Free NHL Picks Today: Calgary Flames vs New Jersey Devils 11/5/22

Two of the NHL’s highest volume shooting teams are set to face off at Scotiabank Saddledome on Saturday, as the Calgary Flames (5-4-0) host the New Jersey Devils (8-3-0). New Jersey is coming off a 4-3 win over the Oilers on Thursday, their fifth win in a row. The Devils committed only two penalties in the game, yet still conceded a power play goal. Miles Wood was the top goalscorer for the Devils with two goals.

Vitek Vanecek had a great performance with 18 saves (.947%) in the win. Calgary dropped their third straight game, falling 4-1 to the Predators on Thursday. Blake Coleman netted the lone goal for the Flames. Jacob Markstrom saved only 28 of 31 shots against (.903%) in the loss.

HEAD TO HEAD

The Flames won both games between the teams last season, including a 6-3 victory in their final meeting in March, their eighth straight win against New Jersey. Matthew Tkachuk led Calgary with three points (1G 2A). Nico Hischier led New Jersey with two points (0G 2A). Markstrom got the win, saving 30 of 33 shots (.909%).

FACING OFF

New Jersey is averaging 3.64 goals per game for the season, sixth in the NHL, and they are taking on a Flames team that is allowing 3.22 goals a game (19th). Meanwhile, Calgary has found the net 3.22 times a game on average, 13th in the league, and the Devils are holding opponents to 2.55 goals per game (4th).

Both teams average more shots per game than most teams in the league. New Jersey ranks No. 1 with 39.5 attempts, while Calgary’s 36.9 average ranks fourth. When it comes to shot-stopping, the Devils have been more successful with a team save percentage of .894% (23rd), while the Flames have stopped .892% of shots as a team (24th).

The Flames’ 21.21% power play percentage ranks 15th in the league, while the Devils are 18th with a conversion rate of 20.00%. New Jersey has been equally adept at penalty killing, boasting the league’s fourth-highest PK% at 86.11%. Calgary ranks 11th at 81.58%.

TOP PERFORMERS:

With 17 points this season, fifth-most in the NHL, Jesper Bratt is the top skater for the Devils. He is among the league leaders with 12 assists (2nd) and has added five goals of his own. In the net, Vanecek (4-1-0) is New Jersey’s top goaltender by goals against average.

He has a 2.06 GAA, fifth-best in the league, and a .911% save percentage. MacKenzie Blackwood (4-2-0) leads the Devils in games played in goal. He has a GAA of 2.79 and a save percentage of .880%.

Nazem Kadri leads the Flames in scoring with 10 points. He has five goals and five assists in nine games. Markstrom (4-2-0) has the best goals against average for Calgary at 2.68. He has a save percentage of .903%.