NHL Odds, Pick & Preview: Hurricanes vs. Flames (Dec. 9)
Darcy Finley/Getty Images. Pictured: Frederik Andersen
- The Hurricanes face the Flames in a matchup between Stanley Cup contenders.
- Pat Pickens breaks down why there is rare value on the Canes as underdogs.
- Check out his analysis and best bet below.
Hurricanes vs. Flames Odds
| Hurricanes Odds | -105 |
| Flames Odds | -115 |
| Over/Under | 5.5 |
| Time | 9 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN+ |
| Odds via DraftKings. Get up-to-the-minute NHL Odds here. | |
Two of the best teams in hockey will square off for a potential Stanley Cup Final preview when the Hurricanes continue their four-game northern road trip against the Flames on Thursday.
Carolina has won two straight, most recently defeating the Winnipeg Jets 4-2 on Tuesday following a mini three-game losing skid. The Hurricanes are three points back of the Washington Capitals for first place in the Metropolitan Division.
Calgary has lost two straight but is still atop the Pacific Division with 35 points, two points clear of the Anaheim Ducks and three ahead of the archrival Edmonton Oilers.
Carolina Hurricanes
Carolina slumped at the end of November and into December but is still one of the most dominant teams in the NHL. The Hurricanes have the best Goals-For Percentage at 5-on-5 (62.6) and rank third in Expected Goals Percentage at all situations (55.2), according to Natural Stat Trick.
The Hurricanes have also been exceptional away from home, boasting the second-most road wins in the league, behind only Calgary, and sharing the lead for best Points Percentage in road games (.750) with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Carolina leads the league in road Expected Goals-For Percentage at 5-on-5 (64.9).
Goalie Frederik Andersen has been at the forefront of Carolina's road success with eight wins in 11 starts and a .921 Save Percentage in those games. Andersen has the 12th-best Goals-Saved Above Average (3.48) in road games among qualifying goalies.
Calgary Flames
The Flames are skidding of late, with just one regulation win in their past six games and a pedestrian 3-3 record over that stretch.
Calgary has been an elite road team, sporting an 11-4-2 record away from the Scotiabank Saddledome, but is just 4-2-3 in nine home games to date.
Part of that is bad luck as Calgary has elite possession metrics in those games yet has the fifth-lowest 5-on-5 Shooting Percentage (6%) and eighth-lowest all-situation PDO (.981) in home games this season, according to Natural Stat Trick.
But the other side is goalie Jacob Markstrom, who will likely get the nod in goal Thursday, has a .915 Save Percentage in nine home games despite sporting a .937 mark overall. Markstrom leads the NHL in road Goals-Saved Above Average (14.1) but ranks 21st in the NHL with a 0.4 mark in home games this season.
Flames vs. Hurricanes Pick
There won't be too many opportunities to bet the Hurricanes as an underdog, and given their road prowess and Calgary's struggles at home, we like taking those odds.
Add to that the fact Andersen is 9-3-2 in his career against the Flames, and we like the road team, even if the odds go to -150.
Pick: Carolina ML (-105)
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