Two clubs facing each other for the second time this season, the Colorado Avalanche and the Calgary Flames meet at the Scotiabank Saddledome for a Western Conference matchup. The opening faceoff will be at 9 p.m. ET on Thursday, November 1, and it is being televised live on Sportsnet ONE.
Colorado Avalanche vs. Calgary Flames Odds
Calgary (-135) is currently the favorite over Colorado (+115) and the oddsmakers have put the Over/Under (O/U) at an even 6 goals. The odds for betting that total sit at -120 money on the over and +100 on the under.
Earning moneyline bettors 1.0 unit, the Flames are 7-6 straight up (SU) overall this year. That early-season winning percentage is fairly close to what the team posted during last year’s regular season (37-45). Of the team’s 13 games this season, seven have gone over the total, while six have gone under and none have pushed. The team’s 2-3 SU at home so far this year.
Calgary’s converted on just 13.5 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s ranked 27th overall in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 24th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 73.8 percent of all penalties.
As a team, Calgary has been penalized just 3.4 times per game this season. Last year, that number was at 4.4, the second-worst mark in the league. After serving an average of 11.2 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team has been forced to kill penalties for just 7.3 minutes per matchup this year.
With a .878 save percentage and 23.2 saves per game, Mike Smith (4-5-1) has been the primary goalkeeper for the Flames this year. If they decide to give him a rest, however, head coach Bill Peters may roll with David Rittich (3-3-3 record, .939 save percentage, 2.08 goals against average).
The Flames will continue to look for offensive production from Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan. Gaudreau (16 points) has tallied six goals and 10 assists and has recorded two or more points four times this year. Monahan has five goals and nine assists to his name and has recorded at least one point in nine games.
On the other hand, Colorado is 7-5 straight up (SU) and has earned 2.0 units for moneyline bettors this year. A total of seven of its matches have gone under the total, while five have gone over and none have pushed. Colorado’s 4-3 SU as the visiting team this season.
Colorado has converted on 23.9 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked fourth overall and it’s successfully defended 88.5 percent of all penalties.
Colorado’s skaters have been penalized 5.1 times per game this season. Last year, that number was at 4.0, which was the eighth-worst mark in the league. After serving an average of 9.2 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays for 11.3 minutes per matchup this year.
Semyon Varlamov (1.62 goals against average and .950 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for Colorado. Varlamov is averaging 31.1 saves per game and has four wins, four losses, and two OT losses to his credit.
For the visiting Avalanche, the offense will run through Mikko Rantanen (five goals, 16 assists) and Nathan MacKinnon (nine goals, nine assists).
Colorado Avalanche at Calgary Flames Betting Predictions
Pick: SU Winner – Flames, O/U – Over
