Two teams trending in opposite directions are set meet Saturday night when the Calgary Flames host the Winnipeg Jets.  The Flames have won four straight games, including taking a 5-2 decision against Chicago on Tuesday, and now sit atop the Western conference standings.  Winnipeg is quickly spiralling out of contention and ended up on the wrong end of a 7-1 blowout loss against Minnesota on Friday night for their fifth consecutive defeat.

Calgary is a -178 favourite to win on the NHL odds, with a total of 5.5.

Jets vs. Flames NHL Betting Odds

Winnipeg and Calgary met nine times last season, with the Jets taking the series 6-3 and outscoring the Flames 9-1 over the last two meetings.  Still, with the way these teams have played early this year, it’s Calgary that is getting backed by 84 per cent of Sports Interaction bettors for this one.  About 95 per cent of action is taking the Over, which is a little surprising given the fact the Over hit in just three of nine games between these teams last season.

The Jets have struggled on the road this year and dropped their last five games outside of Winnipeg.  They’re 10-10 against the spread overall and 3-7 ATS on the road.  The total has gone Under in eight of Winnipeg’s last 10 games.

Despite leading the Western Conference standings, Calgary has been surprisingly subpar at home this year, winning just three of seven games at the Saddledome.  They’re 13-7 ATS overall and 3-4 ATS at home.  The total has gone Under in five of the Flames’ last seven games overall.

Winnipeg Jets

It seems fair to say things have officially gone off the rails following Winnipeg’s blowout loss against Minnesota on Friday.  It was their fifth straight loss and it broke a franchise record of 14 consecutive games of not allowing more than three goals.  Pierre-Luc Dubois‘ 11th goal of the season was the only marker for the Jets on Friday.  Kyle Connor leads the team with 22 points (12G, 10A) in 20 games.  Winnipeg’s offence has completely dried up and has only produced five goals on 184 shots over the last five games.

Connor Hellebuyck was pulled early in the second period on Friday after allowing four goals on 14 shots.  It was the first time in 10 games Hellebuyck allowed more than two goals.  Eric Comrie made 21 saves on 24 shots in relief.  With both goalies playing roughly half of Friday’s game, it’s unclear who will start against Calgary.  Hellebuyck is 6-5-4 this year, with a 2.75 goals-against average and .915 save percentage.  Comrie is 3-2-0 with a 2.49 GAA and .913 SV.

Calgary Flames

Matthew Tkachuk‘s ninth goal of the season was the winner for Calgary on Tuesday as the Flames won their fourth consecutive game.  Dillon Dube and Milan Lucic also scored at even-strength, while Johnny Gaudreau and Trevor Lewis added empty-netters.  Gaudreau leads the team with 23 points (9G, 14 A) in 20 games.  How’s this for a bizarre stat?  Despite sitting tied for third in the NHL in goals with 15, and forcing Hockey Canada to consider him for a roster spot in the Beijing Olympics, Andrew Mangiapane is somehow not averaging a point-per-game.  Mangiapane has 17 points (15G, 2A) in 20 games.  He’s just three goals away from matching his previous season-high of 18, set in 56 games last season.

Jacob Markstrom stopped 19 of 21 shots in Tuesday’s win and should get the start on Saturday.  Markstrom is 8-3-4 on the year, posting a 1.73 GAA (sixth-best in NHL among goalies with three starts) and .940 SV (fifth in NHL).  He’s combined with Dan Vladar to help Calgary pitch shutouts in seven of their 12 wins.  Vladar is having a breakout season since being acquired from Boston in the summer.  He’s 4-0-1 with a 1.57 GAA (third in NHL) and .946 SV (third in NHL).

NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Jets vs. Flames?

• Regular Season

Jets Team Leaders

WIN

Points	Kyle Connor 39
+ / -	Brenden Dillon 11
Shots	Kyle Connor 148
Penalty Mins	Pierre-Luc Dubois 40
Wins	Connor Hellebuyck 14
GAA	Eric Comrie 2.53

CAL

Points	Johnny Gaudreau 43
+ / -	Elias Lindholm 23
Shots	Matthew Tkachuk 121
Penalty Mins	Milan Lucic 38
Wins	Jacob Markstrom 13
GAA	Jacob Markstrom 2.18

