Sports Interaction
Promotions
Sports Interaction
Promotions

New Jersey Devils vs. Calgary Flames: NHL Odds, Prediction

  • Sports Interaction Staff's Author profile. Sports Interaction Staff

Add Sports Interacton as Your Preferred News Source

The New Jersey Devils have won nine of their first 12 games but it feels like their momentum has been dulled by a 6-3 loss in Edmonton on Friday. Can they rebound in Calgary on Sunday as they complete their Alberta two-step?

New Jersey Devils vs. Calgary Flames

Date: Sunday, November 5th – 10:00 PM ET

Location: Scotiabank Saddledome – Calgary, Alberta

NHL Odds: Flames -190

NHL Odds and Betting Analysis

On the surface, seeing the Flames open as a -170 favorite and then moving to -190 might be a bit startling. The Devils have been the better team to date but many people expect them to regress. It’s not often that we see the Flames laying this type of juice as they haven’t closed bigger than a -160 favorite in any game this season. The lone time they did (-160 vs Minnesota), they ended up losing 4-2. If you’re not comfortable laying the juice with the Flames, under might be the way to go. Flames games have averaged just 3.83 combined goals per game the last six times Mike Smith has started for them in net.

New Jersey Devils

One of the main reasons why experts feel the Devils have been a bit lucky to start 9-3 is the fact that they’re getting outshot on a nightly basis. Typically, advanced algorithms favor teams that are outshooting their opponent because if you’re giving up more scoring opportunities, eventually that probably catches up to you. The Devils -5.0 shot differential is the third-worst number in the league. To put that in perspective, the other two teams are 7-5 (Winnipeg) and 6-7 (Washington).

For the Devils to win this game, they’re going to have to get better production out of goaltender Cory Schneider. He’s been subpar this season, posting a 3.09 GAA with a pedestrian .916 save percentage. Lately, the Devils have been winning in spite of him rather than because of him. He’s allowed three goals or more in six of his last seven starts, and that’s not good enough.

Calgary Flames

 Calgary is coming off a couple of confidence-boosting wins as they beat the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins back-to-back. While those two teams are not who they were last season, the wins pushed the Flames over .500 and have brought back some optimism after a slump. The Flames had lost four of five before that.

Mike Smith continues to give the Flames a chance to win each and every night. He has an impressive 2.19 GAA, which is tied for 10th best in the NHL, and his .936 save percentage ranks him seventh. He’s given up two goals or less in six of his last seven starts.

The Flames are just 3-4-0 at home this season but with Smith playing well and a bit of momentum on their side, they should be able to get back to .500 at the Saddledome on Sunday.

Devils vs. Flames prediction:

Flames 3-2