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The Winnipeg Jets and the Calgary Flames open their 2023-24 National Hockey League regular seasons Wednesday at Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary. Puck drop is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Jets vs. Flames odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Jets head to Calgary looking to get off on the right foot, but the home team has dominated this series lately, winning 4 of the past 5 meetings in the series. The Jets are also just 8-17 in the past 25 trips to Calgary.
The Flames saw G Jacob Markstrom perform well in the preseason, including a 5-4 victory over the Jets on Oct. 2 with Markstrom and G Connor Hellebuyck facing each other in Alberta.
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Jets 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 6:19 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Jets +115 (bet $100 to win $115) | Flames -140 (bet $140 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Jets +1.5 (-210) | Flames -1.5 (+170)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: +100 | U: -120)
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Jets at Flames projected goalies
Connor Hellebuyck (37-25-2, 2.49 GAA, .920 SV%, 4 SO – 2022-23) vs. Jacob Markstrom (23-21-12, 2.92 GAA, .892 SV% , 1 SO)
Hellebuyck is fresh off signing a 7-year, $59 million extension. He was just 1-2-0 in 3 starts against the Flames last season despite a solid 2.71 GAA and .924 SV%.
Markstrom picked up a win on April 5 in Winnipeg, kicking aside 34 of the 35 shots he faced. He won 2 of his 3 starts against the Jets last season, and he also allowed just 2 goals on 23 shots in his only home start against Winnipeg in a 3-2 victory on Nov. 12.
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Jets at Flames picks and predictions
Prediction
Flames 3, Jets 2
Moneyline
The FLAMES (-140) are a decent play as moderate favorites in the opener. Calgary has dominated Winnipeg over the years at the Scotiabank Saddledome, going 17-8 in the past 25 home games against the Jets. The home team has picked up victories in 4 of the past 5 meetings overall in the series, too.
Puck line/Against the spread
The Jets +1.5 (-210) will cost you more than 2 times your potential return if you want a little bit of insurance and just cannot play the Jets straight up.
The underdog is 6-2 in the past 8 meetings, so there is some merit to backing the Jets on the puck line, but that’s just too big of a price to pay and it could easily be spoiled by a late empty-net goal.
PASS.
Over/Under
UNDER 6.5 (-120) might be the best play on the board with 2 solid goaltenders going against each other.
The Under has been the way lately when these teams have met, too, going 7-2-1 in the past 10 meetings in Calgary and 23-8-1 in the past 32 meetings overall.
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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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