This is the stage of the NHL season where we start to see teams clinch or be eliminated from playoff contention with rather stunning regularity. There is still an awful lot to play for at the moment, as we have only seen two teams officially punch their ticket into the postseason. The Tampa Bay Lightning were the first to take their place in the Stanley Cup playoffs, which is no real surprise given that they are going to end the regular season with the President’s Trophy in their hands.
The second team to clinch is perhaps a little surprising, as there were several pundits who believed that the Calgary Flames would struggle to make the postseason, but as it stands right now, they look like a good bet to be the #1 seed in the Western Conference. It’s not just about getting in for the Flames, though, as they also want to win the Pacific Division, where they are in a heated race with the San Jose Sharks. The Flames will be at home on Tuesday night as they welcome in the Columbus Blue Jackets. Calgary are favored by 1 ½, with the O/U set at 6 ½.
Blue Jackets vs Flames NHL Odds, Betting Prediction & Pick
🔑: Score on the power play 🔑: Slow down Calgary’s offense 🔑: Kick off the revenge tour Check out the full #CBJ game preview ⤵️ https://t.co/rBM0SFs0vP
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) 19 de marzo de 2019
- When: Tuesday, March 19 at 9 PM EST
- Where: Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary
- TV: ESPN+
- Radio: Columbus / Calgary
- Live Stream: NHL.tv
- NHL Odds: Calgary -1.5 (+180)
Why bet on the Columbus Blue Jackets?
The Columbus Blue Jackets are in the midst of a tight playoff race in the Eastern Conference, where they are currently occupying the final Wild Card spot. They have a little bit of breathing space, as they hold a 3-point lead over the Montreal Canadiens, but that could vanish very quickly if they don’t find a way to improve on their current form, where they have gone 5-4-1 in their last 10 games.
This will be the second meeting of the season with the Flames or Columbus, with the first not going well at all in a 9-6 loss to Calgary. The good news for Columbus is that they have been better on the road than they have been at home this season, going 20-12-2. As far as the spread goes, Columbus are 20-12 ATS on the road.
Team Statistics
Offense- Goals: 3.06
- Shots: 31.56
- PP/PK Percentage: 15
- Goals: 2.92
- Shots: 29.76
- PP/PK Percentage: 15.43
Why bet on the Calgary Flames?
The Calgary Flames may have clinched their playoff spot already, but they are not about to just hit cruise control the rest of the way. This is a team that wants to nab that #1 spot in the Western Conference, which they will more than likely do if they can go on and win the Pacific Division. They are a single point up on the San Jose Sharks right now, but this is their game in hand, so they can stretch that to lead to a little more comfortable 3 points with the home win on Tuesday night.
Calgary have been nothing short of outstanding at home, posting a record of 23-7-5, and as they proved in their previous meeting with Columbus, this is a team that knows how to light the lamp. Calgary are 19-16 ATS at home this season.
Team Statistics
Offense- Goals: 3.56
- Shots: 32.32
- PP/PK Percentage: 21.31
- Goals: 2.86
- Shots: 28.60
- PP/PK Percentage: 20.27
Blue Jackets vs Flames NHL Betting Trends
- Columbus is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 games
- Columbus is 2-4 SU in the last 6 games on the road
- The total went UNDER in 6 of Columbus’s last 7 games
- Calgary is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 games
- Calgary is 10-5 SU in the last 15 games
- The total went OVER in 11 of Calgary’s last 16 games at home
Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction
This is a glorious opportunity for the Flames to create a little bit of separation in the Pacific Division, and while they are just 5-5 in their last 10, I like them to take advantage of home ice here.
Columbus Blue Jackets 3 Calgary Flames 5
