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The Calgary Flames (2-5-1) and Edmonton Oilers (1-5-1) meet for the Heritage Classic on Sunday. Puck drop from Commonwealth Stadium is set for 7 p.m. ET (TBS/Sportsnet). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Flames vs. Oilers odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Oilers C Connor McDavid is expected to return from an upper-body injury Sunday after missing back-to-back games. Edmonton has lost 4 straight and is coming off a 3-0 loss vs. the New York Rangers as a +108 home underdog Thursday.
Calgary is also on a 4-game losing skid. The Flames lost 3-0 to the St. Louis Blues last time out, falling well below expectation as -182 home favorites Thursday.
The Oilers won 2 of 3 meetings last season, and the Under went 2-0-1. Edmonton defeated Calgary 4-1 in the 2nd round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
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Flames vs. Oilers odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:46 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Flames +120 (bet $100 to win $120) | Oilers -145 (bet $145 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Flames +1.5 (-190) | Oilers -1.5 (+155)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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Flames vs. Oilers projected goalies
Jacob Markström (1-4-1, 2.67 GAA, .906 SV%) vs. Stuart Skinner (0-2-1, 3.93 GAA, .846 SV%)
Markström is coming off a 32-save performance, allowing 2 goals in Thursday’s loss. Calgary’s go-to goaltender is winless in his last 5 starts, but that may be due to the Flames offense supporting him with just 6 goals over those games.
Skinner made 29 stops and allowed 3 goals in Thursday’s loss. The Edmonton-born netminder has allowed 3 or more goals in each outing so far, but on the bright side, had his best performance of the season last time out.
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Flames vs. Oilers picks and predictions
Prediction
Oilers 3, Flames 2
Moneyline
This is the perfect get-right spot for the Oilers, who will be getting McDavid back just in time for the 1st outdoor Battle of Alberta. Edmonton has won 6 of the last 7 meetings between these teams, and Skinner seems to be settling into form after a respectable performance vs. New York.
Let’s not overreact to Edmonton’s rough start. It’s still tied with the Dallas Stars, New Jersey Devils and Vegas Golden Knights for the 4th-best odds to win the Stanley Cup (+1100 at BetMGM).
BET OILERS (-145).
Puck line/Against the spread
In 3 iterations of the Battle of Alberta last season, neither team won a game by multiple goals. Calgary +1.5 (-190) will probably hit, but Edmonton ML is the better play and is less expensive.
PASS. Bet the moneyline and/or the total instead.
Over/Under
Both offenses have been disappointing this season, and both projected goalies are coming off decent showings. The Over hasn’t hit in the Battle of Alberta since the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and Markström and Skinner should be able to do just enough to help the Under hit for a 3rd straight meeting.
BET UNDER 6.5 (-105).
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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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