Florida Panthers vs. Calgary Flames Prediction, NHL Odds
This is the second and final meeting after a 5-3 Flames win in November. Since early 2022, Florida has gone 2-5-1 when playing Calgary. They have the better roster in this game, but the Flames seem to have their number almost every time they meet. Will Florida’s second game in as many nights result in another losing effort?
Panthers vs. Flames NHL Betting Odds
In what has been a challenging year, the Flames have actually been solid on the puck line, producing a 37-30 record. As for Florida, their disappointing season has translated to the puck line, where they are just 23-45. For this game, Florida has the -1.5 line at +230, while Calgary at +1.5 comes in at -285.
The game totals are set at 5.5 goals, with a slight lean towards the over (-120) compared to the under (+100). Calgary is an even 32-32-4 on totals this year, while Florida is 39-29-0 to the over. This is a tricky game total to call, as each side has shown inconsistency on both ends of the ice.
Matthew Tkachuk (+180), Sam Bennett (+245), and Carter Verhaeghe (+260) lead the way for Florida in goalscoring odds. These are consistently strong scorers for Florida, especially Tkachuk, who has three goals in his last four games. As for Calgary, Matt Coronato (+255) is second in goals on the team (15) and has the shortest odds to find the net.
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers (34-31-3) finalize a four-game road trip that has not gone entirely well for them. They are 1-2-0 so far, and have been outscored 11-8. On Thursday night, they took on Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers, which resulted in a dominant 4-0 win. However, they are still third-last in the NHL, and I don’t necessarily think the momentum of that victory over Edmonton will carry into this game due to their overall inconsistency.
The team is facing multiple injuries, such as Alex Barkov, Sam Reinhart, and, more recently, Brad Marchand. Their hit depth and roster changeover this season has given them a poor goals-against average of 3.29, which is the seventh-worst in the league. If they aren’t careful, a poor offence in Calgary could build some early confidence.
At this rate, the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions will likely miss the playoffs. However, a team led by head coach Paul Maurice can always be a threat.
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames (27-34-7) look to continue to build confidence with a win over the reigning Stanley Cup champion Panthers, and they are in a strong position to do so.
The team has produced a goals-against average of 3.09 per game, which surpasses Florida’s (3.34). They also own a strong save percentage (.903) and penalty kill (80.8), which are both within the NHL’s top-ten. This is the type of play that can result in a victory.
The current team remains intact outside of veteran Jonathan Huberdeau, who has been ruled out for the season since early February. This could be a far closer matchup than one would have predicted at the start of the season.
NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Panthers vs. Flames?
Even as the 31st-overall team in the standings, Calgary has produced a strong home record of 16-12-4. They have stayed competitive throughout their rebuilding phase, which includes recent wins against the mighty Carolina Hurricanes and the St. Louis Blues, who are 6-1-2 so far in March. With the Flames holding home-ice advantage and welcoming a team that is on the second half of a back-to-back. I like Calgary to win 4-2.
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