NHL Playoffs Series Odds: Winnipeg Jets vs. Calgary Flames
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David Bastl
The Jets and Flames only met once prior to the Covid-19 shutdown. It was at the Heritage Classic in Regina where the Jets scored a 2-1 overtime win (October 26). The two Western Canadian rivals were set to meet twice in March to conclude their three-game head to head series.
In their last eight contests dating back to March 11, 2017, the two teams split the games perfectly in half, each winning four games. Six of the eight games were played under the posted game total.
The Flames are slight favourites at -120 in the series on the Sports Interaction NHL odds board.
Winnipeg Jets Odds
The Jets were the hottest team in the tough Central Division winning four straight games (Sabres, Golden Knights, Coyotes, Oilers) before the Covid-19 shut down.
Many hockey insiders feel the Jets could be a great sleeper pick in the Western Conference and it has everything to do with Vezina Trophy candidate Connor Hellebuyck. Hellebuyck was 31-21-5 with a save percentage of .922 playing behind a team that was dismantled with injuries and lack of depth on the blueline. The Jets had 13 different defenceman on the roster this season, and only one rearguard played the entire season, Neal Pionk.
The Jets are listed as +1400 underdogs to win the Western Conference and +4000 to capture the Stanley Cup.
Calgary Flames Odds
The Flames ended off the regular season with a 6-3-1 record, but were 3-2-1 in their last six games.
The Flames are top heavy on offence with their top five scorers, all forwards and all registering at least 45 points or more on the year. All-Star Matthew Tkachuk led all Flames points producers with 61 points in 69 games. While Elias Lindholm was the Flames top goal scorer with 29 this season.
Goaltending might be an issue for Calgary entering the post season. David Rittich is the team’s starting goaltender, appearing in 68.57 percent of the team’s games. However his .907 save percentage wasn’t even good enough to rank him in the NHL’s top 20 in that category. Also, Rittich will be making his post season debut when they finally drop the puck in the summer.
The Flames are listed as +1400 underdogs to win the Western Conference and +3300 to capture the Stanley Cup.