Face-off: 2100 ET, 10/03/2022
Arena: Scotiabank Saddledome
Calgary will look to get back to winning ways and strengthen their position at the top of the Pacific Division when entertaining Tampa Bay.
The Flames currently sit four points clear of Los Angeles, with two games in hand.
Tampa Bay are in a battle of their own for first place in the Eastern Conference with Florida and Toronto.
Home advantage should be enough to see Darryl Sutter’s side win by two goals at 8.0 for our Calgary Flames vs Tampa Bay Lightning predictions.
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Calgary Flames Odds
Calgary have won seven of their past 10 games but will be looking to right the wrongs of a 5-4 loss to Washington last time out.
That defeat gave the Kings the opportunity to close the gap in what is a tight division.
Calgary defenceman Oliver Kylington is determined to put the loss behind them and turn the focus to the Lightning.
“We want to perform and we want to get wins,” Kylington said.
“Obviously, when you’re not getting wins it’s disappointing, but at the same time we have to regroup here and get a win on Thursday.”
There will be plenty of offence on display from two of the top teams in the league battling for positions in the post-season pecking order.
Examining the NHL odds, we like 4.1 for the Flames to win and over 6.5 total goals in the game.
Tampa Bay Lightning Odds
Tampa Bay will hope to put a 7-4 loss at Winnipeg fully in the rear-view mirror for the second game of their western Canada swing.
Lightning defenceman Ryan McDonagh wants to see his team tighten up at the back and give more support to goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy.
“If you look at pretty much every one of their goals, it was from two or three feet right in front,” McDonagh said.
“It was not good enough, not strong enough in front of him there, and that’s where the goals are scored.
“We certainly didn’t play hard enough defensively around the blue paint and we paid the price.”
Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper urged his team to turn things around and make a quick start.
“No question, we’re in a funk right now,” Cooper said. “Everybody has just got to dig a little deeper and get yourself out of it.
“Are the starts concerning? There’s no question, but hitting the panic button with this team? Not a chance.
“You have some tough nights. We just happen to have had a few in a row, and it really hasn’t shown up in the win-loss column, but we haven’t played our best.”
The visitors to win the first period with both teams scoring at 9.5 is worth a saver in our Calgary Flames vs Tampa Bay Lightning predictions.
Additional stats
Last result:
CALGARY 4-5 Washington
Winnipeg 7-4 TAMPA BAY
Season head-to-head: Tampa Bay 4-1 Calgary
