The Calgary Flames are set to return after their Christmas Break, while the San Jose Sharks will look to bounce back after their 6-3 loss against the Vegas Golden Knights.
My Flames vs. Sharks predictions anticipate things to start slowly, culminating in the Under cashing on the full-game total.
Find out why with my NHL picks for Saturday, December 28th ahead of tonight's 10 p.m. ET puck drop at San Jose's SAP Center on Sportsnet Pacific.
Flames vs Sharks prediction
My Flames pick
Under 6 (+110 at BET99)
My Flames analysis
The Calgary Flames have been one of the most interesting teams in the 2024-25 campaign. They’re two points back of the Western Conference's second wild card, but a lack of secondary scoring has been their Achilles' heel.
The Flames are one of the lowest-scoring teams, only tallying 2.71 goals per game, thanks largely to an inability to create at 5-on-5. Calgary ranks toward the bottom of the league at high-danger chances per 60 at 5-on-5, skating to just 9.96 each contest.
One thing that stands out about Calgary as of late is their lack of opportunities on the power play. In their last five games, they have only had nine total attempts on the man-advantage and they have only gotten more than two attempts in one of their last six games. Calgary has had the ninth fewest power plays in the league this season (91).
The San Jose Sharks and Flames don't necessarily make the most exciting matchup, because neither team puts the puck in the back of the net with ease. The Sharks are scoring just 2.74 goals per game and their power play has struggled, converting at just a 17.7% clip. The Sharks and Flames both rank in the Bottom 10 of the league in scoring, so you shouldn’t expect any sort of shootout tonight.
The Flames only have three players with 20+ points through 34 games. Jonathan Huberdeau, Nazem Kadri, and Connor Zary have led the way, but the goals haven't come easily. Huberdeau and Kadri each have 13 tucks this year while Zary has added eight of his own, but this team needs some consistency beyond the top line if they’re going to remain competitive.
To put this in perspective, the Sharks have six guys with 20+ points and one with 30+. Mikael Granlund, Fabian Zetterlund, and Macklin Celebrini all have 11 goals each, but Celebrini has been quite the joy to watch in his rookie year. The 18-year-old has 26 points in 26 games and is making a strong case for the Calder Trophy.
The Sharks are coming off of a tough loss last night and it’s always a bit more of a grind on the second leg of a back-to-back. On the flip side, while the Flames might be well rested, it takes a little bit to get back in the swing of things after having a week off from playing.
Dustin Wolf will be a tough task for the Sharks to beat tonight. Yaroslav Askarov is expected to get the nod in goal for the Sharks and he’s been solid so far with a .909 save percentage and a 2.75 goals-against average.
This game should be more low-scoring, I expect the under to hit.
Flames vs Sharks same-game parlay (SGP)
Under 6
Jonathan Huberdeau Over 2.5 shots on goal
Nazem Kadri 1+ points
Huberdeau has had at least two shots on goal in four of his last five games and his been one of, if not their biggest contributor offensively this season. The San Jose Sharks allow the most shots on goal against per game in the NHL, so Huberdeau should be able to get his looks tonight.
Kadri has points in six of his last seven games and is getting 18+ minutes of ice time each game as the team's first-line center. Kadri has been a consistent point producer during his time with the Flames, even when the team has struggled. He has 27 points in 30 career games against San Jose.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
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Flames vs Sharks odds
Flames vs Sharks live odds
Flames vs Sharks opening odds
- Puck line: Calgary -1.5 (+160) | San Jose +1.5 (-190)
- Moneyline: Calgary -150 | San Jose +125
- Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+105) | Under 6.5 (-125)
Flames vs Sharks trend
The Calgary Flames have only won 4 of their 15 games on the road this season. Find more NHL betting trends for Flames vs. Sharks.
How to watch Flames vs Sharks
| Location: | SAP Center, San Jose, CA |
| Date: | Saturday, 12-28-2024 |
| Puck drop: | 10:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | Sportsnet West |
Flames vs Sharks latest injuries
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