2011 NHL Hockey Free Predictions: Flames vs Maple Leafs
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Calgary Flames (19-20-5) at Toronto Maple Leafs (18-21-4)
Date/Time: Saturday, January 15, 2011, 7:00 PM ET
Venue: Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario
Broadcast: CBC (HD)
Flames vs. Leafs Betting Lines from Bodog.com
Spread: Flames +1.5 (-255): Leafs -1.5 (+215)
Moneyline: Calgary +115: Toronto -135
Over/Under: 5.5 goals
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Two pretty bad Canadian teams meet on National Television on Saturday night. Calgary finally won on Friday night while the Leafs suffered their first loss in five games on Thursday. With a .500 record within both teams’ sights, it should at least be an entertaining game with plenty of emotion.
The Calgary Flames are 5-3-2 in their last 10 games and got their first win in five against Ottawa. They have been OK but two shootout losses during a four game winless streak still don’t give the Flames the two points that they desperately need.
The 21st ranked offense (2.6 goals per game) has been bolstered by a couple of unlikely players – David Moss has two multi-goal games in his last five and Tim Jackman has seven points in his last seven games. Jarome Iginla has owned the Leafs in the past -he has five goals and eight assists in his last six games against the Leafs.
The Flames will turn back to Mikka Kiprusoff in favor is Henrik Karlsson on Saturday. Kipper has been brutal – allowing 11 goals on 56 shots the last three games. However, he is 5-1-1 with a 2.99 goals against average in his last seven games against Toronto.
The Maple Leafs are playing perhaps their best hockey since the beginning of the season. They had won four straight before a 5-1- defeat against Phoenix. Still, they were 3-1 on their road trip, have won five of their last seven games and are 6-4-0 in their last 19 games overall.
The Leafs are ranked 22nd in goals for and in goals against in the NHL. The problem is that they give up more goals – 3.0 than they score – 2.6. Nikolai Kulemin has been hot for Toronto – tallying seven points in his last four games, Clarke MacArthur has six points in four games and Colby Armstrong has seven points in five. Mikhail Grabovski and Phil Kessel have been very effective as well for the buds recently.
Like the Flames, the Leafs will go away from a successful young goaltender in favor of a veteran on Saturday night. James Reimer got rewarded for his sparkling recent play by being sent down to the minors. Jean-Sebastien Guigere returns from injury and is 6-2-0 with a 2.32 goals against average in his last eight versus the Leafs.
Betting Prediction: The Calgary Flames are 8-12-4 on the road this season and are just 5-15 in their last 18 away from home. They are just 2-8 in their last 10 trips to Toronto. The Toronto Maple Leafs are 9-10-3 at home this season and have won four of their last five games on home ice. The home team is 10-1 in the last 11 games in the series.
The Toronto Maple Leafs appear to have found their stride but in true Leafs fashion, they will shake up a lineup that has found some success. Guigere will start and show some rust in the Toronto net on Saturday. I don’t like the Flames at all but in this situation I like them to prevail.
Pick: Calgary Flames +115 and the Under – 5.5 goals
One reply on “Calgary Flames vs. Toronto Maple Leafs NHL Picks (Jan. 15)”
I hear ya man. all stats say the the leafs should win this one, but with JSG probably starting for the leafs, and kipper just being benched and publicaly called out, he’ll steal the show.