Calgary Flames vs Vancouver-canucks Picks and Predictions December 31st 2024

Calgary Flames vs Vancouver-Canucks December 31st 2024

The Canucks and Flames are set to face off at 9:00 ET on ESPN+. The Flames will host the game at Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, AB. The over/under goal line for this matchup is currently at 5.5 goals, and the Flames are favored by -1.5 vs. the Canucks.

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Vancouver vs. Calgary Key Information

• Teams: Canucks at Flames
• Where: Scotiabank Saddledome Calgary
• Date: Tuesday, December 31st
• Betting Odds CGY -112 | VAN -106 O/U 5.5

The Canucks Can Win If…

Vancouver improved to 17-10-8 with a 3-2 win over the Sharks. The Canucks were favored on the puck line, but didn’t cover. The total was set at 6.5 goals, and the combined score of 5 fell short of that mark.

After falling behind 1-0 in the second period, the Canucks responded with three straight goals. Pius Suter scored twice, including the game-winner with just 26 seconds left.

Pius Suter led the way for the Canucks with two goals, including his 3rd and 4th of the season. He was efficient, scoring on two of his three shots on goal. Jake DeBrusk added his 1st goal of the season, converting on one of his two shots.

Vancouver took 27 shots on goal but didn’t score in the first period. They found the net once in the second and added two more in the third. The Canucks recorded 25 giveaways in their 3-2 win over the Sharks.

Defensively, the Canucks will want to avoid giving up the first goal, as the Sharks scored 2:37 into the second period to take a 1-0 lead. The Canucks also gave up a late goal with 1:17 left in the third, which tied the game at 2-2. Kevin Lankinen made 21 saves with a 91.3% save percentage, and the defense added 5 takeaways and 24 hits.

• Vancouver has put together a record of 1-2 in their last three games (regular season). Across these games, their puck line record was just 0-3, while posting an over-under record of 3-0.
• Vancouver has put together a record of 3-7 in their last ten games (regular season). This includes going 3-7 vs. the puck line along with an over-under mark of 5-4-1.

The Flames Can Win If…

With a 4-2 loss to the Oilers, the Flames dropped to 17-12-7 this season. Calgary was the underdog on the puck line, and the total was set at 6.5 goals, but the combined 6 goals fell just short of that mark.

After falling behind 2-0, the Flames tied it up with goals in the second and third periods. However, Edmonton responded with two more goals, including an empty-netter, to seal the win.

Calgary’s offense struggled in their 4-2 loss to Edmonton, despite firing 31 shots on goal. Anthony Mantha netted his 4th goal of the season on a power play in the second period, while Yegor Sharangovich scored his 1st goal in the third.

Tyson Barrie picked up his first assist of the season on Mantha’s goal, and Mikael Backlund added his 4th assist. Kevin Bahl contributed with his 5th assist on Sharangovich’s goal. The Flames were plagued by 22 giveaways in the game.

Calgary’s defense gave up the first two goals of the game and the last two, leading to a 4-2 loss to the Oilers. The first goal came just 20 seconds into the game, and the last was an empty-netter with 3 seconds left. Dan Vladar made 27 saves with a 90% save percentage. The defense also recorded 4 takeaways and 13 hits.

• The Flames have posted a 2-1 record in their previous three games. The team has also been excellent vs the spread, going 2-1. Their over-under record in these games was 1-2.
• Over their last ten regular season games, the Flames have gone 4-6 straight up. Across these games, their puck line record was just 6-4, while posting an over-under record of 6-4.

The Lean

For a moneyline pick, I’m taking the Flames to pick up on a win over the Canucks at home. With the moneyline sitting at -112, I’ll be locking in a bet on the Flames straight-up.

When it comes to a puck line pick, our choice is the Flames to secure the win and cover. Expect the Flames to dominate this one with a multi-goal win over the Canucks.

For those looking at the over/under line set at 5.5 goals, our expectation is that this game will surpass that mark, and we suggest making a bet on the over.

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Canucks Look to Rebound Against Flames After Heartbreaking Loss

The Vancouver Canucks aim to shake off one of their toughest losses of the season when they visit the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night. The high-stakes Pacific Division clash has playoff implications, as Vancouver holds a narrow one-point lead over Calgary in both the divisional standings and the race for the final Western Conference wild-card spot.

Canucks Seek Redemption

A Crushing Setback in Seattle The Canucks enter the game after a stunning 5-4 overtime defeat to the Seattle Kraken on Saturday. Despite holding a commanding 4-1 lead with under five minutes left in regulation, Vancouver allowed three late goals before Vince Dunn sealed the game in overtime with a breakaway finish.

“Honestly, it’s pretty devastating,” said forward Jake DeBrusk, who contributed a goal and an assist. “We should never be losing that game, let alone letting it get into overtime. … Take the lessons of how this feels and make sure this never happens again.”

Head coach Rick Tocchet echoed the disappointment but noted positives. “We were pretty good for 55 minutes,” he said. “We needed a couple of composure plays, and we didn’t get them. There were a lot of good things, but we can’t let those mistakes happen again.”

Overcoming Challenges

Key Players Absent The Canucks face an uphill battle without two of their most important players. Defenseman Quinn Hughes, the reigning Norris Trophy winner, and forward Elias Pettersson, a four-time All-Star, are sidelined with undisclosed injuries.

“They’re not making the trip,” Tocchet confirmed. “Petey’s probably a week away, give or take, and Quinn is week-to-week.”

Strong Road Performance Despite their challenges, the Canucks have excelled on the road this season with a 10-3-2 record. Tocchet stressed the importance of moving forward, stating, “There’s no crying over spilled milk. We’ve got to play a tough Calgary game and eliminate those mistakes.”

Flames Look to Capitalize

Mixed Results on the Road The Flames return home after splitting a back-to-back road series. A strong team effort led to a 3-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Saturday, but they fell 3-0 to the Vegas Golden Knights the next night, struggling to generate offensive chances.

“San Jose, I really liked the team game,” said head coach Ryan Huska. “In Vegas, we weren’t at our best, and we couldn’t find a way to get a goal.”

Home Ice Advantage Calgary boasts a formidable 12-4-3 record at the Scotiabank Saddledome. This game marks the start of a three-game homestand that also includes matchups against the Utah Hockey Club and the Nashville Predators. Goaltender Dustin Wolf emphasized the importance of these games, saying, “These games are critical. It’s going to be a tough stretch.”

Season Series Heats Up

This is the third of four regular-season meetings between the Canucks and Flames. Calgary won the season opener in Vancouver 6-5 in overtime, with Connor Zary scoring the game-winner. Vancouver struck back in the second meeting, a 3-1 victory on Nov. 12, thanks to a goal and an assist from Elias Pettersson.

With the season series tied 1-1, both teams are eager to gain the upper hand in this rivalry.

Keys to Victory

For Vancouver:

• Maintain defensive composure, especially in the closing minutes.
• Overcome the absence of Hughes and Pettersson by relying on depth players.
• Continue strong road performances to neutralize Calgary’s home-ice advantage.

For Calgary:

• Exploit Vancouver’s weakened lineup and defensive struggles.
• Focus on generating more consistent offensive pressure.
• Leverage the energy of the home crowd to take control early.

High Stakes for Both Teams

The playoff race adds urgency to this matchup. Vancouver looks to rebound and solidify their position despite adversity, while Calgary aims to capitalize on the Canucks’ vulnerabilities to overtake them in the standings. Both teams know that points are at a premium as the season approaches its critical stretch.

Who will rise to the occasion? Tuesday night’s clash promises to deliver answers—and high drama.