Calgary Flames vs Columbus Blue Jackets Prediction, 1/26/2022 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Calgary Flames vs Columbus Blue Jackets

Date: Wednesday, January 26, 2022

Location: Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH

TV: Bally Sports Ohio

Odds/Point Spread: Flames (-167) Blue Jackets (+130)

The Calgary Flames (19-12-6) are on their way to Nationwide Arena on Wednesday where they will compete against the Columbus Blue Jackets (18-20-1). The moneyline on this game has the Flames at -167 and the Blue Jackets open at +130. The total has been set at 6.

The Calgary Flames had a good night with a 7-1 win over the Blues in their previous contest. Calgary accumulated 10 minutes in the box in this outing. The Flames had a impressive offensive output in the win. Additionally, they had 5 chances with the advantage and were able to net 2 goals. In the game, they scored on 7 out of the 48 shots they looked to score on.

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The Flames have had 1,104 shots taken against them and have a save percentage of .915. While at even strength, the Flames have given up 76 goals while scoring 92 as an offensive unit. Calgary Flames opponents have recorded 109 power play opportunities (26th in pro hockey) and have notched 18 goals in those chances. For the current campaign, the have a total of 44 points and their points % is .595. Calgary has taken 1,314 shots and has a shooting percentage of 9.0%. With regard to their goal scoring prowess, the Calgary Flames have accumulated 118 goals (17th in the league) so far this season and have surrendered 94. Calgary has accumulated 109 power play opportunities and they have tallied 26 goals out of those tries, giving them a rate of 23.85%.

The player guarding the cage in this matchup is Jacob Markstrom. Markstrom has taken the ice for 343 games throughout his NHL career. He has accumulated an overall record of 146-146-39 and he was named the starter in 327 games. Opponents have been able to score 893 goals versus Markstrom in his career and his goals against average per contest is 2.73. Markstrom has had 10,037 shot attempts against him and has accrued 9,144 total saves. His save percentage is at .911 for his 19,605 minutes on the ice. For his professional hockey career, Markstrom has recorded 171 quality starts and his quality starts percentage sits at .523.

Their last time out, Columbus faced off against the Senators in an outing where the Blue Jackets took the defeat by a tally of 2-1. The Blue Jackets had 1 goal out of the 36 shots on goal they tried. They had 2 attempts on the power play in this outing but didn't put one in the back of the net.

Columbus has taken 1,153 shots (28th in the NHL) and has a shot percentage of 10.23%, while allowing the other team 1,350 shots. They have a penalty kill rate of 79.65% on the other teams 113 chances on the power play, and their save percentage sits at 89.8%. They have earned 100 power play opportunities and they have earned a power play percentage of 15.00%. The Blue Jackets have accumulated 103 goals at even strength and 15 goals (30th in pro hockey) while on the power play. They have granted a total of 138 goals to be scored by way of 115 goals at even strength and 23 goals while they were shorthanded. For the season, the Columbus Blue Jackets have earned 118 goals, 37 points, as well as a points percentage of .474.

Across the ice you are going to see Elvis Merzlikins protecting the goal. Merzlikins has accrued a career record of 35-31-14 and has been in net for 86 contests. Merzlikins' quality start rate is 56.4% and he has made 44 quality starts in his pro career. He has accounted for 2,305 stops out of the 2,513 shots attempted, giving him a percentage of .917. His opposition is averaging 2.69 goals per game and he has yielded 208 goals altogether. He has been a starter 78 games and has played 4,647 mins.

Who will win tonight's hockey game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take Calgary (-167)

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