By nearly all accounts the Western Conference preliminary round series between the Winnipeg Jets and Calgary Flames is expected to be the best of the eight matchups taking place. Gamblers have the Flames as a slight favorite in a matchup considered to be even on paper. Calgary is seen by most observers as an overachieving team while the Jets are seen as an underachiever, capable of far more than they showed in the regular season. Further Winnipeg has more impressive metrics. The Jets were also in their best form of the season when play stopped. Let’s take a look at what is going to be a dynamite series.
Western Conference Best of Five Preliminary Round Schedule and Odds
(8) Calgary Flames vs. (9) Winnipeg Jets
NHL Betting Odds at Bookmaker.eu: Jets +112, Flames -128
Hub City Location: Rogers Place, Edmonton, Alberta
Saturday, August 1: 10:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN
Monday, August 3: 2:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN
Tuesday, August 4: 4:45 p.m. ET, NBCSN
Thursday, August 6: TBD, (if necessary)
Saturday, August 8: TBD, (if necessary)
(8) Calgary Flames vs. (9) Winnipeg Jets Wagering Odds Analysis
Calgary opened as a slight chalk with the NHL odds based on their entire body of work during the 2019-20 campaign. The NHL betting public has not fully forgiven the Jets for last year’s playoff flop and was irritated with Winnipeg’s falling short of expectations for the first four months of the season. There are many gamblers that see the Jets as a potential sleeper in the Western Conference.
Calgary Flames Overview
The Calgary Flames are in eighth place in the Western Conference with a record of 36-27-7. Calgary has NHL metrics of 20th for goal scoring, 11th for the power play, 17th for goals against, and eighth for the penalty kill. Calgary was 9-8-1 in their last 18 games.
Calgary Flames Key Players
Left wing Matthew Tkachuk leads the Flames with 23 goals, 38 assists, five power play goals, 14 power play assists and a -5. Tkachuk brings an element of nasty that most teams benefit from in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Defenseman and team captain Mark Giordano has five goals, 26 assists, two power play goals, nine power play assists, and a +2.
Calgary Flames Goaltending
David Rittich is 24-17-6 with a 2.97 goals against average, .907 save percentage, and two shutouts. Cam Talbot is 12-10-1 with a 2.63 goals against average, .919 save percentage, and two shutouts.
Winnipeg Jets Overview
Winnipeg is in ninth place with a record of 37-28-6. The Jets were 12-5-2 in their last 19 games before play was halted. NHL metrics have the Jets ranked 17th for goal scoring, 15th for the power play, 10th for goals against, and 22nd for penalty killing. Winnipeg was a top pick to contend for the Central Division title but seems to have had a hangover affect after their poor playoff showing of 2019.
Winnipeg Jets Key Players
Center Mark Scheifele leads the Jets with 29 goals, 44 assists, 10 power play goals, 10 power play assists with a +2. Left wing Kyle Connor is Winnipeg’s top goal scorer with 38. Defenseman Neal Pionk has six goals, 39 assists, 22 power play assists and a +10.
Winnipeg Jets Goaltending
Number one goaltender Connor Hellebuyck is 31-21-5 with a 2.57 goals against average, .922 save percentage, and six shutouts.
Calgary Flames vs. Winnipeg Jets Free Picks
Winnipeg has everything necessary to win this series starting with vastly better defense. In particular Neal Pionk and Josh Morrissey are blue line assets. Connor Hellebuyck is the best goaltender in this series. It may well be that Winnipeg was saving Jet fuel for a post season run.
Flames vs. Jets NHL Series Odds Best Bet: Winnipeg Jets
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook!
