Facing each other for the final time this season, the Calgary Flames and the Toronto Maple Leafs meet at Scotiabank Arena. This cross-country matchup will get underway at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, January 16, and it can be caught live on The Sports Network.
Calgary Flames at Toronto Maple Leafs Odds
Toronto (-175) is tabbed as the solid favorite over Calgary (+155), and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 7 goals. If gamblers want to put some action on this matchup’s total, they’ll be looking at odds of -110 for the over and -110 for the under.
The Maple Leafs are 25-22 straight-up (SU) and have not been kind to moneyline bettors (to the tune of -5.2 units) thus far. That early-season winning percentage is fairly close to what the team produced during the 2018-19 season (46-36). Of the team’s 47 games this season, 27 have gone over the total, while 18 have gone under and just two have pushed. The team’s 12-11 SU at home this year.
Toronto’s connected on 23.7 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that’s good enough for fifth-best in the league. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 27th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 75.7 percent of all penalties.
As a team, Toronto has been penalized just 3.2 times per game overall this season, 3.2 per game over its past five contests total, and 3.4 per game over its last five home outings. The team’s had to defend opposition power plays for just 6.2 minutes per game over its last 10 outings, in total.
With a .910 save percentage and 28.0 saves per game, Frederik Andersen (22-15-5) has been the most dependable option in goal for the Maple Leafs this year. If head coach Sheldon Keefe decides to give him a rest, however, the team might turn to Michael Hutchinson (3-9-9 record, .885 save percentage, 3.83 goals against average).
The Leafs will continue to lean on the leadership from Auston Matthews and Mitchell Marner. Matthews (57 points) is up to 34 goals and 23 assists and has recorded two or more points 18 times this year. Marner has 13 goals and 33 assists to his name and has recorded at least one point in 27 contests.
Calgary has lost 3.0 units for moneyline bettors this year and is currently 25-23 straight up (SU). A total of 25 of its games have gone under the total, while 20 have gone over and just three have pushed. Calgary’s 12-13 SU as the visiting team this season.
Calgary has converted on 19.1 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked sixth overall and it’s successfully defended 83.2 percent of all penalties.
Calgary’s skaters have been penalized 3.7 times per game this season, and 1.8 per game over their last five on the road. The team’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 5.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
David Rittich (2.79 goals against average and .913 save percentage) has been the main option in goal for Calgary. Rittich is averaging 28.6 saves per game and has 18 wins, 16 losses, and five OT losses to his credit.
Matthew Tkachuk (15 goals, 23 assists) has been one of the top offensive facilitators for the visiting Flames.
Calgary Flames at Toronto Maple Leafs Free Picks
Free NHL Tip: SU Winner – Maple Leafs, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- For both of these teams, the over has hit in four of their last five outings.
- The Flames are 12-7 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 19-16 in games where they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes.
- Toronto is 1-3 in games decided by a shootout this season while Calgary is 4-0 in shootouts.
- Toronto is ranked 9th in the NHL with 8.2 takeaways per game. That figure’s trended upward lately, as the team has created 10.6 takeaways over its last 10 games and 11.2 takeaways over its last five.
- Calgary skaters have created 6.6 takeaways per game over its last five road games, a drop-off from its season average of 9.0 takeaways per game (ranked fifth overall).
- Calgary could hold the upper hand if this one comes down to the wire. The team’s an impressive 15-7 in games decided by one goal, while Toronto is 5-10 in such games.
