Two clubs that are facing each other for the final time this season, the Calgary Flames and the Carolina Hurricanes clash at PNC Arena in an East-West tilt. Sportsnet West will broadcast the action, which gets underway at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, January 14.
Calgary Flames vs. Carolina Hurricanes Odds
Carolina (-105) is entering this one as the underdog to Carolina (-115), and the oddsmakers have put the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-120 money on the under, +100 on the over).
Calgary is 24-20 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 1.9 units this year. 23 of its matches have gone under the total, while 20 have gone over and just one has pushed. The Flames are 12-9 SU on the road in 2017-18.
Calgary has converted on 18.1 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that’s right around league average. Additionally, its penalty kill is ranked 21st overall, and it has successfully killed off 79.9 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Flames have been penalized 4.1 times per game during the 2017-18 season, and 5.2 per game over its last five road outings. The team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays a whopping 14.2 minutes per game over their last five outings.
With a .922 save percentage and 28.8 saves per game, Mike Smith (20-17-3) has been the top option in goal for Calgary this season. If head coach Glen Gulutzan decides to rest him, however, the team might roll with David Rittich (4-2-1), who has a .932 save percentage and 2.03 goals against average this year.
Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan will both spearhead the attack for the visiting Flames. Gaudreau (52 points) has tallied 15 goals and 37 assists, and has recorded multiple points 16 times. Monahan has 21 goals and 21 assists to his creditand has registered a point in 26 games.
Carolina is 20-24 straight up (SU) and has lost 5.4 units for moneyline bettors this year. 21 of its outings have gone over the total, while another 21 have gone under and just two have pushed. This year, the team’s 10-9 SU at home.
The Hurricanes have converted on just 17.7 percent of their power play chances this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 25th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 79.4 percent of all penalties.
Hurricanes players have been sent to the penalty box only 2.7 times per game in total this season, and 2.1 per game over their past ten contests. The team has been forced to kill penalties just 4.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Scott Darling (24.6 saves per game) has been the top option in goal for the Hurricanes. Darling has nine wins, 18 losses, and six overtime losses to his credit and has recorded a poor .896 save percentage and 2.90 goals against average this year.
Sebastian Aho (16 goals, 21 assists) will pace the attack for the host team.
Calgary Flames vs. Carolina Hurricanes Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Hurricanes, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Notes
Over Carolina’s last ten outings, five of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 4-1 in those games).
Calgary has scored 3.8 goals per game (while allowing just 2.2) over their six-game winning streak.
The Hurricanes are 11-14 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 17-21 when they serve fewer than 10 penalty minutes, in total.
Calgary is 2-3 in games decided by a shootout this season while Carolina is 3-3 in shootouts.
Calgary could hold an advantage if this one comes down to the wire. The team’s 13-9 in games decided by one goal, while Carolina is only 8-16 in such games.
The total has gone over in three of Carolina’s last five outings.
Carolina has averaged 13.0 giveaways over its last five home games, a rise over its season average of 10.0 giveaways per game (ranked 20th).
Calgary has averaged 7.4 giveaways over its last five home games, an improvement from its season average of 9.6 giveaways per game (ranked 16th overall).
