Columbus Blue Jackets vs Calgary Flames Prediction, 12/3/2024 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Columbus Blue Jackets vs Calgary Flames

Date: Tuesday, December 3, 2024

Location: Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, AB

TV: Sportsnet

Odds/Point Spread: Blue Jackets (+162) Flames (-196)

The Columbus Blue Jackets (11-9-3) are traveling to Scotiabank Saddledome on Tuesday where they will attempt to defeat the Calgary Flames (12-9-4). The odds on this game have the Blue Jackets at +162 while the Flames open at -196. The over/under has been set at 6.

The Columbus Blue Jackets had a good night with a 6-3 win over the Blackhawks in their last outing. The Blue Jackets had a solid offensive output in this victory. For the outing, they scored on 6 out of the 36 shots they attempted. In addition, they had 2 power play chances but weren't able to score. Columbus accounted for 27 mins in the box for this contest.

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In regard to scoring goals, the Columbus Blue Jackets have notched 83 goals (8th in the National Hockey League) on the season and have conceded 81. For the year, they sit with 25 points and their points percentage is sitting at .543. Columbus steps onto the ice with 61 power play chances and they have notched 11 goals during those advantages, garnering them a rate of 18.03%. At even strength, the Blue Jackets have allowed the opponent to score 62 goals while getting 72 on the offensive side of the ice. Columbus has attempted 736 shots and holds a shot percentage of 11.3%. The Blue Jackets have had 665 shots taken against them and have earned a save percentage of .878. Columbus Blue Jackets opponents have 73 power play opportunities (17th in professional hockey) and have scored 19 goals in those chances.

The player protecting the goal in this game is Elvis Merzlikins. Merzlikins has participated in 206 matchups during his pro hockey career. He has compiled a win-loss mark of 76-84-32 and he started in 192 games. The opposition has scored 604 goals versus Merzlikins in his pro career and his goals against average per game is 3.46. Merzlikins has seen 6,251 shots taken against him and has accrued 5,647 total saves. He has a save percentage of .903 during his 10,487 minutes in the crease. Throughout his time in hockey, Merzlikins has recorded 92 quality starts and his rate for quality starts is .479.

The last time they were on the ice, Calgary faced off against the Penguins in a game where the Flames took the defeat by a final score of 6-2. They had 3 chances on the power play in this contest but didn't score a goal. The Flames recorded 2 goals of the 32 shots on goal they tried.

The Flames have racked up 49 goals at even strength and 14 goals (18th in the league) while on the power play. Calgary has taken 744 shots (7th in the NHL) and has accumulated a shot percentage of 8.47%, while allowing the opposition 766 shots. On the campaign, the Calgary Flames have notched a total of 63 goals, 28 points, as well as a points percentage of .560. They have allowed 73 goals to be scored by of a combination of 50 goals at even strength and 23 goals while they were shorthanded. They have earned 71 power play chances and they have earned a power play rate of 19.72%. They have recorded a penalty kill percentage of 70.89% on their oppositions 79 chances on the power play, and their save percentage sits at 90.5%.

Across the rink you are going to see Dustin Wolf between the pipes. The opposition is averaging 4.89 goals/game and he has surrendered 85 goals in total. Wolf's quality start percentage is 55.2% and he has made 16 quality starts in his career. He has started in 29 games and his ice time sits at 1,043 minutes. Wolf has compiled a lifetime mark of 16-11-2 and has participated in 31 games. He is sitting with 819 stops out of 904 shots taken against him, which gives him a rate of .906.

Who will win tonight's NHL game against the spread or moneyline?

Josh's Pick: Take Columbus (+162)

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