Blues vs Flames Odds, Picks, and Predictions Tonight: Containing the Blaze

The St. Louis Blues stay in Alberta for the second leg of a back-to-back Friday as they face the Calgary Flames after getting a come-from-behind shootout win against the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday. 

The Blues are once again the heavy underdog, just like they were against the Oilers. But the team is on a two-game winning streak, having also beaten the Nashville Predators on Monday. 

The Flames haven’t played since Wednesday when they lost the fourth in a row to the Vancouver Canucks. 

Can St. Louis win three in a row or will Calgary snap their four-game losing skid? 

Continue reading for free NHL picks and predictions for Blues vs. Flames on December 16.

Blues vs Flames best odds

Blues vs Flames picks and predictions

Fool me once, St. Louis, but I’m not letting you trick me again. I picked Edmonton on Thursday since the Blues were such heavy underdogs and, of course, St. Louis pulls out the come-from-behind shootout victory on the road. 

Now the Blues play their second back-to-back game in five days when they face the Calgary Flames on Friday. In the first consecutive game set, they lost to Colorado, then came back the next day and shut out Nashville, 1-0 in overtime. 

That was only goalie Jordan Binnington’s third-ever two-game consecutive stretch, but he obviously looked sharp, turning away 25 shots. 

Against the Oilers, Binnington saw 27 shots and stopped 24 of them. Where he shined, however, was in the shootout. He stoned the Oilers, stopping shots from Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. 

Coach David Berube might give his No. 1 goalie the night off, however. Binnington has been in net for three straight overtime games. That’s a lot of ice time and the rest would definitely be warranted.

If that is the case, Thomas Greiss would get his eighth start of the season. The 36-year-old’s last game was a 5-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. He has seven starts on the year and is 3-4 with a goals against average of 3.69 and a save percentage of .899.

I honestly don’t think it matters who is in goal for the Blues. They’re 4-0 in their last four when playing on zero day’s rest. 

The Flames have been mired in a four-game losing streak. Three of those have come in overtime. They lost outright in the extra period to Toronto and then had shootout losses to Montreal and Vancouver. 

The Blues have owned this series as of late, winning six of the past seven meetings. This will be the first game this season between the two teams. 

With both teams involved in overtimes in their last three games, I am expecting a tight contest. I’ll back St. Louis on the puckline and hope Griess can keep them in it if he starts. If Binnington gets the call, I feel even better about backing the Blues. 

My best bet: St. Louis +1.5 (-140 at BetMGM)

Blues vs Flames moneyline analysis

It might be asking too much of the St. Louis Blues to win their third in a row, especially after being in their third straight overtime game. Though, the Blues seem to be able to handle it. 

It doesn’t hurt that they’re playing a struggling Calgary Flames team. The Flames have gone 0-1-3 in their last four games and their offense has been anemic. They do, however, have a good record at home, going 10-5-2 at the Saddledome.

Still, the Flames are 22nd in the NHL in goals scored, averaging 2.93 this season. They are also 24th in power play conversion at 20.4. 

Defensively, the Flames are a little better, but still rank 16th in goals against average at 3.00. Like St. Louis, who starts in goal is up in the air. With Jacob Markstrom starting the last two games, head coach Daryl Sutter might give his backup, Dan Vladar the start. 

Vladar’s last start was Saturday against Toronto, where he allowed five goals, including one in overtime to lose 5-4. So far this season, the 25-year-old is 5-4-2 with a GAA at 2.81 and a save percentage of .905. 

With the backups probably starting I would lean toward Vladar but this game should be close and don’t be surprised if it goes to overtime. 

Blues vs Flames Over/Under analysis

With both teams playing in three straight overtime games, the total has been trending toward the Over. The Blues are 6-2 on the Over in their last eight games. Surprisingly, two the overtime games went Under. 

There’s some strong data that suggests the Over is the way to go. The Blues are 6-2 on the Over in their last eight games, and 12-4 overall in their last 16. For the Flames, they’re 5-2 on the Over in their last seven games. 

Between the two teams, the Over is 3-0-1 in their last four, and the Over is 7-3 in the last 10 games played at the Saddledome in Calgary. 

I like the Over, especially if both backups play. Greiss has seven starts on the year and is 3-4 with a goals against average of 3.69 and a save percentage of .899. 

Vladar has much better stats, going 5-4-2 with a GAA at 2.81 and a save percentage of .905. He has seven games, however, where he allowed three or more goals. 

Blues vs Flames betting trend to know

The Blues are 6-1 in the last seven meetings, including going 5-1 in the last five in Calgary. Find more NHL betting trends for Blues vs Flames.

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