With the NHL preseason commencing, the game at the Scotiabank Saddledome between the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames on Monday promises an electrifying contest. These two teams are red hot but in more ways than one. The Oilers are making the playoffs with a 49-27-6 record, whereas the Flames are barely making it above a .500 record with 38-39-5. Those searching for hockey best free picks will take special comfort in this encounter since the two have a reputation for very fierce rivalries and this is virtually unrivaled in terms of competitiveness whenever they meet.
Edmonton Oilers vs. Calgary Flames 9/23/24 Game Info
| When: | Monday, September 23, 2024 at 9:00 PM ET |
| Where: | Scotiabank Saddledome |
| TV: | |
| Stream: | NHL.TV |
Edmonton Oilers (49-27-6 Last Season) vs. Calgary Flames (38-39-5 Last Season)
Connor McDavid, who bagged an astonishing 132 points last season, and Leon Draisaitl, who scored 106 points leading the team, the Edmonton Oilers have high hopes coming into this preseason. This time around, their offensive capabilities, including scoring and assisting through McDavid, will be crucial in breaking the Flames’ defensive structures. The core of Edmonton’s power is the forechecking and puck possession of the first line that will be essential against Calgary’s last year’s weaknesses on defensive systems. Importantly, it was also against that kind of defense that the Oilers had the most success in previous encounters with the Dallas Stars, and their top line’s speed and puck movement were the crucial factors.
On the other side of the spectrum, the Calgary Flames wish to erase the memory of the last season and are pressured to rely on their offensive leaders like Nazem Kadri and Yegor Sharangovich. The Hampshire-born right winger registered 75 points a season ago along with Sharangovich’s important short-handed goals. The Oilers’ rigid systems will be put to the test. They will have to built speed and a transition game that takes advantage of the occasional weakness in the backline of the Oilers, which has been erratic at times, especially on the road. The Oilers will have to employ their defensive approaches and probably try to be physical and contain any gaps to respond to plans the Flames will initiate.
Goaltender Stuart Skinner vs. Goaltender Jacob Markstrom
Skinner is coming off a solid season, which saw him finish with a .905%. He is set to be one of the building blocks of this Oilers team. He’ll have to do this with a Flames team looking to put their offensive presence on evidence, and it highly relies on his ability to come up big with crucial stops when it matters the most. Based on his last season’s record, it is clear that he can be a game-changer in particular against Calgary’s shoot-first approach. His capability in shootouts could also help out down the line when the game is close.
Flames Netminder Jacob Markstrom will also be in the eyes of many. The previous season saw him record a save percentage of 0.897, setting up a pressure blanket over Markstrom as the Oilers are proficient at taking a lot of shots as well as scoring a high percentage of them. His task will be to provide cover against the cunning playmakers and power scorers such as Draisaitl who is a load in power play situations. The outcomes of Markstrom in this game vs the offense of the Oilers will be a brass quintet that the Flames will struggle with defensively.
NHL Odds/Point Spread: TBD, Total Odds: TBD
The necessary betting odds and lines for this matchup have not yet been posted, although it is probable to deduce that the Oilers will be favored upon seeing how the Oilers ended last season on top and the Flames were not very impressive. For this reason, bettors should pay special attention to the puckline and the moneyline once they are posted, as per the Edmonton Oilers’ attacking prowess and recent matches between the two teams.
Edmonton Oilers Betting Trends
The Oilers have not had the best out of their most recent games, as they have won only one of their last five, with the record being 1-4. These trends are quite alarming, especially considering how they have also struggled to cover on the road. In light of the aforementioned trends, one must be very careful when betting on Edmonton even though their roster appears to be better overall.
Calgary Flames Betting Trends
In their last five games, with a record of 3-2, the Flames are slightly better than before. However, it cannot be said that their statistics appeared to be more solid, especially regarding games played away. It will be essential for them to understand how to adjust to those trends as they are arriving in the new season with several goals.
Edmonton Oilers vs. Calgary Flames 9/23/24 Betting Picks
Based on both teams’ offensive aspects, as well as their overall performance in the most recent preseason matches, this match is most probably going to be very intense. But then again, there is the likelihood that Edmonton will emerge winners because of their considerate depth in both offensive players and goaltenders.
As for the wagers, the most risky bet such as the moneyline would favour Edmonton particularly if one sees value in it. Proposition wagers on players such as McDavid for total points and goals scored are likely to be beneficial owing to the player’s averages. Regarding totals, the under bets would unlikely be an option, so those leaning towards the over should stay alert in case the line is favorable. As for professional athletic handicapper predictions today, the situation is different: one has to bet when the odds are the best, even if it means waiting for the start of the match.