Free NHL Picks Today: Toronto Maple Leafs vs Calgary Flames 12/10/22

The Calgary Flames (+135) and their high-volume offense are on the road to face the Toronto Maple Leafs (-160) and their suffocating goaltending at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday. The total is 6 (O: -110, U: -110)Calgary (13-11-3) is playing on back-to-back days after suffering a 3-1 loss against the Blue Jackets yesterday, their fourth defeat in a row away from home.

The Flames committed seven penalties in the game, though they held Columbus without a power play goal. Michael Stone was the only player to find the net for the Flames. Jacob Markstrom saved 24 of 26 shots in the loss. Toronto (17-5-6) beat the Kings 5-0 on Thursday. Five players found the net for the Maple Leafs.

William Nylander scored and provided an assist to share the scoring lead with Michael Bunting, who had two assists. Ilya Samsonov had a dominant performance with 29 saves to record his first shutout of the season.

HEAD TO HEAD

The teams split their two meetings last season, the last of which was a 5-2 victory for the Flames in February. Noah Hanifin (1G 1A), Rasmus Andersson (1G 1A), and Mikael Backlund (0G 2A) each had two points to lead Calgary. Bunting and Rasmus Sandin were on the scoresheet for Toronto. Markstrom got the win, saving 46 of 48 shots (.958%).

FACING OFF

Calgary is averaging 3.00 goals per game for the season, 21st in the NHL, and they are taking on a Maple Leafs team that is allowing only 2.36 goals a game (3rd). Meanwhile, Toronto has found the net 3.14 times a game on average, 16th in the league, and the Flames are allowing opponents to score 3.00 goals per game (12th).

Calgary averages more shots/game (34.1) than most teams in the league, ranking fifth, though the team’s 8.9% shooting percentage is 29th. Toronto has proven to be one of the league’s best shot-stopping teams, ranking No. 4 with a team save percentage of .922%.

The Maple Leafs’ 23.60% power play percentage ranks 14th in the league, while the Flames are 25th with a conversion rate of 19.78%. Calgary has been equally impressive at penalty killing, boasting the league’s fifth-highest PK% at 82.00%. Toronto ranks eighth at 81.52%.

TOP PERFORMERS:

With 22 points this season, Elias Lindholm is the top skater for the Flames. He has nine goals and 13 assists in 27 games. In the net, Dan Vladar (5-4-1) is Calgary’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 2.59 GAA and a .912% save percentage. Markstrom (8-6-2) leads the Flames in games played in goal.

He has a GAA of 2.97 and a save percentage of .889%. Mitchell Marner and Auston Matthews lead the Maple Leafs in scoring with 33 and 31 points, respectively. Marner has 11 goals and 22 assists, while Matthews has 14 goals and 17 assists.

Samsonov (8-2-0) has the best goals against average for Toronto at 1.88, second-best in the league. He has a save percentage of .933%, also second-best.

HOME AND AWAY

Calgary is 3-6-2 on the road this season. Toronto is 9-2-3 at Scotiabank Arena this season. Meanwhile, the Flames are 0-2 without a day off and 0-1 playing with a rest disadvantage. The Maple Leafs are 2-0 with a rest advantage.