• Regular Season

Flames Team Leaders

WIN

Points	Kyle Connor 39
+ / -	Brenden Dillon 11
Shots	Kyle Connor 148
Penalty Mins	Pierre-Luc Dubois 40
Wins	Connor Hellebuyck 14
GAA	Eric Comrie 2.53

CAL

Points	Johnny Gaudreau 43
+ / -	Elias Lindholm 23
Shots	Matthew Tkachuk 121
Penalty Mins	Milan Lucic 38
Wins	Jacob Markstrom 13
GAA	Jacob Markstrom 2.18

Injuries

Winnipeg

Nikolaj Ehlers (LW)

Out Thurs Leg - 19 / 01 / 22

Evgeny Svechnikov (LW)

Ques Thurs Upper Body - 15 / 01 / 22

CJ Suess (LW)

Out indefinitely Hand - 14 / 01 / 22

Eric Comrie (G)

Out indefinitely Illness - 13 / 01 / 22

Brenden Dillon (D)

Out indefinitely Illness - 13 / 01 / 22

Nathan Beaulieu (D)

Out indefinitely Illness - 11 / 01 / 22

Ville Heinola (D)

Out indefinitely Illness - 11 / 01 / 22

Kristian Reichel (C)

Out indefinitely Illness - 11 / 01 / 22

Kristian Vesalainen (LW)

Ques Thurs Undisclosed - 11 / 01 / 22

Nikolaj Ehlers (LW)

Out indefinitely Illness - 10 / 01 / 22

Calgary

Tyler Pitlick (C)

Ques Sat Undisclosed - 18 / 01 / 22

Jacob Markstrom (G)

Ques Tues Undisclosed - 14 / 01 / 22

Dan Vladar (G)

Out indefinitely Illness - 30 / 12 / 21

Tyler Pitlick (C)

Ques Thurs Undisclosed - 27 / 12 / 21

Dan Vladar (G)

Out indefinitely Illness - 21 / 12 / 21

Mikael Backlund (C)

Out indefinitely Illness - 17 / 12 / 21

Oliver Kylington (D)

Out indefinitely Illness - 16 / 12 / 21

Rasmus Andersson (D)

Out indefinitely Illness - 15 / 12 / 21

Byron Froese (C)

Out indefinitely Illness - 15 / 12 / 21

Johnny Gaudreau (LW)

Out indefinitely Illness - 15 / 12 / 21

Injuries

Winnipeg

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Nikolaj Ehlers (LW)	Out Thurs	Leg - 19 / 01 / 22	1-0	1-0	+ -
Ehlers departed the previous game due to a leg injury, and he will not play Thursday against the Predators.
Evgeny Svechnikov (LW)	Ques Thurs	Upper Body - 15 / 01 / 22	2-0	1-1	+ -
Svechnikov sat out the last game with an upper-body injury, and it is unknown if he will not battle the Predators on Thursday.
CJ Suess (LW)	Out indefinitely	Hand - 14 / 01 / 22	2-1	2-1	+ -
Suess has been shuttled to the injured reserve list with a hand injury, leaving a date for his return unclear.
Eric Comrie (G)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 13 / 01 / 22	2-1	2-1	+ -
Comrie has wound up in the league's COVID-19 protocol, and there is no timetable for recovery.
Brenden Dillon (D)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 13 / 01 / 22	2-1	2-1	+ -
Dillon has been entered to the COVID-19 protocol, and he will miss an undetermined length of time.
Nathan Beaulieu (D)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 11 / 01 / 22	2-1	2-1	+ -
Beaulieu will be out of the lineup for an extended period as he is enlisted in the league's COVID-19 protocol.
Ville Heinola (D)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 11 / 01 / 22	2-1	2-1	+ -
Heinola has ended up in the COVID-19 protocol, and it is undetermined how long he will remain on the shelf.
Kristian Reichel (C)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 11 / 01 / 22	2-1	2-1	+ -
Reichel has been entered to the COVID-19 protocol, and he will miss an undetermined length of time.
Kristian Vesalainen (LW)	Ques Thurs	Undisclosed - 11 / 01 / 22	2-1	2-1	+ -
Vesalainen is tending to an unspecified issue, and it is unknown if he will play against the Red Wings on Thursday.
Nikolaj Ehlers (LW)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 10 / 01 / 22	2-1	2-1	+ -
Ehlers has been ticketed for the COVID-19 protocol, and a return date has yet to be confirmed.

Calgary

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.