With the series even at one game apiece, the Calgary Flames and the Colorado Avalanche face off in the all-important Game 3 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals. The action gets underway at 10 p.m. ET on Monday, April 15, and it will air live on CNBC, CBC, TVA2 and Alti.
Calgary Flames at Colorado Avalanche Odds
With a -125 moneyline, Calgary comes into the contest as the favorite. The line for Colorado sits at +105, and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The line for betting that total stands at -120 under, +100 over.
Calgary is 51-33 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 5.0 units this season. 41 of its matches have gone over the total, while 39 have gone under and just four have pushed. This 2018-19 Flames team is 24-17 SU on the road.
The Flames’ offense attempted 32.3 shots per game in the regular season, resulting in 3.5 goals per outing (ranked second overall in the NHL). In the postseason, the team’s climbed to an average of 34.5 shots on goal (and down to 3.0 goals per game).
Following a regular season in which they found the net on 19.4 percent of all power-play chances (17th-rated in the NHL), the Flames have connected on 30.0 percent of their postseason power plays.
Averaging 24.9 saves per game with a .911 save percentage, David Rittich (28-17-5) has been the primary option in goal for Calgary this season. If it decides to rest him, however, head coach Bill Peters might turn to Mike Smith (25-19-3 record, .901 save percentage, 2.66 goals against average).
On the other side of the ice, Colorado is 39-45 straight up (SU) and has lost 12.9 units for moneyline bettors thus far. 43 of its games have gone under the total, while 40 have gone over and just one has pushed. This season, the team’s 21-20 SU at home.
The Avalanche have converted on 21.4 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that places it in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 25th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 78.4 percent of all penalties.
Semyon Varlamov has stopped 27.8 shots per game as the primary choice in goal for the Avalanche. Varlamov has 20 wins, 29 losses, and nine overtime losses to his credit and has recorded a mediocre 2.87 goals against average and a fairly-weak .909 save percentage this season.
Calgary Flames vs. Colorado Avalanche Free Picks
Free NHL Tip: SU Winner – Avalanche, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- Eight of Calgary’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 5-3 in those games.
- The extra-man advantage could have a key role in tonight’s matchup. The Flames are 28-13 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 36-24 when they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes. The Avalanche are 16-19 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 23-27 in games where total penalty minutes are in the single digits.
- Two of Colorado’s last ten games have ended in a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 2-2 overall in shootouts this year.
- The total has gone under in four of Calgary’s last five games.
- Calgary is ranked 30th this season with 14.5 giveaways per game. That figure’s trended higher recently, as the team’s averaged 18.3 giveaways over its last 10 games and 16.2 giveaways over its last five.
- One of the best at taking care of the puck, Colorado is ranked 2nd this season with just 7.3 giveaways per game. That figure has trended higher lately, as the team’s averaged 8.4 giveaways over its last 10 games and 10.8 giveaways over its last five.
