A pulsating groundbreaking regular season encounter in the NHL will see the Vancouver Canucks hosting their much hated Calgary Flames on Wednesday night as the puck drops at Rogers Arena. Those considering the hockey tips today should consider the degeneration in the preseason forms that is a favorable condition for a fascinating fight for prime-\time television hockey. Calgary hopes to put behind them the recent road game struggles, and Vancouver is looking to use the stronghold that is their home ice.
Calgary Flames vs. Vancouver Canucks 10/9/24 Game Info |
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| When: | Wednesday, October 9, 2024 at 10:00 PM ET |
| Where: | Rogers Arena |
| TV: | SN |
| Stream: | NHL.TV |
Calgary Flames (5-2-1 Preseason) vs. Vancouver Canucks (3-2-1 Preseason)
The Calgary Flames, boasting a solid preseason record, head into the regular season with a forward line that exudes potential, especially with the likes of Nazem Kadri at the helm. Kadri, with his impressive tally of 29 goals and 46 assists last season, will be crucial in breaking through Vancouver’s defense which has shown occasional vulnerabilities. However, Calgary’s ability to convert on power plays could be the key against a team like Vancouver, reminiscent of challenges faced when playing defensively robust teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Conversely, the Vancouver Canucks step onto their home ice with a blend of confidence and strategic acumen. Spearheaded by J.T. Miller, whose outstanding performance last season included 103 points from 37 goals and 66 assists, Vancouver’s offensive setup is poised to test Calgary’s defensive alignments harshly. The strategic gameplay similar to the Vegas Golden Knights in exploiting defensive gaps could be observed here, where Vancouver’s precise power play conversions will play a pivotal role.
Goaltender Dan Vladar vs. Goaltender Thatcher Demko
Dan Vladar, the goalie for Calgary, endured a rough season last year where he posted a save percentage of .882. Faced with a farmed Vancouver team that has an arsenal of great shooters, particularly an aggressive shooting division, Vladar’s performance will be scrutinized. If Calgary is looking to keep the Canucks forwards in check, Vladar will have to be able to perform well under duress.
At the other end of the rink is Thatcher Demko, whose last season showed an impressive 0.918 save percentage. This aspect of Demko’s game could be a turning point for Vancouver especially when it faces a Calgary team struggling with its scoring. Not only will he help boost Vancouver’s defense against the top shooters in Calgary, but he will also set the tone for their offensive break outs.
NHL Odds/Point Spread: Vancouver Canucks -1.5 (+125), Total Odds: 6
The betting picture is interesting as the Canucks are favored to win at home again, though this time, the line is a narrow one which indicates a difficult battle. The total goals has set for this particular contest will likely remain close to the 6-point threshold, which underlines a notion of goal-scoring activity, consistent with both teams’ previous record and their present state of affairs.
Calgary Flames Betting Trends
The Flames’ record on the road has been poor as they have only managed to pick up 2 wins in the last 10 matches away from home. Their overall record is good, but they are finding the games in Vancouver particularly hard. Though Calgary’s aggregate win-loss ratio in recent games has not been impressive about overs, the flames might certainly appeal to bettors who are betting on under.
Vancouver Canucks Betting Trends
Vancouver displays a better form in the most recent matches, especially in October and midweek games, as the total has gone OVER in 18 out of their last 20 Wednesday games. This pattern bodes well for offensive players performing, making the OVER an attractive pick for trend followers.
Calgary Flames vs. Vancouver Canucks 10/9/24 Betting Picks
In light of the specific context provided by the statistics and the recent progress, the forecast is biased, even slightly, toward Vancouver, mostly because of their excellent home performance compared to the struggles of Calgary on the road. Nevertheless, the close puck line allows the Flames to play on the puck line, particularly if Vladar elevates his performance to another level.
As for anyone who may seek some premium expert tips, they might rather place their bets on the total going above, as each team has players whose offensive presence can make the game a shootout. In addition, looking for prop bets on someone like J.T. Miller on how many points he will score in that game could be interesting as he always seems to perform well in the latter stages of games when the score is close.