The Edmonton Oilers are hanging on by a thread as the losses continue to stack up following their embarrassing 6-0 loss to the Panthers on Thursday. A loss to the Calgary Flames Saturday night could be the final straw, as changes loom for the Oilers.
Can the Oilers pick up their third win in 16 games? Do the Flames carry the momentum from their 5-1 win over the Panthers into tonight's provincial battle? Find out in our free NHL picks and predictions for Flames vs. Oilers.
Flames vs Oilers odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
This game opened as a pick ‘em but has swung to the Flames -120 on the moneyline. The total sits at 6, leans to the Over, and has hit 6.5 at some books. These two teams met last in Edmonton on October 16 where the Oilers won 5-2 as -160 favorites on the moneyline with a total of 6.
Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right until puck drop and be sure to check out the full NHL odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.
Flames vs Oilers predictions
Predictions made on 1/22/2022 at 1:30 p.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
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Flames vs Oilers game info
• Location: Rogers Place, Edmonton, AB
• Date: Saturday, January 22, 2022
• Puck drop: 10:00 p.m. ET
• TV: CBC, Sportsnet
Flames vs Oilers betting preview
Key injuries
Flames: Elias Lindholm F (Questionable).
Oilers: Stuart Skinner G (Out), Mike Smith G (Out), Zach Hyman F (Out), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins F (Out), Tyson Barrie D (Out), Zack Kassian F (Questionable).
Find our latest NHL injury reports.
Flames vs Oilers head-to-head record (since 2021)
Flames: 4-9 SU, 33 goals for.
Oilers: 9-4 SU, 47 goals for.
Betting trend to know
The Favorite is 16-6 SU in the last 22 meetings. Find more NHL betting trends for Flames vs. Oilers.
Flames vs Oilers picks and predictions
Our predictions are compiled from the analysis of the spread and total and are indications of where we are leaning for this game.
Our best bet is the play that we like the most for this game, which we would actually put some of our bankroll behind.
Moneyline analysis
Life for the Oilers right now is not comfortable. They're dealing with a ton of media noise that is likely warranted, as they’re riding a season-high seven-game losing streak and have just two wins over their last 15 games. Connor McDavid hasn’t scored a goal at home since November 20, Leon Draisaitl has become an unfair target in the media thanks to his understandable frustrations, the team is missing Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and the play in net has been awful over the last two months. With all these issues, a loss tonight to the Flames would be the icing on this crap cake that the Oilers have baked themselves.
Dave Tippett will likely be forced to start Mikko Koskinen in net again as Stuart Skinner and Mike Smith are unavailable. Since December 1, Koskinen is 1-7 SU in eight starts with a 3.99 GAA and a .867 SV%. We have some sympathy for the big Finn but thanks to a lack of depth at the position, the backup goalie has had to take on a bigger role which has been a death sentence for the Oilers. Over the last seven weeks, no team is giving up more goals per game (4.00) than the Oilers, who are also 3-13 SU over that stretch and have the lowest point percentage in hockey.
Koskinen has also been vocal about his team’s inability to score and one would think with Draisaitl and McDavid around those complaints might not be warranted, but that isn’t the case here. Edmonton has turned into a Bottom-6 offense over the last two months and is scoring just 2.50 goals per game, which ranks below the Arizona Coyotes. We feel bad for the situation in Edmonton but that isn’t going to stop us from profiting from it. There is a reason the line swung from -110 to -120 for the road team when this same matchup closed Edmonton -160 earlier in the season.
The Flames come into this matchup having dug themselves out of a little bit hole earlier in the week. They beat the Panthers 5-1 on Tuesday to end a four-game losing streak of their own. Then those same Panthers stuck around Alberta and blanked the Oilers 6-0 two nights later. Florida’s Spencer Knight was in net for the Flames' victory but these two recent results are a good indication of just where these two teams are right now.
The Oilers have to end this drought at some time but with very few indications of decent play and injuries still hurting this squad, a rejuvenated Calgary team doesn’t seem like the best place to start. That 6-0 loss to Florida was as deflating as a loss can be.
Prediction: Flames ML (-120)
Over/Under analysis
This head-to-head has seen just one total above 6 over the last 10 meetings but we’re thinking this one closes closer to 6.5 than 6 despite some indicators pointing us in the direction of the Under.
Koskinen has struggled more than any goalie in hockey of late but he is an incredible 6-0-1 to the Under over his last seven games, even with a 4.28 GAA. The reason: Edmonton just can’t score. In those seven games, the goaltender has seen just seven goals of support. No wonder he’s pissed. The scoring well has dried up with the Oilers and missing Hyman, Nugent-Hopkins and Tyson Barrie tonight won’t help.
Jacob Markstrom will likely get the nod tonight for the Flames. He is coming off a 5-1 victory vs. one of the best offenses in the Panthers and looked more like his earlier-season self where he was in the conversation for the Vezina.
Looking at special teams, the Oilers have just one power-play goal over their last seven games and although their penalty kill has been awful of late, the Flames’ power play ranks 20th in the league since December 1. The Oilers also draw the fewest penalties in the league at a comical rate of 1.96 per game.
Good teams score goals and Edmonton has been the worst team in hockey over the last two months. The days of three-point nights from McDavid and Draisaitl have been put on hold. Edmonton has been put on Under alert until further notice. Calgary’s 2.51 goals allowed per game is the second-best mark in hockey. We’re paying a bit more juice to get the 6.5 here.
Prediction: Under 6.5 (-120)
Best bet
We’re following the market with our best bet here and taking the Flames on the ML at -120. Edmonton hasn’t shown anything that is indicative of turning this mess around and Koskinen shouldn’t be trusted especially when Edmonton struggles to give him any offensive support.
Since December 1, Edmonton has been the worst team in the league by point percentage and we’re happy to see how far this ship can sink.
Pick: Flames ML (-120)
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