NHL Hockey Free Pick: Detroit Red Wings vs Calgary Flames
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Team records:
Detroit: 33-23-12
Calgary: 34-25-9
Tonight, 9:35p.m. ET
Sportsbook odds: Red Wings – 115, Flames -105
The Detroit Red Wings head West to try and avenge last week’s loss at home to the Calgary Flames. This is certainly the biggest game that both teams will play in the next couple weeks. The Flames trail the Red Wings by one point for eighth place in the Western Conference standings and the winner of this game will occupy the last playoff position in the West.
The Detroit Red Wings are finally healthy after a season long battle with the injury bug. Their recent play has reflected this fact. The Wings have gone 6-2-2 in their last 10 games and have won five of the seven games that they have played since returning from the Olympic break. Unfortunately, one of their two losses came last week to the Flames. The Wings are going to have to do a better job of getting up for these four point games or their playoff aspirations could slip away.
The Red Wings have been relying on their best players and rightfully so at this point in the season. Pavel Datsuyk, Tomas Homstrom, Niklas Lidstrom and Brian Rafalski have all been stepping up their games of late and their timing could not be better. A Western Road Trip is always difficult for an Eastern team and the best players on the team need to be the best players during difficult stretches.
The Calgary Flames rode a four game winning streak into Vancouver on Sunday night and if it wasn’t for a first period in which the Flames completely slept through, they might have stretched their win streak to five. Calgary’s lineup is largely different from the one that was on the ice only 5 weeks ago and it appears as if the team is gelling at precisely the right time.
The Flames have been getting good efforts from everybody but Jarome Iginla in the last week. Outside of a hat trick last Sunday against the Wild, Iginla has not done much in the last week. In his last three games, Iggy has totalled 1 goal and 1 assist. Newcomers Chris Higgins and Matt Stajan have been producing well since their arrival in Calgary. Goaltender Mikka Kiprusoff seems to be back to form and the Flames defense continues to be one of the best units in the NHL. The Flames appear to be a more complete team and to not be as reliant on Jarome Iginla as their sole offensive provider. 
Both teams need the victory on Monday night. Both teams are playing well but both are in danger of falling out of the Western Conference playoff hunt. This is a difficult game to call indeed. My pick is coming down to who I trust the most. Calgary lost an important and emotional game last night and I don’t think that a quick turnaround is easy against a quality side like the Wings. The Wings are the better team straight up, making my pick a little easier.
NHL Betting Trends:
Detroit is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Detroit’s last 7 games when playing Calgary
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Detroit’s last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 15 of Calgary’s last 17 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Detroit’s last 6 games
Calgary is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
Calgary is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Detroit
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Calgary’s last 7 games when playing Detroit
Pick: Detroit Red Wings
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