The Scotiabank Saddledome will be hosting a Pacific Division clash as the Calgary Flames take on the visiting Vancouver Canucks. This one will get started at 10 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 9 and it can be viewed live on CBC Sports.
Vancouver Canucks at Calgary Flames Odds
Calgary (-165) is currently favored over Vancouver (+145) and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals (-110 for the over, -110 for the under).
Calgary is 15-14 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.2 units for moneyline bettors this year. That early-season winning percentage isn’t too far off from to the 45-37 record the team produced during the 2016-17 season campaign. Of its 29 games this season, 14 have gone over the total, while another 14 have gone under and just one has pushed. The team’s 7-8 SU at home this season.
The Flames have converted on 20.2 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 27th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 76.6 percent of all penalties.
As a team, the Flames have been penalized 3.9 times per game overall this season, and 2.6 per game over their last five matchups home outings. The team has had to stave off opposition power plays for just 6.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings, in total.
With a .918 save percentage and 29.0 saves per game, Mike Smith (13-12-2) has been the primary option in goal for the Flames this season. If Calgary chooses to give him the evening off, however, the team could go with Eddie Lack (1-3-3 record, .813 save percentage, 5.29 goals against average).
The Flames will continue to rely on leadership out of Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan. Gaudreau (37 points) has tallied 12 goals and 25 assists and has recorded two or more points in 12 different games this year. Monahan has 17 goals and 13 assists to his name and has notched at least one point in 18 games.
On the other side of the rink, Vancouver is 14-15 straight up (SU) and has earned 3.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. A total of 15 of its matches have gone under the total, while 14 have gone over and none have pushed. As the visiting team so far, the Canucks are 9-6 SU.
The Canucks have converted on 20.8 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 20th overall and it’s successfully defended 79.4 percent of all opponent power plays.
Vancouver’s players have been penalized 3.9 times per game in total this season, 3.4 per game over their last five contests total, and 3.4 per game over their last five on the road. The team has had to defend opponent power plays just 6.6 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Jacob Markstrom (2.44 goals against average and .916 save percentage) has been the main option in goal for Vancouver. Markstrom is averaging 26.4 saves per game and owns an 8-13-3 record.
Leading the offensive attack for the visiting Canucks will be Brock Boeser (14 goals, 12 assists) and Bo Horvat (10 goals, 10 assists).
Vancouver Canucks vs. Calgary Flames Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Flames, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
Six of Calgary’s last ten games have been decided by two or more goals. The team is 2-4 overall in those games.
The Canucks are 7-6 SU in games where they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Flames are 4-9 SU when they spend more time in the box than the opposition.
Vancouver is 0-2 in games decided by a shootout this season while Calgary is 2-1 in shootouts.
Calgary may hold an advantage if this one comes down to the wire. The team’s 8-4 in games decided by one goal, while Vancouver is 4-6 in such games.
Calgary skaters have averaged 13.8 giveaways over its last five home games, a rise over its season average of 9.9 giveaways per game (ranked 17th).
Vancouver is ranked 10th this season with 8.8 giveaways per game. That figure has trended upward recently, as the team’s averaged 9.7 giveaways over its last 10 games and 11.0 giveaways over its last five.
