NHL Hockey Betting: Calgary Flames at Anaheim Ducks

It’s been a tale of two seasons for the Anaheim Ducks. They started the year as arguably the biggest disappointment in hockey losing 9 of their first ten games going 1-8-1. At the time, there were two divergent schools of thought on the Ducks. The hysterical theory was that the team’s wheels had come off (ten games into the season mind you) and that it was time to ‘blow up’ the group that had made the Western Conference Finals a year ago. The more reasonable theory was that it would all work out and that by the end of the season the Ducks would be back in the competitive mix.

Anaheim is now doing just fine, helped along by the parity in the Pacific Division. Entering this contest the Ducks are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games and just four points behind the Los Angeles Kings for first place. LA is just 4-5-1 in their last 10. It wasn’t that long ago that most hockey experts considered the Pacific Division battle to be for second and third place–and automatic playoff spots–and were ready to award the divisional title to Los Angeles. That’s no longer the case.

Calgary is ‘treading water’ and little more. They’re 5-5-0 in their last ten games and lead the last place Edmonton Oilers by 5 points. They’re also 1 point back of the fourth place Vancouver Canucks. But they’re ten points back of the final wildcard playoff spot. Right now they’re one point up on Winnipeg in the wild card race but otherwise will have to jump over the entire Central Division to make the postseason. Calgary is 9-15-2 on the road and face a Ducks team that has become very good at home since their shabby start with a 16-8-4 record at the Honda Center. The Flames have one of the worst defenses in hockey (one of only 5 teams allowing 3+ goals per game) and that’s just a bad tactical matchup against the grinding Ducks. Not surprisingly, the Ducks have dominated Calgary in head to head play with a 13-4 record overall and a record of 8-0 at home over the past three seasons. The Ducks have won all three meetings this year and should make it four for four today. Note that Anaheim is starting to score goals–they’ve not played ‘Under’ in 11 straight games (8 OV 3 push).

BET ANAHEIM DUCKS -185 OVER CALGARY FLAMES
BET ANAHEIM/CALGARY OVER 5.5