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The Calgary Flames (6-8-0) and San Jose Sharks (7-7-1) will meet in the NHL tonight. Puck drop is set for 9:00 p.m. EST at SAP Center at San Jose in San Jose, Calif. The game will broadcast live on ESPN+.
The Sharks are favored at -126 on the moneyline, with the Flames +107 to pull off the upset. The over/under is set at 6.5 (-101o / -117u).
Let's get into our Flames vs. Sharks predictions and NHL picks.
Flames vs. Sharks Prediction
- Pick: Will Smith First Sharks Goal
Our Calgary vs. San Jose best bet is on Will Smith to score the first Sharks goal, with the best odds currently available at FanDuel. For all of your NHL bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NHL odds page.
Flames vs Sharks Odds
| Flames Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -232 | 6.5 -101o / -117u | +107 |
| Sharks Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +192 | 6.5 -101o / -117u | -126 |
- Flames vs. Sharks puck line: Sharks -1.5 (+192 ), Flames +1.5 (-232)
- Flames vs. Sharks over/under: 6.5 (-101o / -117u)
- Flames vs. Sharks moneyline: Flames +107, Sharks -126
- Flames vs. Sharks best bet: Will Smith First Sharks Goal
Flames vs. Sharks Preview
The Sharks visit the Flames tonight in a Pacific Division clash that highlights an enticing betting angle courtesy of Nick Giffen’s newly debuted NHL First Goal Model.
First-goal markets inherently carry variance, but narrowing the scope to team-specific markets can uncover distinct betting value. San Jose typically doesn't find itself opening the scoring on a nightly basis, making the Sharks' team-first goal market an appealing target over the full-game alternative.
Centering that strategy on Will Smith offers the sharpest route to a payout.
Smith enters tonight leading San Jose with six goals on the young season, thriving alongside captain Macklin Celebrini on the Sharks' top line. When San Jose does break through, Smith is frequently the catalyst; he most recently potted the team’s opening goal against Vancouver this past Thursday.
Tonight's matchup against Calgary presents an ideal setup to keep that trend going. The Flames find themselves navigating a rough patch after goaltender Devin Cooley went down with an injury, thrusting Dustin Wolf into the primary starting duties.
Wolf enters with shaky underlying metrics, with an .847 SV% and a second-worst -8.2 GSAx, leaving Calgary vulnerable to early high-danger chances against top-six firepower.
Smith has already demonstrated a strong track record against this opponent. In seven career games against the Flames, the young forward has netted three goals—two of which opened the scoring for the entire game. With top-line minutes, power-play priority, and Calgary reeling in the crease, Smith is primed to strike first for San Jose.
Backing any skater to score the game's very first goal is always a volatile proposition, but Smith’s usage, head-to-head history, and Giffen’s model edge make him well worth backing for San Jose's opener, with a half-unit sprinkle on the full-game market.
Pick: Will Smith First Sharks Goal | Sprinkle: Will Smith Game's First Goal
