In a game between two teams on winning streaks, the Calgary Flames and the Minnesota Wild take the ice at the Xcel Energy Center for a Western Conference showdown. The match gets started at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, December 12, and it can be viewed live on Sportsnet West.
Calgary Flames at Minnesota Wild Odds
Minnesota (+120) is currently the underdog to Minnesota (-140), 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 16-14 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.2 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 30 regular season matches, 15 of its games have gone over the total, while 14 have gone under and just one has pushed. This 2017-18 Flames team is 8-6 SU on the road.
Calgary has converted on 19.4 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. Its penalty kill is ranked 29th overall, and it’s successfully killed off only 76.5 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Flames have been whistled for penalties 3.9 times per game this season, and 3.0 per game over its last five on the road. The teams had to kill penalties just 6.6 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 28.7 saves per game with a .918 save percentage, Mike Smith (14-12-2) has been the primary option in goal for Calgary this season. If head coach Glen Gulutzan decides to rest him, however, the team might turn to Eddie Lack (1-3 record, .813 save percentage, 5.29 goals against average).
Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan will both lead the offensive attack for the visiting Flames. Gaudreau has 37 points on 12 goals and 25 assists, and has recorded two or more points in 12 different games. Monahan has 17 goals and 13 assists to his credit (and has notched at least one point in 19 games).
On the other side of the rink, Minnesota is 15-14 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.6 units for moneyline bettors this year. 16 of its outings have gone over the total, while 11 have gone under and just two have pushed. It’s 8-5 SU at home this year.
The Wild have converted on 22.4 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s good enough for fifth-best in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 14th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 81.7 percent of all penalties.
Wild players have been whistled for penalties 4.2 times per game in total this season, and 5.0 per game over their last ten match ups. The teams had to kill penalties just 7.2 minutes per contest over their last five home games.
Devan Dubnyk (28.6 saves per game) has been the top choice in goal for the Wild. Dubnyk has 12 wins, 10 losses, and two OT losses to his credit and has recorded a mediocre 2.73 goals against average and a .914 save percentage this season.
Eric Staal (12 goals, 14 assists) will lead the attack for Minnesota.
Calgary Flames vs. Minnesota Wild Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Wild, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- Minnesota is 1-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Calgary is 2-1 in shootouts.
- The total has gone over in three of Minnesota’s last five outings.
- Minnesota’s attempted 28.8 shots per game overall this season (ranked 32nd in the NHL), and 27.2 over their last 10 outings.
- Over Calgary’s last ten games, six of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 2-4 in those games).
