Two squads that are squarely in the playoff hunt, the Calgary Flames and the Dallas Stars meet at the American Airlines Center for a Western Conference tilt. The first puck will drop at 9 p.m. ET on Friday, November 24, and it’ll be televised live on Fox Sports Southwest.
Calgary Flames at Dallas Stars Odds
Dallas (-135) is currently the favorite over Calgary (+115), and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals. The line for betting the total stands at -120 for the under and +100 for the over.
Calgary is 12-9 straight up (SU) and has earned 1.6 units for moneyline bettors this year. 11 of its outings have gone over the total, while nine have gone under and just one has pushed. As an away team this season, the Flames are 6-4 SU.
Calgary has converted on 21.6 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. Its penalty kill is ranked 30th overall, and the teams successfully killed off only 72.6 percent of all penalties.
The Flames, as a collective unit, have been sent to the penalty box 4.3 times per game overall this season, and 5.0 per game over its last five on the road. The team has had to kill penalties a whopping 18.2 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Sporting a .925 save percentage and 30.0 saves per game, Mike Smith (12-7-1) has been the primary option in goal for Calgary this season. If Calgary decides to rest him, however, the team might roll with Eddie Lack (1-3 record, .813 save percentage, 5.29 goals against average).
The visiting Flames have relied on Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan this year. Gaudreau has 31 points via 10 goals and 21 assists, and has recorded two or more points 10 times. Monahan has 12 goals and 10 assists to his nameand has notched at least one point in 14 games.
Over on the other bench, Dallas is 11-11 straight up (SU) and has lost 2.2 units for moneyline bettors thus far. 11 of its contests have gone over the total, while 10 have gone under and just one has pushed. This year, the teams 8-2 SU as the home team.
The Stars currently have the third-strongest power-play unit in the NHL, as they’ve found the net on 25.4 percent of their extra-man opportunities this year. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked eighth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 83.8 percent of all penalties.
Stars players have been sent to the penalty box 4.6 times per game in total this season, and 6.0 per game over their past five match ups. The team’s had to stave off opponent power plays a whopping 16.0 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Ben Bishop (24.6 saves per game) has been the primary selection in goal for the Stars. Bishop has nine wins and nine losses to his credit and has recorded a subpar .908 save percentage and 2.69 goals against average this season.
Jamie Benn (11 goals, 10 assists) will lead the attack for the home team.
Calgary Flames vs. Dallas Stars Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Stars, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
- The Flames are 9-3 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 8-6 when they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes.
- The total has gone over in three of Dallas’ last five outings.
- Dallas skaters have averaged 9.0 giveaways over its last five home games, a rise over its season average of 7.3 giveaways per game (ranked 4th).
- Calgary skaters have averaged 7.2 giveaways over its last five home games, an improvement from its season average of 9.7 giveaways per game (ranked 18th in the NHL).
