New York Islanders vs. Calgary Flames Prediction, NHL Odds
The Calgary Flames look to continue their charge up the Pacific Division standings with a sixth straight win when they host the New York Islanders on Saturday night. The Flames maintained their current torrid pace with Thursday’s decisive 5-2 win over the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs, and enter the weekend just three points back of the division standings with four games in hand on first-place Vegas. The Islanders play their third game in four nights after dropping a 3-1 decision in Edmonton on Thursday that marks their fifth loss in eight outings.
After being pegged as underdogs in two of their past five home dates, the Flames are perched as strong -178 favourites in Saturday’s contest. The Islanders lag as +148 underdogs, and the total is set at 5.5, with the under sporting -115 odds.
Islanders vs. Flames NHL Betting Odds
Saturday night’s matchup at Scotiabank Saddledome marks the second and final regular-season meeting between these two clubs. The Flames rolled to a 5-2 win when they visited Long Island on November 20. Calgary has topped the Isles in two of three dates on home ice, and has claimed victory by multi-goal margins on four occasions during a 5-1-0 run in head-to-head action. The Flames have also limited Islanders shooters to two or fewer goals in each of their five recent wins. But with Calgary averaging four goals per game over their past three meetings, the over enjoys a slight edge in totals betting, going 3-2-1 over their past six matchups.
The Flames have potted 4.75 goals per game over their past four outings. They have also scored an average of 4.80 goals per game during a five-game win streak on home ice. Accordingly, the over has gone 5-1-3 in Calgary’s past nine overall contests. The Islanders enjoyed an impressive offensive breakout while opening their current road trip with a 6-3 win in Vancouver, but have been limited to one or fewer goals in two of their past three outings.
New York Islanders
For the seventh time in eight games, the Islanders surrendered the first goal in Thursday’s loss in Edmonton. However, that defeat did not come due to a lack of effort, with the Isles outshooting the Oilers by a 38-36 margin. While New York shooters have struggled to find the mark, netminder Ilya Sorokin has stood tall. Sorokin has stopped 93 of 100 shots faced over his past three contests and earned the win in seven of his past nine appearances.
Calgary Flames
While the Flames offence has enjoyed a steady resurgence, much of their newfound confidence has come thanks to the spectacular play of Jacob Markstrom. The Calgary netminder was sensational while stopping 46 of 48 shots in the club’s victory over the high-powered Leafs, and has now allowed just 13 total goals and posted three shutouts over his past eight outings. Markstrom has also been almost unbeatable on home ice, posting five straight wins while allowing just four total goals over that stretch.
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