Zayne Parekh is taking on a much bigger role with this year’s Calgary Flames, who are slight underdogs heading into tonight’s matchup with the Anaheim Ducks.
Parekh's ice time is up nearly three minutes per game, and he has established himself as the clear-cut No. 1 quarterback on the power play.
The uptick in usage has resulted in increased shot volume. My Ducks vs. Flames predictions expect shooting opportunities to be plentiful tonight against a fatigued team with an inexperienced defense.
Let's dive deeper into my NHL picks for Saturday, Oct. 10.
Ducks vs Flames prediction: Over 6.5
I see value in playing Over 6.5 goals to 53%. The Anaheim Ducks played in a ton of track meets last year, especially in back-to-back situations.
Their games featured a combined average of 7.4 goals and 58.2 shots on target in the second leg of road back-to-backs.
The Calgary Flames haven’t scored many goals thus far, but their process is encouraging. They rank third in expected goal generation at 5-on-5, and will also benefit from facing a Ducks team that sits 27th in penalty avoidance.
Ville Husso gets the nod in goal, and he posted an .884 save percentage over 20 appearances last season.
Anaheim will need to score to compensate for mediocre goaltending.
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Ducks vs Flames combo
I’m going to combine the Over with Zayne Parekh and Morgan Frost to each record multiple shots.
Parekh is second on the Flames in shot attempts and leads the team in power play time on ice. It is clear he’s being relied upon as a primary facilitator and driving force of their offense.
Frost registered 17 shot attempts over three games against the Ducks last year, clearing 1.5 shots on goal twice.
He has logged 16 minutes or more in three straight games, which is an important baseline for him. Frost generated 2+ shots in 64% of his home appearances when playing 16 minutes or more.
Ducks vs Flames combo
- Over 6.5
- Zayne Parekh Over 1.5 shots
- Morgan Frost Over 1.5 shots
TOP PICK
Ducks vs Flames player prop: Zayne Parekh Over 1.5 shots
Parekh is a target for 2+ shots at 58%.
The Flames have given their gifted offensive defenseman more opportunities out of the gate in this rebuilding season, giving him meaningful minutes at 5-on-5 and the PP1 quarterback role. He has taken full advantage.
Parekh ranks second on the team with 27 shot attempts through four games (6.8 per game) and has recorded at least seven in three of four contests. His only game below that mark came against a powerhouse Avalanche team.
The Ducks allowed an average of 30.2 shots on goal in the second half of road back-to-backs last season, so there should be plenty of opportunities for Parekh to let it fly.
COVERS INTEL: Zayne Parekh sits third among all NHL defensemen in shot attempts per 60 minutes.Ducks vs Flames goal scorer: Cutter Gauthier
It’s hard to go with anyone other than Cutter Gauthier, who I like to 46%.
Gauthier leads both teams in shot attempts, shots on goal, and expected goals. He’s a one-man shooting gallery, and his scoring efficiency makes him a major threat to make one count.
The Flames rank dead last in goals allowed per game and are expected to finish near the bottom of the league. Gauthier found the back of the net in 53% of his games against bottom-12 scoring defenses last season.
Gauthier is just 22 years old and doesn’t have much mileage on him, so a back-to-back shouldn’t affect his legs as much as it would a veteran player.
- Top picks: 3-3, -0.30 units
- Combos: 1-5, -0.25 units
Ducks vs Flames odds
For help understanding probabilities, see our odds calculator.
- Moneyline: Ducks 52% | Flames 49%
- Over/Under: Over 6.5 (50%) | Under 6.5 (51%)
- Spread: Ducks -1.5 (32%) | Flames +1.5 (70%)
For the full slate of NHL matchups, check out our NHL odds board!
Ducks vs Flames trend
Calgary has hit the moneyline in eight of its last 12 games at home (+6.45 units, 50% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends.
How to watch Ducks vs Flames
| Location | Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, AB |
| Date | Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026 |
| Puck drop | 10 p.m. ET |
| TV | KCOP, Sportsnet |
Ducks vs Flames latest injuries
Check out our NHL injuries page for updates on every team.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
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