Matthew Tkachuk, Johnny Gaudreau, and the Calgary Flames will face off against Mark Scheifele, Blake Wheeler, and the Winnipeg Jets at Bell MTS Place for a Western Conference showdown. Sportsnet West will showcase the game, and the action gets underway at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, December 27.
Calgary Flames at Winnipeg Jets Odds
Winnipeg heads into the game as the substantial favorite with a -145 moneyline. The line for Calgary sits at +125, and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 7 goals (-120 money on the under, +100 on the over).
Winnipeg is 24-12 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 6.8 units this year. That winning percentage, ranked third in the NHL in this young season, hasn’t moved much from the 52-30 record the team produced during last year’s regular season campaign. Through 36 regular season matches, 18 of the team’s games have gone over the total, while 14 have gone under and just four have pushed. The team is 13-6 SU at home this season.
The Jets currently tout the second-strongest power-play unit in the NHL, as they’ve scored on 28.7 percent of their extra-man advantages this season. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 12th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 81.5 percent of all penalties.
Averaging 28.3 saves per game with a .909 save percentage, Connor Hellebuyck (16 wins, 11 losses, and one OT loss) has been the best option in goal for the Jets this season. If head coach Paul Maurice decides to rest him, however, the team might turn to Laurent Brossoit (8-2-2 record, .939 save percentage, 2.11 goals against average).
Calgary has earned 4.0 units for moneyline bettors this season and is currently 22-15 straight up (SU). Through 37 regular season matches, 18 of its games have gone over the total, while another 18 have gone under the total and just one has pushed. As the visiting team this season, the Flames are 11-8 SU.
The Flames have converted on 21.9 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 15th overall and it’s successfully defended 80.5 percent of all opponent power plays.
David Rittich (2.29 goals against average and .923 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for Calgary. Rittich is averaging 23.9 saves per game and has 12 wins, eight losses, and two overtime losses to his credit.
Calgary Flames vs. Winnipeg Jets Free Picks
Free Pick: SU Winner – Flames, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- Five of Winnipeg’s last ten outings have been decided by two or more goals, and the club is 4-1 overall in those games.
- Penalties and power plays could be key in tonight’s matchup. The Flames are 14-6 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 15-12 in games where they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes. The Jets are 12-5 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 15-8 when total penalty minutes are in the single digits.
- Calgary is 0-2 in games decided by a shootout this season while Winnipeg is 1-1 in shootouts.
- For both of these clubs, the over has hit in three of their last five matchups.
- Calgary skaters have averaged 9.2 giveaways over its last five home games, an improvement from its season average of 12.5 giveaways per game (ranked 29th overall).
- Winnipeg has averaged 11.8 giveaways over its last five home games, a rise over its season average of 9.4 giveaways per game (ranked 13th).
