Two teams facing each other for the second time this season, the Calgary Flames and the Chicago Blackhawks meet at the United Center. The match gets going at 8:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, January 7, and you are able to watch this Western Conference matchup live on Sportsnet West.
Calgary Flames vs. Chicago Blackhawks Odds
Chicago (+105) is currently the underdog to Calgary (-125), and the oddsmakers have put the Over/Under (O/U) at 7 goals (-120 for the under, +100 for the over).
Calgary is 22-22 straight up (SU) and has lost 4.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 44 regular season contests, 22 of its games have gone under the total, while 19 have gone over and just three have pushed. This 2019-20 Flames team is 11-12 SU on the road.
Calgary has converted on 19.1 percent of its power play chances this year, a mark that’s right around league average. Its penalty kill is ranked eighth overall, and the team’s successfully killed off 82.3 percent of its penalties.
Calgary, as a collective unit, has been whistled for penalties 3.9 times per game overall this season, and 2.2 per game over its last five road outings. The team’s had to kill penalties just 7.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Boasting a .911 save percentage and 28.4 saves per game, David Rittich (18-15-5) has been the best option in goal for Calgary this year. If it decides to rest him, however, head coach Geoff Ward could roll with Cam Talbot (4-9 record, .913 save percentage, 2.75 goals against average).
Matthew Tkachuk and Johnny Gaudreau will both be offensive focal points for the visiting Flames. Tkachuk has 36 points on 15 goals and 21 assists, and has recorded multiple points in nine different games. Gaudreau has 11 goals and 24 assists to his credit (and has logged at least one point in 25 games).
Chicago is 19-24 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.7 units for moneyline bettors this year. 22 of its outings have gone under the total, while 20 have gone over and just one has pushed. It’s 10-12 SU at home this year.
Chicago has converted on just 15.2 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that places it in the bottom overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 13th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 81.4 percent of all opponent power plays.
The Blackhawks have been penalized 3.5 times per game this season, and 2.8 per game over their last five games. The team has had to defend opponent power plays just 7.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Robin Lehner has stopped 32.3 shots per game as the primary choice in goal for Chicago. Lehner has 12 wins, 13 losses, and five OT losses to his name and has recorded a pedestrian 2.92 goals against average and a .922 save percentage this year.
The home team offense will be led by Patrick Kane (24 goals, 30 assists).
Calgary Flames vs. Chicago Blackhawks Free Picks
Prediction: SU Winner – Flames, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
- For both of these clubs, the total has gone over in three of their last five matchups.
- The Blackhawks are 7-9 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 13-17 when they’re in the box for fewer than 10 penalty minutes, total.
- Calgary is 4-0 in games decided by a shootout this season while Chicago is 2-4 in shootouts.
- Chicago has created 8.2 takeaways per game over its last five home games, right in line with its season average of 8.5 takeaways per game (ranked 7th).
- Calgary is ranked fifth with 9.0 takeaways per game. That figure has trended higher, as it’s created 9.5 takeaways over its last 10 games and 11.0 takeaways over its last five.
- Calgary may hold the upper hand if this one comes down to the wire. The team’s 12-7 in one-goal games, while Chicago is 6-9 in such games.
