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The Vancouver Canucks (29-24-11) take on the Calgary Flames (30-23-10) Wednesday. Puck drop from Scotiabank Saddledome is set for 9 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Canucks vs. Flames odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Season series: Flames lead 2-1
This game has major playoff implications as Calgary sits in the final Wild Card spot in the West, just 1 point ahead of Vancouver and the St. Louis Blues. This is the last head-to-head meeting between the clubs.
The Canucks fell 4-2 to the Montreal Canadiens at home Tuesday night. They got down 3-0 after 2 periods but got within 1 midway through the third after C Elias Pettersson drilled his 13th goal of the season. They couldn’t make it all the way back, though. Vancouver has lost 2 straight and is just 4-6-0 in the last 10.
The Flames beat Montreal 1-0 Saturday in their first home game since Feb. 23. They went 2-2-2 on the 6-game road trip. LW Joel Farabee had the lone tally, his 11th, in the shutout over the Habs. The Flames are an interesting bunch as they’re really not great at anything. They just find ways to get it done. They’re last in goals at 2.56 per game, 18th on the power play at 21.2% and 26th on the PK at 74.9%.
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Canucks at Flames odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:55 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Canucks +120 (bet $100 to win $120) | Flames -145 (bet $145 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Canucks +1.5 (-225) | Flames -1.5 (+185)
- Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: +100 | U: -120)
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Canucks at Flames projected goalies
Arturs Silovs (1-6-1, 3.86 GAA, .858 SV%) vs. Dustin Wolf (22-12-4, 2.52 GAA, .915 SV%, 3 SO)
Silovs has certainly lost the magic he captured in the playoffs last year, as 5 of his 8 starts this season have rendered 4+ goals against. His last start came Feb. 27 in a 5-2 loss to the Anaheim Ducks as he allowed 4 goals on 24 shots. He faced Calgary in his first start of the season Oct. 9 and allowed 6 goals on 26 shots.
Wolf stopped all 26 shots Montreal fired at him Saturday. He is 2-0-1 with a 1.64 GAA and .943 SV% in 3 starts this month. He faced Vancouver on New Year’s Eve and beat it 3-1, stopping 23 of 24 shots fired his way.
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Canucks at Flames picks and predictions
Prediction
Flames 2, Canucks 1
Moneyline
This will be a playoff atmosphere, and I could see the extra frame being necessary. D Quinn Hughes (lower body), one of the best defensemen in the sport, hasn’t played since March 1. However, there’s a good chance he returns for this one. That will be a boost, but I just can’t see the Canucks getting the necessary goaltending on the back-to-back.
Take the FLAMES -145.
Puck line/Against the spread
PASS.
There’s no play here as the Canucks are far too expensive at -225 on the PL.
Over/Under
This is more a fade on the offenses than faith in the goalies. The Canucks are 3-7 O/U in their last 10, and the Flames are 1-8-1. Three of the last 4 meetings saw fewer than 6 goals.
I’ll take the UNDER 5.5 (-120).
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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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