The Scotiabank Saddledome is the site for a cross-continent matchup as the Calgary Flames welcome the visiting Buffalo Sabres. The opening face-off takes place at 9 p.m. ET on Monday, January 22, and you’ll be able to catch it live on Sportsnet West.
Buffalo Sabres at Calgary Flames Odds
Calgary (+175) is entering this one as the underdog to Calgary (-210), and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals. The odds for betting the total stand at -120 under, +100 over.
Netting 1.8 units for moneyline bettors, Calgary is 25-21 straight up (SU) overall in the 2017-18 season. That winning percentage, the third-best in the Pacific Division in this young season, is right in line with the 45-37 record the team posted during last year’s regular season campaign. Of the team’s 46 games this season, 20 have gone under the total, while 20 have gone over and just one has pushed. The team is 12-12 SU at home this season.
The Flames have converted on 18.1 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated 19th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 80.3 percent of all penalties.
The Flames, as a collective unit, have been called for penalties 4.2 times per game overall this season, and 5.2 per game over their past five contests. The team has been forced to defend opponent power plays for a whopping 13.8 minutes per game over their last five matchups, in total.
Sporting a .925 save percentage and 29.2 saves per game, Mike Smith (21-18-4) has been the top goalkeeper for the Flames this year. If Calgary decides to rest him, however, the team might turn to David Rittich (4-2-2 record, .932 save percentage, 2.03 goals against average).
The Flames will continue to lean on the leadership out of Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan. Gaudreau (54 points) is up to 15 goals and 39 assists and has recorded two or more points on 17 separate occasions this year. Monahan has 21 goals and 21 assists to his credit and has notched a point in 27 games.
On the other bench, Buffalo is 11-35 straight up (SU) and has lost 23.2 units for bettors taking the moneyline thus far. A total of 23 of its matches have gone under the total, while 20 have gone over and just three have pushed. The Sabres are 5-20 SU as the visiting team this season.
The Sabres have converted on just 14.3 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that’s ranked 30th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 26th overall and it’s successfully killed off 78.3 percent of all penalties.
Buffalo’s skaters have been penalized only 3.6 times per game this season, 3.6 per game over their past five games total, and 3.6 per game over their last five road outings. The team’s had to kill penalties 11.0 minutes per game over their last five road outings.
Robin Lehner (26.3 saves per game) has been the primary option in goal for Buffalo. Lehner has nine wins, 26 losses, and six overtime losses to his credit, and has registered a .907 save percentage and 3.06 goals against average this year.
Leading the offensive attack for the visiting Sabres will be Jack Eichel (18 goals, 26 assists) and Evander Kane (16 goals, 20 assists).
Buffalo Sabres at Calgary Flames Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Flames, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Notes
Two of Calgary’s last ten games have gone to a shootout. The team is 0-2 in those games and 2-4 overall in shootouts this season.
The total has gone under in three of Calgary’s last five games.
Five of Buffalo’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 1-4 in those games.
Buffalo skaters have accounted for the league’s 10th-most hits per game (23.1).
