The Calgary Flames (9-9-2) continue their Eastern Canada road trip with the first game of three straight against the Ottawa Senators (6-14-1) at Canadian Tire Centre. Thursday’s puck drop will be at 7 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the Flames-Senators odds and lines, with NHL picks and predictions.
The two sides will play a total of five head-to-head games between Thursday and Sunday, March 7. They haven’t met yet this season in the all-Canadian North Division. They split their two-game series 1-1 last season with both teams winning on home ice.
Calgary’s coming off a 2-1 overtime loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs Wednesday night. Ottawa was off following a surprising two-game sweep of the Montreal Canadiens Sunday and Tuesday; they won 5-4 via a shootout Tuesday.
Flames at Senators: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:15 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Flames -175 (bet $175 to win $100) | Senators +150 (bet $100 to win $150)
- Against the spread/ATS: Flames -1.5 (+145) | Senators +1.5 (-175)
- Over/Under: 6.5 (O: +100 | U: -120)
Flames at Senators: Projected starting goalies
Jacob Markstrom (8-6-1, .909 SV%, 2.87 GAA) at Matt Murray (4-9-1, .883 SV%, 3.66 GAA)
Markstrom sat out Wednesday’s game due to an upper-body injury, but an extra day of rest should have him back in the crease. He lost back-to-back games to the Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers Wednesday and Saturday with a total of 10 goals allowed on 44 shots; he was pulled early both times.
Murray was in net for both wins over the Canadiens and stopped 62 of 68 shots faced. Backup Marcus Hogberg remains sidelined by a lower-body injury, so Murray should get an extended run in net.
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Flames at Senators: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Senators 4, Flames 3
Money line (ML)
Back the SENATORS (+150) as home underdogs once again. Though they’re still buried in last place in the North Division, the Sens have gone 4-2 over their last six games. The Flames are 2-3-1 over the same stretch.
The Flames received a strong effort from backup G David Rittich Wednesday, but Markstrom has been bad of late and may still be a little banged up. The Sens get the edge in the goalie battle.
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Against the spread (ATS)
The SENATORS +1.5 (-175) can also be backed with the goal of insurance on the puck line. They’ve lost by 2 or more goals just three times in their last 10 games, and the Flames have won by 2 or more three times in their last 10 outings.
Calgary is 11th in the NHL with a 5-on-5 Corsi For percentage of 50.80 while Ottawa is right behind at 50.50%.
Over/Under (O/U)
Take the OVER 6.5 (+100) with Markstrom struggling between the pipes and the Senators still allowing a league-high 4.00 goals per game.
Calgary’s 21.05% power-play success rate is likely to strike against Ottawa’s 24th-ranked penalty kill of 75.36%.
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