In their third head-to-head matchup of the regular season, the Anaheim Ducks and the Calgary Flames collide at the Scotiabank Saddledome for a Pacific Division tilt. CBC Sports will showcase the action, which gets going at 10 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 6.
Anaheim Ducks at Calgary Flames Odds
The moneyline for either team is currently set at an identical -110, and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals (-130 under, +110 over).
Losing 3.0 units for moneyline bettors, Calgary is 20-20 straight up (SU) overall this year. That early-season winning percentage is a slide from what the team managed during last years regular season (45-37). Out of the teams 40 regular season matches, 21 of them have gone under the total, while 18 have gone over and just one has pushed. The teams 11-11 SU at home this year.
The Flames have converted on 18.1 percent of their power play chances this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated 25th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 78.3 percent of all penalties.
The Flames, as a collective unit, have been called for penalties 3.9 times per game overall this season, and 3.0 per game over their past five matchups. The teams had to defend opponent power plays for just 7.0 minutes per game over their last five outings, overall.
Boasting a .920 save percentage and 28.6 saves per game, Mike Smith (17 wins, 17 losses, and three OT losses) has been the top option in goal for Calgary this year. If head coach Glen Gulutzan chooses to give him a breather, however, Calgary might roll with David Rittich (3-2-2 record, .924 save percentage, 2.04 goals against average).
The Flames will continue looking for offensive production from Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan. Gaudreau (45 points) has tallied 13 goals and 32 assists and has recorded multiple points 13 times this year. Monahan has 19 goals and 17 assists to his name and has notched a point in 22 games.
On the other side of the ice, Anaheim is 19-23 straight up (SU) and has lost 2.0 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 42 regular season outings, 27 of its games have gone under the total, while 14 have gone over and just one has pushed. As the road team so far, the Ducks are 9-12 SU.
The Ducks have converted on 17.4 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked ninth overall and it’s successfully defended 83.3 percent of all penalties.
Anaheim’s skaters have been called for penalties 4.5 times per game in total this season, and 3.3 per game over their past ten games. The teams had to stave off opponent power plays just 7.5 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
John Gibson (30.2 saves per game) has been the main choice in the net for Anaheim. Gibson owns a 13-19-6 record, and has registered a .924 save percentage and 2.63 goals against average this year.
Leading the offensive attack for the visiting Ducks will be Rickard Rakell (15 goals, 16 assists) and Adam Henrique (nine goals, 14 assists).
Anaheim Ducks at Calgary Flames Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Ducks, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- The Flames are 4-10 SU when they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Ducks are 15-11 SU in games where they spend more time in the box than the opposition.
- Two of Calgary’s last ten games have ended in a shootout. The team is 0-2 in those games and 2-3 overall in shootouts this season.
- The total has gone under in three of Calgary’s last five games.
- Calgary has averaged 11.8 giveaways over its last five home games, a rise over its season average of 9.9 giveaways per game (ranked 18th in the league).
- Anaheim has averaged 7.6 giveaways over its last five home games, an improvement from its season average of 10.3 giveaways per game (ranked 22nd in the NHL).
- Anaheim skaters have accounted for the leagues eighth-most hits per game (23.3).
