Facing each other for the final time this season, the Calgary Flames and the Ottawa Senators clash at Canadian Tire Centre in an East-West tilt. The match will get going at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday, March 9, and you’ll be able to witness the game live on Sportsnet West.
Calgary Flames vs. Ottawa Senators Odds
Calgary is 33-35 straight up (SU) and has lost 8.4 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 68 regular season matches, 33 of its games have gone over the total, while another 33 have gone under and just two have pushed. As the away team this season, the Flames are 19-16 SU.
Calgary has converted on just 18.2 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that places them in the bottom-10 overall among NHL teams. Its penalty kill is ranked 15th in the league, and the team’s successfully killed off 81.0 percent of all penalties.
Calgary, as a collective unit, has been penalized 4.4 times per game during the 2017-18 season, and 6.4 per game over its last five on the road. The team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays a whopping 15.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 29.0 saves per game with a .921 save percentage, Mike Smith (24-23-6) has been the best option in goal for Calgary this year. If head coach Glen Gulutzan decides to rest him, however, the team might turn to David Rittich (8-9-3 record, .904 save percentage, 2.96 goals against average).
Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan will both spearhead the attack for the visiting Flames. Gaudreau has 76 points on 20 goals and 56 assists, and has recorded multiple points 20 times. Monahan has 30 goals and 30 assists to his name (and has registered at least one point in 38 games).
On the other side of the ice, Ottawa is 23-43 straight up (SU) and has lost 17.1 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 66 regular season outings, 34 of its games have gone over the total, while 31 have gone under and none have pushed. The team’s 14-19 SU at home this year.
Ottawa has converted on just 16.4 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s ranked 27th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 28th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 75.9 percent of all opponent power plays.
Ottawa players have been whistled for penalties 3.6 times per game in total this season, and 2.8 per game over their last five at home. The team has been forced to kill penalties just 6.3 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Craig Anderson has stopped 27.6 shots per game as the primary option in goal for Ottawa. Anderson has 20 wins, 29 losses, and six overtime losses to his name and has maintained a pedestrian 3.24 goals against average and a fairly-weak .901 save percentage this year.
The home team offense will be led by Mark Stone (20 goals, 42 assists).
Calgary Flames vs. Ottawa Senators Free Picks
NHL Tip: SU Winner – Senators, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
The total has gone under in three of Ottawa’s last five outings.
The Senators are 9-21 when the team serves fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 16-28 in games where they serve fewer than 10 penalty minutes, in total.
Two of Ottawa’s last ten games have been decided by a shootout. The team is 0-2 in those games and 2-7 overall in shootouts this season.
Ottawa skaters have created 7.2 takeaways per game over its last five home games, a slight drop from its season average of 6.9 takeaways per game (ranked 21st overall).
Calgary is ranked 10th in the league with 8.1 takeaways per game. That figure has trended lower, however, as it has averaged 7.0 takeaways over its last 10 games and 4.8 takeaways over its last five.
Calgary might hold the upper hand if it’s a tight one late. The team’s 18-16 in one-goal games, while Ottawa is only 15-22 in such games.
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