The Winnipeg Jets host the rival Calgary Flames at Bell MTS Place for an 8 p.m. ET puck drop Thursday. It’s the season-opener for both teams after the Flames beat the Jets 3-1 in their five-game qualification round series in the 2019-20 postseason. Below, we analyze the Flames-Jets NHL betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
Flames at Jets: Betting odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:42 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Flames -125 (bet $125 to win $100) | Jets +105 (bet $100 to win $105)
- Against the spread/ATS: Flames -1.5 (+220) | Jets +1.5 (-280)
- Over/Under: 6 (O: +100 | U: -120)
Flames at Jets: Projected starting goalies
Jacob Markstrom (23-16-4, .918 SV%, 2.75 GAA) vs. Connor Hellebuyck (31-21-5, .922 SV%, 2.57 GAA)
Markstrom, 30, had a career-best season with the Vancouver Canucks in 2019-20. He finished fourth in Vezina Trophy voting and landed a 6-year, $36-million contract in free agency. He was 0-2 against Calgary with Vancouver last regular season, allowing 7 goals on 60 shots.
Hellebuyck is the reigning Vezina Trophy winner after leading the league in games played (58), saves (1,656) and shutouts (6). He stopped 29 of 30 shots in his lone regular-season start against the Flames.
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Flames at Jets: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Jets 3, Markstrom 2
Money line (ML)
Take the value of the home underdog JETS (+105) in a battle of top goaltenders. Both teams have kept their cores intact from last season, and while the Flames have the better defense group, Hellebuyck’s familiarity with his bunch will prove beneficial as Markstrom gets familiarized with his new team.
Winnipeg won’t have its usual home-ice advantage but this will be a low-scoring, coin-flip game. Always take the value in that scenario.
Against the spread (ATS)
PASS on the spread with no value on either side of what projects as a one-goal game. The Jets topped the Flames 2-1 in overtime in the 2019-20 regular season and their lone playoff win was decided 3-2. The Flames won playoff games by scores of 4-1, 6-2 and 4-0 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, but better defensive play should be expected from Winnipeg this season.
A prop bet of Jets to win by 1 pays out at +625 as an alternative play.
Over/Under (O/U)
UNDER 6 (-120) is the strongest play in this one but the alternate line of UNDER 5.5 (+105) offers the better value while still needing the same result of 5 or fewer total goals scored for a bet to cash.
All but one of the five meetings between the two last season saw 5 or fewer goals scored and the goaltending situation has markedly improved for Calgary. Don’t expect either team to score more than three goals.
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