Free NHL Picks Today: Calgary Flames vs Ottawa Senators 3/12/23

The Calgary Flames (-190) welcome the Ottawa Senators (+160) at Scotiabank Saddledome on Sunday. The total is 6.5 (O: -110, U: -110)Ottawa (33-28-4) is playing on back-to-back days after suffering a 5-2 loss against the Canucks yesterday.

The Senators committed nine penalties in the game, conceding one power play goal. Claude Giroux and Nick Holden each scored once for the Senators. Tim Stuetzle had two assists to lead the team in scoring.

Mads Sogaard only had 25 saves on 29 shots against (.862%) in the loss. Calgary (29-24-13) fell 3-1 to the Ducks on Friday. Mikael Backlund was the only player to score for the Flames. Jacob Markstrom only had 15 saves on 17 shots against (.882%) in the loss.

HEAD TO HEAD

The Senators won the first meeting between the teams this season, a 4-3 (OT) victory in February. Stuetzle led Ottawa with four points (1G 3A). Dillon Dube (2G 0A) and Tyler Toffoli (1G 1A) each had two points to lead Calgary. Sogaard got the win, saving 34 of 37 shots (.918%).

FACING OFF

Ottawa is averaging 3.14 goals per game for the season, 17th in the NHL, and they are taking on a Flames team that is allowing 3.03 goals a game (14th).

Meanwhile, Calgary has found the net 3.02 times a game on average, 21st in the league, and the Senators are allowing opponents to score 3.18 goals per game (17th).

Calgary averages more shots per game (35.4) than most teams in the league, ranking second, though the team’s 8.6% shooting percentage is 32nd. With an average of 33.0 attempts, Ottawa ranks eighth. Expect a few power play opportunities for the Flames, as the Senators are averaging 4.74 penalties per game, second-most in the NHL.

The visitors’ 11.95 penalty minutes a game ranks third-highest. The home team has been penalized 4.15 times a game (9th) for an average of 9.82 minutes (11th).

The Senators’ 23.87% power play percentage ranks sixth in the league, while the Flames are 23rd with a conversion rate of 19.32%. Ottawa has been equally impressive at penalty killing, boasting the league’s third-highest PK% at 83.61%. Calgary ranks 10th at 81.86%.

TOP PERFORMERS:

Stuetzle and Giroux have been the top skaters for the Senators this season with 70 and 66 points. In the net, Cam Talbot (15-14-1) is Ottawa’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 2.85 GAA and a .905% save percentage.

Toffoli and Elias Lindholm lead the Flames in scoring with 55 and 53 points, respectively. Toffoli has 26 goals and 29 assists in 66 games, while Lindholm has 18 goals and 35 assists in 64 games. Markstrom (17-18-8) has the best goals against average for Calgary at 2.87. He has a save percentage of .893%.

HOME AND AWAY

Ottawa is 14-16-2 on the road this season. Calgary is 15-14-3 at home this season. Meanwhile, the Senators are 6-3 without a day off and 3-3 playing with a rest disadvantage. The Flames are 5-5 with a rest advantage.