Philadelphia Flyers vs Calgary Flames: NHL Betting Preview & Expert Picks, February 20th, 2023

Odds

2021-2022 season stats

Preview

The Philadelphia Flyers continue on the road and will visit the Calgary Flames on Saturday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome. These teams just met 2 weeks ago in Calgary where the Flyers stole the win 4-3 in overtime.

Calgary Flames

The Calgary Flames have had a fantastic season so far, with their offense leading the way and scoring an average of 3.14 goals per game. Over the past four games, they have notched an impressive 15 goals. Elias Lindholm, Tyler Toffoli, and Nazem Kadri have been the driving force behind their top two lines, combining for 59 goals and 79 assists. However, the rest of the offense has also been contributing significantly to the team's success. Jonathan Huberdeau, Mikael Backlund, and Dillon Dube have combined for 37 goals and 61 assists, while defenseman Rasmus Andersson has added seven goals and 29 assists from the point, making significant contributions to opening up the Flames' offense.

Despite the Flames' strong offensive performance, their defense has struggled this season, allowing an average of 3.02 goals per game. Rasmus Andersson and Noah Hanifin have combined for 6.9 defensive point shares, but the rest of the unit has struggled, allowing opponents to carry the puck into the offensive zone and find open shots on the net. This has put immense pressure on their goaltender Jacob Markstrom, who has been having an awful season. With a .891 save percentage and a 2.90 goals-against average on 954 shots faced, Markstrom has recorded -13.9 goals saved above average, which is a cause for concern for the Flames.

One of the keys to the Flames' offensive success has been the contributions from their top two lines. Elias Lindholm has been an absolute force on the ice, racking up 24 goals and 28 assists so far this season. Tyler Toffoli has been equally impressive, with 22 goals and 21 assists, while Nazem Kadri has been a key contributor with 13 goals and 30 assists. The Flames' second line has also been stepping up and delivering for the team. Jonathan Huberdeau has been leading the charge with 13 goals and 29 assists, while Mikael Backlund has contributed 13 goals and 18 assists. Dillon Dube has also been a key factor with 11 goals and 14 assists, bringing an impressive level of skill and speed to the Flames' offense.

On the defensive side of the ice, the Flames have struggled to keep their opponents in check. Despite the solid performances from Rasmus Andersson and Noah Hanifin, the rest of the defensive unit has been inconsistent and has allowed too many open shots on the net. The Flames will need to tighten up their defense if they want to make a deep run in the playoffs this year. They have the potential to be a strong defensive team, but they need to work on their communication and positioning to prevent opponents from scoring at will.

In terms of goaltending, Jacob Markstrom has had a difficult season, struggling to find his form and make key saves when his team needs him most. However, the Flames have a solid backup in Dan Vladar, who has shown flashes of brilliance this season. In 10 games, Vladar has a .930 save percentage and a 2.31 goals-against average, making him a valuable asset for the Flames.

Looking ahead, the Flames are in a good position to make the playoffs this year. They currently sit in third place in the Pacific division, just five points behind the Edmonton Oilers. With 23 games left in the regular season, the Flames will need to continue to play with the same level of intensity and skill that has gotten them this far. If they can tighten up their defense and get better performances from their goaltenders, they have the potential to make a deep run in the playoffs and possibly even make a run for the Stanley Cup.

Philadelphia Flyers

The Philadelphia Flyers are having a tough season so far. In their last game against the Vancouver Canucks, they lost 6-2, with goals from Scott Laughton and Morgan Frost. Goalie Carter Hart allowed four goals on just 21 shots faced, which is not ideal. Unfortunately, this is just the latest in a string of disappointing performances from the Flyers, who have been struggling on offense lately.

In fact, they've scored three or fewer goals in nine of their last ten games, which is a concerning statistic for any team. As a result, the Flyers currently rank 27th in goals per game and 25th in shots per game. These numbers are simply not good enough to compete at a high level in the NHL, and the Flyers will need to find a way to generate more offense if they hope to turn their season around.

That being said, the Flyers do have some talented players on their roster who have the potential to step up and lead the team to success. Travis Konecny, for example, leads the team with 52 points, while Kevin Hayes has notched 47 points so far this season. These players will need to be at their best if the Flyers hope to climb up the Eastern Conference standings and compete for a playoff spot.

Defensively, the Flyers have been slightly better than average, ranking 18th in goals against per game and 15th in shots against per game. However, these numbers are still not great, and the team will need to tighten up their defense if they hope to be successful. In terms of goaltending, Carter Hart has been the Flyers' primary netminder, with a record of 16-17-9, a 2.88 goals-against average, and a .910 save percentage. Felix Sandstrom, on the other hand, has a 1-8-1 record with a 3.52 goals-against average and .880 save percentage.

Overall, the Flyers are currently second to last in the Metropolitan division, and they are nine points away from a Wild Card spot. While there is still time for them to turn their season around, they will need to start playing more consistently and finding ways to win games. The competition in the Eastern Conference is tough, and there are several teams ahead of them in the standings, so the Flyers will need to step up their game if they hope to make a run for the playoffs.

BETTING TRENDS

Philadelphia are 1-5 SU in their last 6 games.

Philadelphia are 1-6 SU in their last 7 games against Calgary.

The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Philadelphia's last 9 games on the road.

Philadelphia are 1-6 SU in their last 7 games when playing on the road against Calgary.

Philadelphia are 2-8 SU in their last 10 games against an opponent in the Western Conference conference.

The total has gone OVER in 5 of Calgary's last 7 games.

Calgary are 2-4 SU in their last 6 games.

The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Calgary's last 6 games against Philadelphia.

Calgary are 6-1 SU in their last 7 games when playing at home against Philadelphia.

Prediction

The Philadelphia Flyers have been struggling in recent games, losing 8 of their last 10 games and playing poorly offensively. During this stretch, the Flyers have only averaged 2.2 goals per game, while allowing 3 goals per game. This is a concerning trend for the team and suggests that they need to make changes in their offensive strategy to turn their season around.

Meanwhile, the Calgary Flames have been inconsistent lately but have been solid at home. The Flames have dominated the Flyers in Calgary, winning 6 of their last 7 meetings. However, despite their home dominance, the Flames have not been profitable against the spread, with a record of 7-20. In contrast, the Flyers have a good 22-7 record against the spread on the road.

Given these trends, it may be a wise choice to bet on the Flyers to cover the puck line in this matchup. While the Flames have been strong at home, their poor profitability against the spread suggests that they may not be able to cover the spread against a Flyers team that has been solid on the road. Furthermore, the Flyers have a strong motivation to turn their season around and may be able to improve their offensive performance in this game.

In summary, the Flyers have struggled recently, but their strong record against the spread on the road suggests that they may be able to cover the puck line in this matchup. The Flames have been dominant at home but have not been profitable against the spread, which may give the Flyers an opportunity to win the game or keep it close.

PICK: Flyers +1.5 (-122) 

Find more sports picks from the top sports bettors and NHL experts all in one place using our iOS and Google Play apps, as well as our other articles at Kingpin.pro.  We are the home for NHL picks, sports picks and sports betting.

NHL expert picks, Expert NHL picks, NHL expert picks today, Expert NHL picks today, Top NHL picks for today, Expert NHL picks free, NHL expert picks against the spread.