf.
Tyler Pitlick (C) Ques Thurs Undisclosed - 27 / 12 / 21 2-4 4-2 + - Pitlick is dealing with an unspecified issue, and it remains to be seen if he will lace up for Thursday's clash with the Kraken.
Dan Vladar (G) Out indefinitely Illness - 21 / 12 / 21 2-4 4-2 + - Vlader has been ticketed for the COVID-19 protocol, and there is no timetable for recovery.
Mikael Backlund (C) Out indefinitely Illness - 17 / 12 / 21 2-4 4-2 + - Backlund has been shuttled to the COVID-19 list, and it has yet to be established when he will return to the lineup.
Oliver Kylington (D) Out indefinitely Illness - 16 / 12 / 21 2-4 4-2 + - Kylington has been assigned to the Covid-19 protocol, and it is unknown when he will return to the lineup.
Rasmus Andersson (D) Out indefinitely Illness - 15 / 12 / 21 2-4 4-2 + - Andersson has been shuttled to the COVID-19 protocol, and it is undecided when he will return to the lineup.
Byron Froese (C) Out indefinitely Illness - 15 / 12 / 21 2-4 4-2 + - Froese has been designated to the COVID-19 list, and it is unclear when he will return to the lineup.
Johnny Gaudreau (LW) Out indefinitely Illness - 15 / 12 / 21 2-4 4-2 + - Gaudreau has been shuttled to the COVID-19 protocol, and it has yet to be established when he will return.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Tage Thompson (RW) Out Tues Personal - 18 / 01 / 22 2-0 0-2 + - Thompson will not be in the lineup on Tuesday versus the Senators, due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Vinnie Hinostroza (LW) Ques Thurs Undisclosed - 18 / 01 / 22 2-0 0-2 + - Hinostroza sat out the last contest managing an undisclosed injury, and it has yet to be established if he will battle the Stars on Thursday.
Colin Miller (D) Out indefinitely Undisclosed - 17 / 01 / 22 2-1 0-3 + - Miller has been shifted to the injured reserve list with an undisclosed injury, and it has yet to be established when he will return to the lineup.
Jacob Bryson (D) Ques Thurs Upper Body - 16 / 01 / 22 2-1 0-3 + - Bryson has missed the last two contests due to an upper-body injury, and it is unclear if he will be active for Thursday's tilt against the Stars.
Zemgus Girgensons (LW) Out indefinitely Lower Body - 15 / 01 / 22 3-1 0-4 + - Girgensons has been added to the injured reserve list with a lower-body injury, and it is unclear how long he will be idle.
Dustin Tokarski (G) Out indefinitely Conditioning - 12 / 01 / 22 3-2 1-4 + - Tokarski has cleared the NHL's COVID-19 protocol, but he remains idle as he works through conditioning.
Malcolm Subban (G) Out indefinitely Upper Body - 12 / 01 / 22 3-2 1-4 + - Subban is out of the lineup with an upper-body injury, and team officials have yet to provide an exact return date.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (G) Out indefinitely Lower Body - 11 / 01 / 22 4-2 1-5 + - Luukkonen has been shuttled to the injured reserve list with a lower-body injury, and it has yet to be established when he will return.
Kyle Okposo (RW) Prob Thurs Conditioning - 11 / 01 / 22 4-2 1-5 + - Okposo has passed through the COVID-19 protocol, and it is expected that he will lace up for Thursday's matchup with the Predators.
Alex Tuch (RW) Prob Thurs Conditioning - 11 / 01 / 22 4-2 1-5 + - Tuch has cleared COVID-19 protocol, and it is likely that he will be available against the Predators on Thursday.