In their second head-to-head meeting of the regular season, the Calgary Flames and the Anaheim Ducks meet at the Honda Center for a Pacific Division tilt. Sportsnet West will air the action, which gets underway at 10 p.m. ET on Friday, December 29.
Calgary Flames at Anaheim Ducks Odds
Calgary is 18-19 straight up (SU) and has lost 3.0 units for moneyline bettors this year. 19 of its games have gone under the total, while 16 have gone over and just one has pushed. The Flames are 9-8 SU as a road team in 2017-18.
Calgary has converted on 17.8 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s right around league average. Additionally, its penalty kill is ranked 26th overall, and the teams successfully killed off only 77.3 percent of all penalties.
Calgary, as a collective unit, has been penalized 3.9 times per game this season, and 4.8 per game over its last five games. The team has been forced to kill penalties 8.7 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 28.2 saves per game with a .919 save percentage, Mike Smith (15-16-3) has been the best option in goal for Calgary this year. If Calgary decides to rest him, however, the team may roll with David Rittich (3-2-1 record, .924 save percentage, 2.04 goals against average).
The visiting Flames have relied on Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan heavily this season. Gaudreau has 41 points via 13 goals and 28 assists, and has recorded two or more points 12 times. Monahan has 17 goals and 15 assists to his name, and has registered at least one point in 21 games.
On the other side of the rink, Anaheim is 16-22 straight up (SU) and has lost 4.0 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 38 regular season contests, 24 of its games have gone under the total, while 13 have gone over and just one has pushed. It’s 8-11 SU as the home team this season.
Anaheim has converted on 17.3 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked seventh overall, and it’s successfully killed off 82.9 percent of all penalties.
Anaheim players have been penalized 4.5 times per game in total this season, and 3.2 per game over their last five home outings. The teams had to kill penalties just 6.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
John Gibson (30.6 saves per game) has been the primary choice in goal for Anaheim. Gibson has 11 wins, 18 losses, and five overtime losses to his name and has registered a .921 save percentage and 2.78 goals against average this season.
Rickard Rakell (11 goals, 14 assists) will pace the offensive counter for the Ducks.
Calgary Flames vs. Anaheim Ducks Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Flames, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- Calgary is 2-3 in games decided by a shootout this season while Anaheim is 2-4 in shootouts.
- The total has gone under in three of Anaheim’s last five games.
- The Ducks this season have handed the seventh-most hits per game (23.4).
