NHL Odds, Pick, Prediction: Red Wings vs. Flames (March 12)
David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images. Pictured: Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markström.
- The Calgary Flames host the Detroit Red Wings in Saturday's NHL matchup.
- The Flames enter this affair in top form, giving analyst Greg Liodice plenty of reason to back the heavy favorites.
- Check out below why he's expecting Calgary to hammer Detroit.
Red Wings vs. Flames Odds
| Red Wings Odds | +275 |
| Flames Odds | -350 |
| Over/Under | 6.5 (+100 / -120) |
| Time | 7 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN+ |
| Odds via BetMGM. Get up-to-the-minute NHL Odds here. | |
The Detroit Red Wings head to southern Alberta to take on the Calgary Flames in Saturday's NHL showdown.
It’ll be the second and final time these teams face off, as the Flames shut out the Wings in Detroit in October. Calgary comes in as the heavy favorite at -340 on the moneyline, with the Detroit listed as the underdog at +265 odds.
Detroit has not had it easy at all of late. From losing to the ice-cold Wild in overtime, getting pummeled 9-2 to the last place Coyotes and 6-2 to Florida, the Red Wings are not on the best path. From a good start to the season, they’ve crawled back into the lottery and likely won’t make the playoffs.
No one is hotter than the Flames, though. And there was no better time to get hot than now, as Calgary is holding on to the top spot in the division. The Flames have gone 7-2-1 in their last 10, including a win against the defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning.
Detroit Red Wings
The dark days in Hockeytown might be nearing an end. With a load of young talented stars like Lucas Raymond, Moritz Seider, captain Dylan Larkin andTyler Bertuzzi, the Red Wings have a lot of untapped potential. The Red Wings were actually in the playoff hunt for the majority of the season, but after a poor second half of the season, they’ve come back down to earth.
Even though the presence of the young talent is there, the offense still suffers. Sure they’re able to pot a few goals but in the end, the offense is very stagnant. Detroit scores 2.88 goals per game, sits in 26th in expected goals with a 46.27 xGF%, plus it is average at creating high danger chances. Not only that, but their power play is abysmal, scoring 17.3% of the time.
Detroit’s defense has a ton of promise, but they’re very young and inexperienced. Currently, they allow the second most goals per game, as well as the second most high danger chances. Not only that but the Wings have the 3rd worst penalty kill with only a 74% success rate.
Goaltending has certainly been a low point this season, but with such a poor defense, what do you expect?
Alex Nedeljkovic hasn’t had an easy time after having a great season last year in Carolina. The young American is averaging a .901 SV% with a -5.3 GSAx (Goals Saved Above Expected). BackupThomas Greiss hasn’t fared any better with an .888 SV% and a -11.7 GSAx.
I would guess Nedeljkovic starts, but it’s something I would monitor.
Calgary Flames
No one is better form than the Flames. After coming off a 10-game winning streak, Calgary is in prime position to take the Pacific title. The Flames are loaded with talent with superstars like Johnny Gaudreau, Matthew Tkachuk, Elias Lindholm and Tyler Toffoli, who are averaging at least a point per game.
With such a loaded team up front, it’s no surprise that the Flames are one of the best teams at driving play. Currently in the top five overall with a 3.48 goals per game, Calgary is the top team in xG with a 56.41 xGF%. To no surprise, the Flames do create a substantial amount of high danger chances as well. With the man advantage they’re deadly, as they score 23% of the time.
There’s only a select few teams that are so dominant on both ends of the ice, with the Flames being one of them. They only allow 2.48 goals per game (second league wide) and the third-least amount of high danger chances. Even when they’re down a man on the penalty kill, they’re fantastic with an 85% success rate.
Jacob Markström has played like a top-five goaltender all season The towering Swede is making his presence known, as he’s averaging a stifling .926 SV% and a +9.5 GSAx. Since backup Dan Vladar played Tuesday, and he doesn’t usually get a ton of reps, I would assume Markström starts.
However, I’d still keep tabs on it in case head coach Daryl Sutter wants to give Markström a rest against a poor Detroit team.
Red Wings vs. Flames Pick
Calgary is miles better than Detroit, which has me thinking this won't be close. I think it’ll be interesting to see the young guys like Raymond and Seider facing such an elite team like the Flames.
With Detroit’s shoddy overall play and Calgary’s sensational play, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the latter take this to the house and by a large margin.
Pick: Calgary -1.5 (-125)
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