The Calgary Flames and Winnipeg Jets meet Friday in NHL action at the Canada Life Centre. The Calgary Flames look for a win after winning six of their last nine games. The Winnipeg Jets look for a win after splitting their last eight games.
The Calgary Flames are averaging 3.5 goals per game and are scoring on 23.5 percent of their power play opportunities. Matthew Tkachuk leads Calgary with 40 goals, Johnny Gaudreau has 72 assists and Elias Lindholm has 226 shots on goal. Defensively, the Calgary Flames are allowing 2.5 goals per game and are killing 83.9 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Jacob Markstrom has allowed 134 goals on 1,729 shots faced, and Dan Vladar has allowed 51 goals on 543 shots.
The Winnipeg Jets are averaging 3 goals per game and are scoring on 21.3 percent of their power play opportunities. Kyle Connor leads Winnipeg with 45 goals, Blake Wheeler has 42 assists and Nikolaj Ehlers has 238 shots on goal. Defensively, the Winnipeg Jets are allowing 3.2 goals per game and are killing 74.4 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Connor Hellebuyck has given up 192 goals on 2,122 shots faced, and Eric Comrie has allowed 41 goals on 485 shots.
The Calgary Flames are going to be favored for obvious reasons, but you do have to question their motivation with their division locked up and the playoffs around the corner. The Winnipeg Jets may want to send their fans off with a victory after coming up just short of a playoff berth, and they have won six of the last nine meetings against the Flames. The Jets usually have a field day against this Flames defense. I’ll take a stab here with the plus money.