The Calgary Flames (9-9-1) wrap up a two-game set on the road against the Toronto Maple Leafs (14-4-2) Wednesday for a 7 p.m. ET puck drop at Scotiabank Arena. Below we analyze the Flames-Maple Leafs odds and lines, with NHL picks and predictions.
Flames at Maple Leafs: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 3:30 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Flames +130 (bet $100 to win $130) | Maple Leafs -155 (bet $155 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Flames +1.5 (-200) | Maple Leafs -1.5 (+165)
- Over/Under: 6.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Flames at Maple Leafs: Projected starting goalies
Jacob Markstrom (8-6-1, 2.87 GAA, .909 SV%, 2 SO) at Michael Hutchinson (1-1-0, 3.05 GAA, .914 SV%)
Markstrom has gotten tuned up across the past two outings, coughing up five goals in each game. One of them was against his former team, the Vancouver Canucks, when he was pulled in the third period, and last time was a 7-1 loss at the Edmonton Oilers Saturday when he stopped just 10 of 15 shots before giving way to G David Rittich. The latter blanked the Maple Leafs 3-0 Monday. Rittich is 1-3-0 this season, but he has a 2.36 GAA and .909 SV% in his six appearances, seeing very little offensive support to lead to his poor record.
Hutchinson is projected to make the start, as G Frederik Andersen is nursing an undisclosed lower-body injury. Hutch was thrust into a starting role in Monday’s 3-0 loss, but he wasn’t half bad. He turned aside 30 of the 33 shots he faced, allowing two of the goals on special teams.
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Flames at Maple Leafs: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Flames 4, Maple Leafs 3
Money line (ML)
The FLAMES (+130) catch a break in Toronto by not having to face Andersen, who leads the NHL with 11 victories with a respectable 2.69 GAA. While Hutchinson wasn’t bad in the Great Dane’s stead, Calgary is much more attractive on the road with Andersen on the shelf.
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Against the spread (ATS)
The Flames +1.5 (-200) will cost you two times your potential return if you’re not feeling them straight up for a second straight game in Toronto. There is just no value here. Take the Flames on the road on the money line, or avoid this wager altogether. PASS.
Over/Under (O/U)
The OVER 6.5 (-110) is the lean here, although if you’re a regular reader of my columns, you’ll know I am not a fan of a 6.5 total, at least for Over wagers. Not many people are. In this case, Markstrom has been very giving lately, and Hutchinson is Hutchinson. He played much better than usual last time out in an emergency role. His rebound control isn’t nearly as good as Andersen, and we should see plenty of scoring chances in this one.
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