The new-look Calgary Flames kick off their season when the defending Stanley Cup champions invade Calgary on Thursday evening.
The Colorado Avalanche manhandled the Chicago Blackhawks in their season opener on Wednesday night, beating the Blackhawks 5-2 on home ice. Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar notched two assists, while Valeri Nichushkin grabbed two goals in the emphatic victory.
Nazem Kadri suits up against his former team for the first time as the Flames forward looks to make an immediate impact along with other newcomers Jonathan Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar. Find out if they have an answer for the Avalanche in our NHL picks and predictions.
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Avalanche vs Flames best odds
Avalanche vs Flames picks and predictions
Last season’s sixth-best offense hosts the fourth-most potent attack at the Scotiabank Saddledome. The Flames scored 3.55 goals per game during the 2021-22 season, while the Avs were even more prolific, averaging 3.76 tallies.
Even without Kadri and 22-goal scorer Andre Burakovsky, who signed with Seattle, the Avs are stacked with elite offensive talent. However, Colorado is without captain Gabriel Landeskog for Thursday’s encounter, a crucial absence for the away team.
Led by Weegar, Noah Hanifin, Rasmus Andersson, and Chris Tanev, the Flames are expected to have one of the best defensive corps in the NHL but don’t expect an especially low-scoring affair between these two dynamic offensive teams.
Nobody knows how Huberdeau and Kadri will perform in their first season with their new team, but both off-season additions are elite players who should find the chemistry required to thrive. How long that will take is the million-dollar question.
Even if they aren’t firing at full capacity, the opener between these two prolific attacking teams has more than 4.5 goals written all over it. Although only one night into the season, the Avs should be measurably more fatigued than the Flames after traveling to Calgary in the wee hours of the morning.
The Avs’ overnight travel schedule should provide Calgary with a slight advantage.
In addition, Jared Bednar will most likely turn to Pavel Francouz after Alexandar Georgiev got the nod in the opening win over the Blackhawks.
At the other end of the ice, Jacob Markstrom’s presence is uncertain after missing Wednesday’s practice due to illness. The Flames might have to cope without the Vezina finalist for their opening tilt.
Even if Markstrom plays, Over 4.5 goals offers excellent value. The Flames, who’ve won four of their previous five home openers, should be buoyed by the home crowd and find a way past a red-eyed Avalanche team.
My best bet: Flames to win and Over 4.5 total goals (+120 at BetMGM)
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Avalanche vs Flames moneyline analysis
Colorado took two of three against the Flames last season and won the only game in Calgary. The Avs were 8-3 in the second of back-to-back games last season and 5-0 against Pacific Division teams, formidable statistics if you’re a Flames fan.
That said, the Flames had the second-best home record last season compared to Colorado’s relatively middling 10th-best away record.
While playing without Landeskog didn’t hamstring the Avs against the Blackhawks, who are expected to be one of the Western Conference cellar dwellers, the captain’s absence should have a more palpable negative impact against a far superior Flames team.
Avalanche vs Flames Over/Under analysis
Both teams pack a heavy offensive punch. The Avs and Flames were among the leaders in a bunch of offensive categories last year, including goals differential above expected and goals for above expected.
The Flames were fifth in the former (23.24) and the Avs were third (28.28), while Calgary had the sixth most goals for above expected (15.06), and Colorado again finished third (24.21).
The Avs had the fourth most 5-on-5 goals per 60 minutes (three), while the Flames finished in seventh with 2.92. While a new season has dawned, both teams still have an abundance of offensive weaponry at their disposal.
Expect these two offensive juggernauts to combine for six or more goals.
Avalanche vs Flames betting trend to know
The Avalanche are 13-3 in their last 16 in the second of back-to-back encounters and 38-15 in the most recent 53 versus Pacific Division teams. Find more NHL betting trends for Avalanche vs Flames.
Avalanche vs Flames game info
| Location: | Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, AB |
| Date: | Thursday, October 13, 2022 |
| Puck drop: | 9:30 p.m. ET |
| TV: | Sportsnet, Altitude |
Avalanche vs Flames key injuries
