Free NHL Picks Today: Vancouver Canucks vs Calgary Flames 4/8/23

Free NHL Picks Today: Vancouver Canucks vs Calgary Flames 4/8/23
Sat 8th April 2023

The Calgary Flames (37-27-15) head to take on the Vancouver Canucks (35-36-7) at Rogers Arena on Saturday. Calgary is coming off a 3-1 win over the Jets on Wednesday, their third win in a row away from home. The Flames committed six penalties in the game, conceding one power play goal.

Nikita Zadorov, Andrew Mangiapane, and Walker Duehr each scored once for the Flames. Zadorov and Mangiapane both added an assist to lead the team in scoring. Jacob Markstrom had a great performance with 34 saves (.971%) in the win.

Vancouver is wrapping up a five-game homestand after a 3-0 win over the Blackhawks on Thursday, breaking a four-game losing streak. Vitali Kravtsov, J.T. Miller, and Andrei Kuzmenko each scored once for the Canucks. Akito Hirose had two assists to lead the team in scoring. Thatcher Demko recorded his first shutout of the season with 33 saves.

HEAD TO HEAD

The Flames have won two of the three games between the teams this season, including a 5-4 (OT) victory in their most recent meeting in March. Four players had two points for Calgary. Four players were on the scoresheet for Vancouver. Markstrom got the win despite allowing four goals on 20 shots (.800%).

FACING OFF

Calgary is averaging 3.18 goals per game for the season, 17th in the NHL, and they are taking on a Canucks team that is allowing 3.65 goals a game (28th).

Meanwhile, Vancouver has found the net 3.33 times a game on average, 11th in the league, and the Flames are allowing opponents to score 3.06 goals per game (14th).

Calgary averages more shots/game (35.6) than most teams in the league, ranking second, though the team’s 9.0% shooting percentage is 31st. Vancouver has struggled with stopping shots, ranking No. 32 with a team save percentage of .886%.

The Canucks’ 22.31% power play percentage ranks 11th in the league, while the Flames are 19th with a conversion rate of 20.00%. Vancouver has been less successful at penalty killing, as the hosts possess the league’s lowest PK% at 71.55%. Calgary’s 82.31% ranks eighth in the NHL.

TOP PERFORMERS:

With 72 points this season, Tyler Toffoli is the top skater for the Flames. He has 34 goals and 38 assists in 79 games. In the net, Dan Vladar (14-6-5) is Calgary’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 2.91 GAA and a .892% save percentage.

Markstrom (23-21-10) leads the Flames in games played in goal. He has a GAA of 2.96 and a save percentage of .891%.Elias Pettersson leads the Canucks in scoring with 98 points (10th in the league). He has 37 goals and 61 assists in 76 games. Demko (12-14-4) has the best goals against average for Vancouver at 3.25. He has a save percentage of .898%.

HOME AND AWAY

Calgary is 18-11-11 away from home this season. Vancouver is 18-20-2 at Rogers Arena this season.

SportsTips’ NHL Pick:

Calgary Flames (-175)

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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.

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