The Edmonton Oilers, spearheaded by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, are set to take the ice against Matthew Tkachuk, Johnny Gaudreau, and the Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome for a Pacific Division showdown. The opening face-off is at 10 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 11, and fans at home are able to catch it live on CBC Sports.
Edmonton Oilers vs. Calgary Flames Odds
Edmonton (+130) is playing the role of underdog to Calgary (-150), and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at an even 6 goals (-110 over, -110 under).
Calgary is 24-22 straight up (SU) and has recorded -2.9 units for moneyline bettors this year. That win percentage, ranked third in the Pacific Division so far this season, is a slide from what the team managed during the 2018-19 season (50-32). Out of its 46 regular season outings, 24 of them have gone under the total, while 19 have gone over and just three have pushed. The team’s 12-10 SU at home this year.
The Flames have converted on 19.0 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked seventh overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 82.8 percent of all penalties.
Averaging 28.4 saves per game with a .911 save percentage, David Rittich (18 wins, 15 losses, and five OT losses) has been the top option in goal for the Flames this year. If the Flames, however, choose to rest him, Calgary may turn to Cam Talbot (6-9-9 record, .923 save percentage, 2.51 goals against average).
On the other hand, Edmonton is 24-22 straight up (SU) and has earned 3.5 units for moneyline bettors this year. A total of 22 of its matches have gone over the total, while an additional 22 have gone under the total and just two have pushed. As a road team , the Oilers are 14-11 SU.
The Oilers enter the matchup with the first-best power-play unit in the NHL, as they’ve found the net on 29.5 percent of their extra-man chances in 2019-20. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked sixth overall and it’s successfully killed off 83.2 percent of all opponent power plays.
Mikko Koskinen (.912 save percentage and 2.85 goals against average) has been the primary option in goal for Edmonton. Koskinen is averaging 27.8 saves per game and owns a 14-12-2 record.
Edmonton Oilers vs. Calgary Flames Free Picks
Pick: SU Winner – Oilers, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- Extra-man opportunities may be even more critical than usual in tonight’s game. The Oilers are 12-7 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 18-16 in games where they’re in the box for fewer than 10 penalty minutes, in total. The Flames are 11-7 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 18-15 in games where total penalty minutes are in the single digits.
- Calgary is 4-0 in games decided by a shootout this season while Edmonton is 2-1 in shootouts.
- For both of these clubs, the total has gone over in three of their last five matchups.
- Edmonton is ranked 27th this season with 12.1 giveaways per game. That figure has trended upward lately, as it’s averaged 13.8 giveaways over its last 10 games and 14.2 giveaways over its last five.
- Calgary skaters have averaged 16.2 giveaways over its last five home games, a rise over its season average of 11.7 giveaways per game (ranked 25th overall).
