2011 NHL Hockey Free Predictions: Flames vs Canucks
It’s NHL hockey betting season once again. Hockey Gambling fans sure are getting their money’s worth from the free nhl picks we give out here at Capperspicks.com.
CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT BODOG.COM’S NHL HOCKEY BETTING LINES FOR TONIGHTS MATCHUPS!!!!
Calgary Flames (21-21-6) at Vancouver Canucks (29-10-8)
Date/Time: 10:00 PM ET, Saturday, January 22, 2011
Venue: General Motors Place, Vancouver, British Columbia
Broadcast: CBC (HD)
Flames vs. Canucks Betting Lines from Bodog.com
Spread: OFF
Moneyline: Calgary +200: Vancouver -240
Over/Under: 5.5 goals
CLICK HERE FOR our LIVE NHL ATS Betting Stats For This Game —>
CANADIAN? CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT BODOG.CA SPORTSBOOK —–>
Throw out the last 48 hours and this game would be an easy pick. But considering the events of the last two days, Saturday night’s tilt between the Calgary Flames and the Vancouver Canucks could be very interesting.
The Calgary Flames desperately needed something good to happen to them and Friday night’s game against Dallas might have just been their spark. Coming off a 6-0 home loss to Minnesota, the Flames soundly defeated a Dallas Stars team that had won five straight games and eight straight road tilts. Could it be a sign of things to come? Doubtful!
Calgary has the 23rd ranked offense in the NHL (2.6 goals per game) and there is no real excuse for it. It is baffling that the Flames management continues to fail at creating a decent offensive team! Jarome Iginla and Olli Jokinen are playing OK hockey with four points in their last three games and David Moss has three points in two.
Who will the Flames start in goal? Good question! The better of the two goaltenders, Henrik Karlsson got the win Friday night and is now 2-0-2 in his last four starts with a goals against average just north of 2.00. Mikka Kiprusoff may be forced into action after being pulled in two of his last four starts and giving up six goals in another.
The Vancouver Canucks came out a bit flat in a 2-1 Shootout loss to the struggling San Jose Sharks on Thursday night but the Canucks are notoriously bad in their first game back home after a road trip. We’ll give them a mulligan – it was a very rare home loss for the Canucks!
Vancouver still has the 3rd best offense in the NHL – 3.2 goals per game. They have maintained this rank despite scoring just six goals in their last five games (two shutouts). Nobody has been hot but one thing is certain – the Sedins will break out sooner or later!
Defensively, the Canucks are 4th in the NHL – 2.4 goals allowed per game. Going into Thursday night`s game (which turned out to be a Shootout loss to the Sharks), Roberto Luongo had gone 10-0-3 in his last 13 games. Now he`s 10-0-4! His goals against average – just a tad above 2 goals per game. Ya – he`s been pretty good!
Betting Prediction: The Calgary Flames are 9-12-5 on the road this season and are 1-4 in their last five trips to Vancouver. Calgary is 3-9 in their last 12 games overall. The Vancouver Canucks are 15-3-4 at home this season and are 2-2-2 in their last six games overall.
The Flames had a very good night on Friday but I don`t expect it to continue. The Canucks were home with their families on Friday night waiting for the Flames to come and play. Vancouver hasn`t lost two in a row at home all season and I don`t expect it to happen on Saturday night! Don`t waste your money on the Flames!
Pick: Vancouver Canucks -240
