NHL Hockey Betting: Vancouver Canucks at Calgary Flames

The Western Conference series between the Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames shifts back to the Alberta prairie for Game Six. The Flames had the Canucks on the ropes leading 3-1 heading into Game Five but dropped a 2-1 verdict to a desperate Vancouver team. The Flames will try to put away their hated rivals and advance to the next round while Vancouver will try to survive and force a Game Seven.

Whether or not they win this series, the Calgary Flames have made some dramatic strides during the 2014-2015 season. They’re nothing like the doormat teams of recent years–this is a talented, tough and feisty team that has the confidence that they can come back in any game. Calgary led the NHL in third period comebacks this season and while the Flames would obviously like to not be in that position heading into the final twenty minutes that does give the team a lot of confidence and swagger. Johnny Gaudreau is a Calder Trophy finalist in a year that saw a banner crop of rookies so good that Nashville Predators’ leading goal scorer Filip Forsberg didn’t make the cut. Most impressively, this team didn’t quit when captain and emotional leader Mark Giordano was lost for the year a torn bicep in late February. That’s when many NHL pundits pronounced last rites on the Flames’ playoff chances but they apparently didn’t get the memo.

Vancouver went back to goalie Ryan Miller in the last game over Eddie Lack. Miller played well but the Canucks’ defense played even better holding Calgary to just 21 shots on goal. The most impressive goaltending job was turned in by the Flames’ Jonas Hiller who stopped 41 of 43 Canucks’ shots. Calgary will have to create more shots and tighten up on the defensive end in this game. The Canucks have lost three straight to the Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome and it’ll be another madhouse here tonight. Vancouver is without Alexandre Burrows and the offense has a tendency to stagnate with him out of the lineup. The Flames are the better team and we like their chances of taking the series tonight.

BET CALGARY FLAMES -120 OVER VANCOUVER CANUCKS