Calgary Flames – a team with playoff ambitions, but their path hasn’t been straightforward. Currently sitting 8th in the Western Conference, Calgary has accumulated 51 points from 45 games. The Flames haven’t been as consistent on the road, but they are certainly a strong team at home. In their recent games, they secured solid wins against Chicago and Winnipeg, though they also faced losses to St. Louis. Their offense has been impressive, scoring 15 goals in their last 7 games. Jonathan Huberdeau has been particularly outstanding, leading the team with 32 points (18 goals, 14 assists), and is the club’s top scorer. The battle for the starting goalie position between Daniel Vladar and Dustin Wolf continues. Wolf, in particular, has been in excellent form, stopping 91.72% of shots.
What to watch for in Calgary’s game? First and foremost, their solid defensive play in recent matches, despite conceding more goals in the third period. However, their offense has been consistently strong, and their dynamic attack may prove to be the key to victory in the upcoming match. Playing at home gives Calgary an extra edge, and they always bring extra energy in front of their fans.
Buffalo Sabres is currently experiencing a rough patch. Sitting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference with only 41 points from 47 games, they’ve struggled to find any real consistency. The Sabres are still fighting, but their recent form leaves much to be desired. After a tough road trip, including losses to Pittsburgh and Seattle, they managed a narrow win over Vancouver, but their defense needs major improvements — they’ve conceded 21 goals in their last 5 games. Goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen hasn’t been performing well, stopping only 89.76% of shots, and that’s unlikely to inspire much confidence for the team.
On the positive side, Tage Thompson, the team’s leading scorer with 21 goals and 18 assists, continues to carry the offense. Jason Zucker (16+19) and Rasmus Dahlin (6+28) are also contributing to the team’s attack, but with the defense struggling, they’ve been unable to carry the full load. As a result, while Buffalo has a strong offense, their defensive issues have been too prominent in recent weeks.
Given the current form of both teams, Calgary seems to be the stronger side. The Flames will be playing at home, which is always an advantage, and Buffalo has struggled with defensive issues lately, which Calgary will surely take advantage of. The Flames’ attack is on the rise, and it’s hard to see how the Sabres will manage to stop their potent forwards.
Winner: Calgary Flames
Expected Result: 4-2 in favor of Calgary.
Considering all the factors, it seems that the Flames will take advantage of their home ice and secure the crucial three points, bringing them closer to a coveted playoff spot.
After successful away games, Calgary returns to home ice, where Ryan Huskey's team always shows its best game. The Flames are one of the strongest teams in the home arena, and they take every game at home especially seriously. While Buffalo continues to remain in the last line in the Eastern Conference, they cannot be considered a formidable opponent. The Flames should take control of the game from the very beginning. We see no reason why the team from Alberta will allow the Blades to take points from Scotiabank Saddledome Arena. We recommend betting on a confident victory for the hosts with a zero handicap.
Bookmakers are offering odds of 2.25 for Calgary, 4.20 for a draw, and 2.70 for Buffalo. Total over 5.5 goals is offered for 1.80, total under for 2.00
Prediction: Calgary win with a handicap (0) for 1.80
