The Vancouver Canucks are looking to stay atop the Western Conference standings as they host the Calgary Flames tonight in what will be the first meeting since the teams traded Elias Lindholm and Andrei Kuzmenko back in early February. Vancouver enters as a decent -185 home favorite according to NHL odds, but the Flames might be getting back No. 1 goalie Jacob Markstom while Vancouver goalie Thatcher Demko remains sidelined.
Since Conor Garland has hopped up to the Elias Pettersson line to get the star forward going, he’s done nothing but find the scoresheet. Facing a Calgary team that allows a lot of shot attempts and pucks on the net, is getting the top-line and PP2 winger to go Over his 2.5 shot total at solid plus money the best look at this game’s prop markets?
Find out in my free NHL picks for the Flames vs. Canucks on Saturday, March 23.
Flames vs Canucks odds
Flames vs Canucks predictions
The Vancouver Canucks needed to get Elias Pettersson going and the bump has come from an unlikely source — Conor Garland. The veteran winger jumped up with Pettersson two games ago and has recorded five shots on goal and has found the back of the net in back-to-back games.
His minutes aren’t through the roof averaging right around his season numbers, but he's getting quality shifts that are starting in the O-zone and gets a good shooting matchup tonight vs. the Calgary Flames.
The Flames may get Jacob Markstrom back tonight but this is still a team that traded away three starting D-men recently and is giving up a lot of shots. Their 32.3 shots allowed in March ranks 28th and at 5-on-5 over the last 10 games, they’re giving up the eighth-most shot attempts per game.
Garland leads all Vancouver skaters in shot attempts/60 and SOG/60. His 14 minutes of ice time is his floor and if he does see a boost thanks to a better role, his Over 2.5 SOG could be a great move at +130.
The first-line winger has at least two shots in six of his last seven games, including three-plus shots in four of them. It may be just under a 50% win rate, but +130 is a hell of a price for a guy who has been hitting the Over at a good clip even with a low TOI. If that ice time increases, this could be a steal as his shooting rates are elite. His Over 0.5 points is also +130 and worth a sniff.
My best bet: Connor Garland Over 2.5 shots on goal (+130 at SIA)
Flames vs Canucks same-game parlay
Flames +1.5
Under 6.5
Canucks to score first
The Canucks to score first is boosting these odds thanks to the negative correlation to the Flames puck line, but Vancouver has been the best 1P team in hockey and is winning 1P MLs at a 20% ROI on the season. Markstrom could be a little rusty early but he will hopefully settle down. A 3-2 Vancouver win is certainly in play here as the Canucks are a team that likes to squat on its lead and not pile on like other teams.
With most of the scoring likely coming at 5-on-5 and Calgary having the edge in net, a low-scoring competative game is what I'm expecting.
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Flames vs Canucks moneyline and Over/Under analysis
Vancouver opened at -175 and has moved to -185 as of noon today. The move towards the Canucks is a little head-scratching as the Flames are likely getting Markstrom back in net, and his attendance is worth 10 points at least. The move from him to Dan Vladar/Dustin Wolf is a big drop-off.
I’d also expect the Under to take some money as it currently sits at 6.0 +100 to the Under. The Canucks’ offense has dried up of late and Rick Tocchet has his scoring talent spread out across three lines which is diluting the potency.
Vancouver ranks in the bottom third in goals per game at 5-on-5 over the last 10 games and has a negative goal differential across that stretch. It’s also a team that is playing tight defensive hockey that's also having me look long and hard at this Under, especially if Markstrom is announced as the starter.
Both penalty kills have also been Top 10 units this month so special-team goals could be hard to come across. Additionally, neither power play comes into tonight’s meeting in good form so this game could see most of the scoring at 5-on-5 which is another check for the Under.
Casey DeSmith will get the start for the Canucks who have played just eight games this month. He is not a better goalie than Markstrom but does have a much better team in front of him after the Flames gutted the blue line at the deadline. Getting the better goalie as a +155 favorite is the side I’d go with and as I’m expecting a low-scoring game, the value is certainly with the Flames on the ML.
Flames vs Canucks betting trend to know
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Flames vs Canucks game info
| Location: | Rogers Arena, Vancouver, BC |
| Date: | Saturday, March 23, 2024 |
| Puck drop: | 10:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | SN, CBC |
Flames vs Canucks latest injuries
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