Each team’s fifth game of the season, the Calgary Flames and the Colorado Avalanche take the ice at the Pepsi Center for a Western Conference tilt. This one gets underway at 10 p.m. ET on Saturday, October 13 and it’s being shown live on CBC Sports.
Calgary Flames vs. Colorado Avalanche Odds
The Avalanche are 3-1 straight up (SU) and have earned 2.0 units for moneyline bettors this year. That winning percentage, ranked third in the NHL so far in the early season, is an improvement compared to how the team performed during last year’s regular season (43-39). The team is 2-0 SU at home thus far.
Colorado has successfully converted on 33.3 percent of its power play chances so far. That’s a significant improvement from last year, when the team was ranked 10th in the league by scoring on 21.3 percent of its extra-man chances. Its penalty kill has gotten stronger year-over-year as the team’s gone from successfully defending 83.3 percent of opponents’ power plays (ranked third overall last season) to 94.7 percent this year.
As a team, Colorado has been penalized 5.8 times per game this season. Last year, that number was at 4.0, the figure in the league. After serving an average of 9.2 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team has been forced to kill penalties for 11.5 minutes per outing this season.
Averaging 28.3 saves per game with a .955 save percentage, the undefeated Semyon Varlamov (3-0) has been the top goalkeeper for the Avalanche this year. If they decide to give him a rest, however, head coach Jared Bednar could go with Philipp Grubauer (0-1-1 record, .882 save percentage, 4.06 goals against average).
Mikko Rantanen and Nathan MacKinnon will each look to continue their strong starts for the Avalanche. Rantanen (seven points) has tallied one goal and six assists while MacKinnon has five goals and one to his credit so far in the early stages of the season.
On the other hand, Calgary is 2-2 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 0.1 units this season. A total of three of its games have gone over the total, while one has gone under the total and none have pushed. Calgary’s 1-2 SU as the road team this season.
Calgary’s recorded a goal on 23.8 percent of its power play chances this year after converting on 16.0 percent of its extra-man opportunities last season (a mark that was ranked just 28th in the NHL). The team has gone from successfully defending 81.9 percent of opponents’ power plays (ranked seventh overall last season) to 76.5 percent this year.
Calgary’s skaters have been called for penalties 4.5 times per game this season. Last year, that number was at 4.4, which was the second-highest mark in the league. After serving an average of 11.2 penalty minutes per game a year ago (most in the league), the team’s had to kill penalties for 9.8 minutes per matchup this season.
Mike Smith (24.0 saves per game) has been the primary option in the net for Calgary. Smith has two wins and two losses to his credit, while registering a .881 save percentage and 3.57 goals against average this year.
Matthew Tkachuk (one goal, six assists) has been one of the top playmaking threats for the visiting Flames.
Calgary Flames vs. Colorado Avalanche Betting Predictions
Prediction: SU Winner – Avalanche, O/U – Over
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Notes
Betting Notes
The over has hit in three of Colorado’s last five games.
Calgary has managed 32.0 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Colorado is averaging 37.5 shots per game over its last five home outings.
Calgary skaters recorded 20.0 hits per game last season, while the Avalanche logged 20.4 hits per contest.
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