The Calgary Flames will look to end a four-game losing skid as they host the red-hot Florida Panthers tonight at the Scotiabank Saddledome. The Flames are 2-8 SU in their last 10 and which included a 6-2 drubbing in Florida two weeks ago.
After talks of the Jack Adams award, can Darryl Sutter get this Calgary team back on the tracks? Do the Panthers deserve to be in the discussion as the best team in hockey? Find out in our free NHL picks and predictions for the Panthers vs. Flames on January 18.
Panthers vs Flames odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
The Panthers opened at -130 on the moneyline and have since moved to -140 road favorites. The total has also moved and sits at 6.5 after opening at 6. When these two teams met in Florida two weeks ago, the Panthers closed at -145 and won convincingly 6-2 with a total of 6.5.
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.
Panthers vs Flames predictions
Predictions made on 1/18/2022 at 12:00 p.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
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Panthers vs Flames game info
• Location: Arena, Calgary, AB
• Date: Tuesday, January 18, 2022
• Puck drop: 9:00 p.m. ET
• TV: SN1, BSFL
Panthers vs Flames betting preview
Injuries
Panthers: Mason Marchment F (Questionable)
Flames: Jacob Markstrom G (Questionable)
Find our latest NHL injury reports.
Panthers vs Flames head-to-head record (since 2018)
Panthers: 3-4 SU, 25 goals for.
Flames: 4-3 SU, 24 goals for.
Betting trend to know
The Flames are 0-6 SU in their last six vs. the Eastern Conference. Find more NHL betting trends for Panthers vs. Flames.
Panthers vs Flames 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.
Puck line analysis
Florida is making a great argument for the best team in the East. The Panthers have come storming out of the Christmas break and taken 17 of a possible 18 points over their last nine games, which includes statement wins versus the Lightning, Rangers and these Calgary Flames. The offensive numbers the Panthers are putting up of late are just stupid.
Since Christmas, the Panthers are scoring 6.00 goals per game over a span of nine matches. This number is obviously unsustainable, but Florida has scored at least four goals in all nine games and 21 over its last three. The power play is scoring at 30% percent but still, 46 of the team’s 54 goals since Christmas have been scored at even strength. This is not an offense to mess with right now, and with Jacob Markstrom going through some struggles and the Flames giving up 4.17 goals per game since the restart, we’re not ready to fade the Panthers, yet.
Currently, all four Florida lines have an xgoal% above 50 percent. The top line of Verhaeghe-Barkov-Reinhart has been a force of late as Aleksander Barkov has eight points in his last five, Carter Verhaeghe has three multi-point games in his last six, and Sam Reinhart has seven points in his last four games. Jonathan Huberdeau is flirting with the league-lead in points, while rookie Anton Lundell has at least a point in eight of his last nine. Add in a blue line that chips in and this Florida offense is just as good as the one they have over there in Colorado. This is a special group that is coming off a nine-goal game.
?? for Lundy tonight! pic.twitter.com/xQH4FPpCxn
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) January 16, 2022
It comes at a bad time for a once-stout Calgary team that is struggling to keep the puck out of the net during this rough patch. Only three other teams are allowing more goals than the Flames since the restart at 4.15. They’ve allowed at least four goals in four straight games and have held their opponent to two or fewer goals just twice over their last 11.
Jacob Markstrom is questionable for the Flames tonight as there are whispers that he may be dealing with a nagging injury. He's allowed four or more goals in four of his last five starts and gave up six goals on 45 shots in the last meeting. If he can’t go, Dan Vladar could get the nod, which is also bad news for the Flames, as he has surrendered 17 goals in his last four starts.
When Darryl Sutter is calling out his defense, something is broken in Calgary and with the play in net and on the blue line, we’re happy to hit the Panthers Tuesday and are getting greedy with a puck line priced at +165.
This Florida team is rolling and it’s going to take a team in better form than the Flames to slow them down.
Prediction: Panthers -1.5 (+165)
Over/Under analysis
It’s no surprise that a team scoring 6.00 goals per game since Christmas is also hammering Overs on a regular basis. The Panthers are a cool 9-0 to the Over in their last nine and some books actually thought opening this total at 6 was a good idea. This total is heading to 7 but is still worth its weight in gold at 6.5 (-115).
Florida is coming off a nine-goal game versus the Blue Jackets that closed with a total of 7. The Jackets didn’t do much offensively to help with the total but the Panthers don’t need much help these days. Sergei Bobrovsky owns a 2.47 GAA since Christmas, which doesn’t scare us away from the Over. Florida allows the third-most high-danger shots per game. If the Flames, who are scoring over three goals per game on the season, can get two, the visitors should be able to carry this one Over the line.
Florida has been special at even strength this season as the team sits first in goal%, Corsi%, Fenwick%, goals for and expected goals for at even strength. All four lines can contribute, and have been recently. They’ll face a Calgary defense that Sutter said “have had a tough time lately” and are struggling to get back to their November form before COVID hit them hard.
The Panthers scored two power-play goals in the last meeting and have eight PP markers over their last eight games. This team doesn’t need the power play to run up the total, but with the Flames taking penalties at a Top-10 rate since the restart, we could see a couple of extra-strength goals Tuesday night in Calgary.
This is a no-brainer. This is the best offense in hockey right now and is facing a team that is mired in a losing funk and is getting bad play between the pipes.
Prediction: Over 6.5 (-115)
Best bet
Getting the Panthers team total of 3.5 at near plus money is a steal. This team has hit at least four goals in nine straight games and faces a Calgary team that has allowed four or more goals in four straight and six of its last seven. Florida has scored 16 goals in its last two games and had no problem potting six goals against this same Calgary team just two weeks ago.
Calgary’s recent struggles are legit and its goaltending situation, which was a strength two months ago, has turned into a question mark. Florida can beat you at 5-on-5 or with the man advantage and comes into tonight’s game as the best offense in hockey. A road trip to Calgary is not going to slow down the Panthers. We love the full game Over 6.5 but love the Panthers’ team total Over 3.5 (-105) even better.
Pick: Panthers team total Over 3.5 (-105)
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