NHL Hockey: Calgary Flames at Colorado Avalanche – Colorado Favored
Team Page: Calgary :: Colorado
52% of Bets Placed on Colorado -110 | Matchup | Goalies
The Calgary Flames have won six of their last eight games to remain in the race for the top spot in the Northwest Division. If they are to continue to climb up the standings, though, they will have to figure out a way to win on the road.
Oddsmakers have made Colorado -110 money line (NHL Odds) favorites for todays game, the over/under has been set at 6 total goals (View NHL Sports Books).
Calgary looks to continue its ascent in the tightly contested division when it visits the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday.
The Flames (37-22-10) have earned at least one point in eight of their last nine games to pull closer to Northwest-leading Vancouver. They also hold a 10-point lead over Colorado (34-29-6) for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Calgary, though, has struggled to earn points away from home. The Flames have lost eight of their last 10 games on the road and are just 9-16-8 there this season.
They play eight of their last 13 games on the road.
Calgary has taken three of five in the season series with Colorado, which is trying to avoid missing the postseason for the first time since 1993-94. The Flames are 8-5-0 in the last 13 matchups, but have won only two of six meetings in Denver.
Calgary avoided a third straight loss with a 5-4 shootout victory over visiting St. Louis on Monday.
"I think it’s huge, just getting the points and gaining some ground," rookie David Moss told the Flames’ official Web site. "Going on the road is big, and every game from here going in is going be a battle. With the playoffs around the corner, every point is huge."
Calgary captain Jarome Iginla has four goals and three assists in a four-game point streak against the Avalanche. Left wing Kristian Huselius, who had a goal and three assists on Monday, has five goals and five assists against Colorado this season.
Reigning Vezina Trophy winner Miikka Kiprusoff made 29 saves against the Blues to earn his 100th victory with Calgary. He’s won five of his last seven overall starts, but has lost six of his last eight road decisions, including a 4-3 defeat in Colorado on Feb. 20.
Colorado has won four of its last six at the Pepsi Center, and is returning home after a successful 4-0-1 road trip. The Avalanche, though, saw their five-game winning streak come to an end with a 3-2 overtime loss in Minnesota on Sunday.
"I think we have to win almost every game," coach Joel Quenneville said. "Certainly we’d like to beat the Minnesotas and Calgarys going forward because they are the closest ones to us, but that’s what it’s like."
Peter Budaj made 26 saves on Sunday to improve to 5-0-1 with a 1.80 goals-against average in his last six games.
"We got at least a point, fortunately," Budaj said. "It’s pretty disappointing because we need two."
Avs rookie Paul Stastny assisted on a first-period goal against the Wild, giving him a point in his 18th consecutive game and setting the NHL record for the longest point streak by a rookie. He moved ahead of Teemu Selanne, who had a 17-point run with Winnipeg in 1992-93.
Stastny also has a five-game point streak against Calgary, registering five goals and three assists.
Right wing Milan Hejduk has six goals and seven assists during an eight-game point streak. He has four goals and three assists during a four-game run against Calgary.
by: Gary Roberts – theSpread.com – Email Us
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