The Vancouver Canucks, spearheaded by Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser, are set to take the ice against Matthew Tkachuk, Sean Monahan, and the Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome in a Pacific Division tilt. Sportsnet ONE will broadcast the matchup, and the action gets underway at 9:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, December 29.
Vancouver Canucks at Calgary Flames Odds
Vancouver (+140) is entering this one as the underdog to Calgary (-160), and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals (-120 for the under, +100 for the over).
Calgary is 20-20 straight up (SU) and has lost 2.8 units for moneyline bettors thus far. That win percentage, ranked second in the Pacific Division so far in the early season, is a big slide from what the team managed during the 2018-19 season (50-32). Of the team’s 40 games this season, 15 have gone under the total, while 15 have gone over and just three have pushed. The team’s 10-8 SU at home this year.
The Flames have converted on 19.5 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked third overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 85.0 percent of all penalties.
Boasting a .916 save percentage and 29.2 saves per game, David Rittich (17-13-5) has been the primary goalkeeper for the Flames this year. If Calgary decides to rest him, however, the team could roll with Cam Talbot (3-8-8 record, .913 save percentage, 2.85 goals against average).
Vancouver has lost 0.8 units for bettors taking the moneyline thus far and is currently 19-19 straight up (SU). Through 38 regular season outings, 19 of its games have gone over the total, while 16 have gone under the total and just three have pushed. The Canucks are 8-11 SU as an away team this season.
The Canucks have scored on 25.2 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that places it in the top-five among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 19th overall and it’s successfully defended 79.8 percent of all opponent power plays.
Jacob Markstrom (.917 save percentage and 2.66 goals against average) has been the main option in goal for Vancouver. Markstrom is averaging 29.2 saves per game and owns a 12-14-3 record.
Vancouver Canucks at Calgary Flames Betting Picks
Free NHL Pick: SU Winner – Flames, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- The Flames are 9-9 SU when they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Canucks are 5-4 SU in games where they serve more minutes than the opposition.
- Vancouver is 3-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Calgary is 3-0 in shootouts.
- Calgary may have an advantage if this one comes down to the wire. The team’s 10-7 in games decided by one goal, while Vancouver is 7-9 in such games.
- For both of these clubs, the over has hit in three of their last five games.
- Vancouver is ranked sixth this season with 8.3 giveaways per game. That figure’s trended lower lately, however, as the team’s averaged 6.8 giveaways over its last 10 games and 6.0 giveaways over its last five.
- Calgary is ranked 26th this season with 11.6 giveaways per game. That figure has regressed, as it’s averaged 13.4 giveaways over its last 10 games and 14.0 giveaways over its last five.
