NHL betting returns as the Calgary Flames and Winnipeg Jets face off in a Qualifying Round matchup to determine which team will advance to the NHL playoffs. The Flames emerged as early betting favorites for this best-of-five series, but sportsbooks have now made this a near pick'em series with Calgary at -118 and the Jets at -117 to get into the Stanley Cup playoffs.
We break down NHL odds as we bring you picks and predictions for the play-in series between the Calgary Flames and Winnipeg Jets.
Flames vs Jets Qualifying Round Odds
| Team | Odds to win the series |
|---|---|
| Calgary Flames | -118 |
| Winnipeg Jets | -117 |
Odds courtesy of Sports Interaction
Calgary Flames
Calgary Flames Stanley Cup Odds +3,300
It's been an up-and-down season for the Flames, who lost six games in a row at the beginning of November only to roll off a seven-game winning streak at the end of that month. Even with interim coach Geoff Ward taking over, following Bill Peters' resignation after racism allegations, Calgary has continued to be plagued by stretches of uninspired play.
Calgary was one of the most improved teams in the NHL last year, finishing the regular season with the best record in the Western Conference and scoring the second-most goals in the league. This year, however, the Flames rank just 20th in the league in scoring despite still having a skilled group of forwards led by Matthew Tkachuk, Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan.
The Flames have been solid but haven't stood out in any area of the ice, ranking in the bottom half of the league in scoring, shots allowed, GAA, and face-off percentage.
Calgary Flames betting trends
- Calgary has gone 14-6-1 to the Over in its previous 21 games.
- Flames center Mikael Backlund has scored a point in 14 of his last 16 games, tallying 10 goals and 22 points over that span.
- The Flames penalty kill percentage of 82.1 ranks eighth in the league.
Winnipeg Jets
Winnipeg Jets Stanley Cup Odds +3,300
It'll be difficult to maintain their momentum from almost half a year ago, but the Jets went into the COVID-19 shutdown having won six of their previous seven games, a stretch which included convincing victories over Edmonton, Vegas and Washington.
With Patrik Laine, Blake Wheeler, Kyle Connor, Nik Ehlers and Mark Scheifele, the Jets can roll with two very potent offensive lines. They also have a Vezina Trophy contender in goalie Connor Hellebuyck.
The Jets are less sturdy on the blue line, where injuries have decimated their depth and their top-end talent is lacking (I'm sure they wish they had Dustin Byfuglien anchoring their D right now).
Winnipeg Jets betting trends
- Winnipeg has scored the third-fewest first-period goals in the NHL, but has potted the fourth-most goals in the league during the second frame.
- The Jets have averaged 3.35 goals per game over their last 17 games.
- The Jets are 28th in the NHL in high-danger scoring chances and 30th in the league in high-danger scoring chances allowed.
Flames vs Jets Head-to-Head Comparison
| Calgary Flames | Tale of the Tape | Winnipeg Jets |
|---|---|---|
| 36-27-7 | Record | 37-28-6 |
| 34-32 | O/U | 29-37 |
| 2.91 | Goals Per Game | 3.00 |
| 3.06 | Goals Allowed Per Game | 2.83 |
| 21.24 | Power Play Percentage | 20.49 |
| 82.1 | Penalty Kill Percentage | 77.6 |
Flames vs Jets Picks and Predictions
Series Prediction: Winnipeg Jets -117 - These teams met up once during the regular season, with the Jets eking out a 2-1 overtime victory, although it was a Heritage Classic game, played outdoors at a neutral site back in October.
As both the odds and their team stats indicate, there isn't a whole lot separating these two sides. However, the Jets have a clear advantage between the pipes with Connor Hellebuyck, who is 31-21-5 with a 2.57 GAA and a .922 save percentage.
The Flames No. 1 netminder, David Rittich, has a GAA of 2.97 and a .907 save percentage, and if he struggles Calgary may turn to Cam Talbot. With these teams fairly equal up front, back the squad with the better goalie in a tight five-game series.
More NHL Qualifying Round picks and predictions
Under the NHL's special return to play format, there are eight best-of-five Qualifying Round matchups preceding the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Check out our best picks and predictions for all the other series that are scheduled to take place when NHL action resumes:
Western Conference
- Edmonton Oilers vs. Chicago Blackhawks
- Nashville Predators vs. Arizona Coyotes
- Vancouver Canucks vs. Minnesota Wild
Eastern Conference
- Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Montreal Canadiens
- Carolina Hurricanes vs. New York Rangers
- New York Islanders vs. Florida Panthers
- Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
Where can I bet on NHL Playoffs odds?
Most online books and casinos offer bets on the Stanley Cup Playoffs and should offer odds on this special Qualifying Round. Check out the best sportsbooks available where you live and see what they are offering for NHL Playoffs odds.
