Canucks vs. Flames Prediction, Betting Odds, and Our Best Bet

The Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks meet for the 4th and final time this season, with Calgary already getting a jump as they lead the season series 2-1.

The Flames have won 2 of the 3 matchups, including a 3-1 win in their most recent meeting back in December. Vancouver will be looking to even things up, however, they come in struggling, while Calgary has been the more consistent team as of late.

The bookmakers are favoring the Flames at home tonight, with a -140 moneyline, while the Canucks are underdogs at just +120. So, the odds are close which also makes us feel like this will be a close game. The puck line is set at Flames -1.5 at +175 and Canucks +1.5 at -225. The total for the game is at 5.5 goals, which goes to show Calgary’s defensive structure and Vancouver’s recent inconsistency on both ends of the ice.

With the puck drop set for 9:00 PM ET at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, you have plenty of time to get your bets in.

Betting Odds and Key Trends

The Canucks and Flames have both been somewhat inconsistent in recent weeks as they struggle to remain relevant for the playoffs. 

Vancouver has lost 6 of their last 10 games and has struggled defensively, allowing a whopping 15 goals in their last 3 games. Their most recent game was a 6-3 blowout loss to the dismal Seattle Kraken, where defensive lapses were abundant. They also dropped a 4-2 game to Montreal and a 4-1 loss to Dallas. Their 2 wins in this recent stretch came against Minnesota and Anaheim, but neither victory was overly convincing and neither of those teams are all that great.

Calgary hasn’t been much better. They’ve gone 4-3-3 in their last 10, but they’ve been able to collect points more consistently. Their recent games include a 1-0 win over Montreal, a 3-2 win over Philly, and a 3-2 OT loss to Dallas. However, they were shut out in back-to-back games by Carolina and Florida, though, both of those teams are heavily favored for the Stanley Cup.

The total for this game is set at 5.5 goals, which makes sense to us given Calgary’s recent scoring dip. The Flames have only hit the over once in their last 10 games and the Canucks have done so 3 times — both of which don’t give us much faith in the over. Vancouver’s games tend to be a bit more unpredictable, as their defense has been vulnerable, but Calgary has been seemingly more structured, keeping scoring lower.

Goaltending and Defensive Matchup

We think that goaltending could be the difference in this one.

Dustin Wolf is expected to take the crease for the Flames, and he has been solid this season with a .915 save percentage and a 2.52 GAA. That puts him 13th in the NHL. Calgary has been relying on strong goaltending and their blue line to keep them in games, as their offense hasn’t exactly been firing on all cylinders.

Vancouver is expected to go with Kevin Lankinen tonight, who has very similar numbers to Wolf with a .905 SV% and a 2.54 GAA. That puts him in the upper half of the netminders as well. While Lankinen has had some good performances and is up there with Wolf, he has also been inconsistent over the last few games, and the Canucks have allowed a lot of high-danger chances.

Defensively, Calgary has been the stronger team, allowing 2.87 goals per game compared to Vancouver’s 2.70. Though that’s not much of a difference, it could be one of the driving factors for tonight. The Flames also give up more shots on goal, but their PK unit is the real area of concern, sitting at 74.9%, compared to Vancouver’s 82.4%. Calgary has one of the worst PK units and Vancouver has one of the best. If the Canucks can generate power-play chances, they might have an opening to break through Calgary’s solid defensive structure.

Head-to-Head Matchup

Calgary has taken control of the season series, winning 2 of the 3 previous games this season. They won the most recent game 3-1 and also secured a 3-1 win earlier in the season. The one time Vancouver won, it took overtime, as they edged out a 6-5 victory way back in October. It’s worth noting, however, that both of these teams look a bit different than their previous matchups.

The Flames have played more structured hockey against the Canucks, relying on their defense and goaltending to grind out tough wins and get the points. Vancouver has struggled to generate quality scoring chances in these matchups, and that could continue in this game, especially with Calgary playing on their home ice.

One key area we’ll be watching is special teams. Vancouver’s power play at 20.2% is only slightly better than Calgary’s 17.2%, and their penalty kill is also much stronger. If the Canucks can create power-play opportunities, they could find a way to break through and get on the scoreboard. However, in 5-on-5 play, Calgary has been the better team in this matchup.

Best Bet for Canucks vs. Flames

The Flames have had Vancouver’s number this season and we don’t expect that to change one bit. Their defensive play has been more reliable and we don’t see the Canucks breaking through too often.

Dustin Wolf has been fairly steady in between the pipes, while Vancouver’s goaltending has been a bit more inconsistent over the past few weeks. Sure, the Canucks are capable of keeping this game close, but with Calgary playing at home and having the edge in defense, we think they should come away with the win.

• HelloRookie’s Prediction: Flames win 3-2.
• Best Bet: Calgary moneyline (-140)

We’re going with the Calgary moneyline on this matchup as they’ve been the more stable team and have already won 2 of 3 matchups against the Canucks. The under 5.5 goals (+105) is also a decent bet, given how Calgary’s defense has dictated play in recent games.