Anaheim Ducks vs Calgary Flames Game Preview, Odds, Picks & Predictions

Ducks Must Get Better

Even at the height of their success, the Anaheim Ducks were not fooling anyone. Not according to the outright odds anyway. This was a team that was overachieving by picking off the bad teams and playing great teams close, as evidenced by their 31-18 puckline record.

Anaheim has been one of the best bets online and you would be up over 13 units if you bet the Ducks on the moneyline every time. However, the good times were bound to end given the flaws of this team. For one, the Ducks have been getting outplayed on 5v5 quite frequently.

Anaheim is in the red in corsi and scoring chance metrics and has depended heavily on goaltender John Gibson to make up for its defensive flaws. And on offense, the Ducks are great on the power play (83.7 percent) but average the fewest drawn penalties in the Pacific Division. This team is still a work in progress.

Flames Getting Hotter

It took the Calgary Flames a few games to get it going again. But now, the Flames are looking every bit like a Stanley Cup contender. Adding Tyler Toffoli only makes this team, which already features a slew of elite scorers like Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk, even better,

Holy moly Tyler Toffoli. And that pass! 🤯

Goal No. 1 with the @NHLFlames. pic.twitter.com/yASNgpS8Ln

— NHL (@NHL) February 16, 2022

Calgary’s seven-game winning streak includes victories over Vancouver, Vegas and Toronto. What’s better is that those wins came at the Saddledome, where Calgary was struggling prior to the break. The Flames have also beaten elite teams from the Eastern Conference like Florida and Pittsburgh and the New York Rangers twice each.

It’s hard to find a flaw in this team outside of netminder Jacob Markstrom breaking down due to the high workload. Calgary is above average on special teams and is top-three in corsi and scoring chance ratios on 5v5. Find the Flames on the sportsbook while they are this hot.

Ducks vs Flames Head-to-Head

This will be the rubber match between the Anaheim Ducks and Calgary Flames. The pair have split the season series with one win apiece, with both games going past regulation time. Calgary is 4-0-1 against Anaheim in its last five and has not lost to the Ducks in regulation since the 2018-19 season.

Ducks vs Flames Prediction

The line on the Calgary Flames is trending toward an unbettable price. So instead of betting them on the moneyline, take a shot on the puckline. Calgary is also 6-3 in its last nine games as a favorite on the puckline.

The Flames are also giving up the fewest goals at home at just a hair above two per game. They also have the best penalty kill at 91.1 percent. Markstrom is giving up just 1.87 goals per game in the Saddledome and has allowed just four power-play goals in 18 games. Calgary should dominate Anaheim in a low-scoring game.

Parlay: Calgary Flames -1½  and Under 5½ at +320

Pick: Calgary Flames -1½ (+120)

Pick: Under 5½