Flames vs. Blues prediction, tips and odds for tonight’s NHL game

The Calgary Flames have been one of the best stories in the league through the first few months of the season. Tonight they will welcome a St. Louis Blues team that is nipping at their heels in a very competitive Wild Card race in the Western Conference.

My Blues vs. Flames predictions see the home team relying on what got them this far and leaning on their goaltending in what should be a close, low-scoring affair.

Let’s break things down in more detail with my NHL picks for December 5th.

Flames vs Blues prediction

My Flames picks
Under 6 (-128 at BET99)

My Flames analysis

The Calgary Flames are off to a great start to the season and their ability to keep the puck away from the net is the main reason why. They have allowed just 2.81 goals per game this season, which is the seventh-best mark in the NHL.

Young player Dustin Wolf has emerged as a rising star in net, posting a sparkling .918 save percentage in 13 starts.

Daniel Vladar also performed very well, as his save percentage (.904) is well above the league average (.894). He has consistently limited the number of opponents to a manageable number and has only allowed more than three goals once since October 28th.

Combining the consistently strong performances from both goaltenders, the Flames were able to keep games close on a nightly basis, allowing them to win more than their fair share of games while often going for extra points in losses.

The Flames didn’t make much noise offensively, but they didn’t need to. Instead, head coach Ryan Huska lets the team play to their strengths and rely on smart puck management and good goaltending to make the difference for them.

The Flames have done their best work on home soil, completely neutralizing opposing offenses. Opponents averaged just 2.04 goals per game in Calgary, the fourth-lowest rate in the league. That’s a big reason why the Flames have a remarkable 10-3-0 home record this season.

They should be able to keep the score down on Thursday night against a St. Louis Blues team that has struggled on offense. St. Louis is currently tied for 26th in goals per game, 28th in power play percentage and 29th in shots on goal.

While a change behind the bench should provide a spark, the Blues are similar to the Flames in that limiting turnovers and relying on their strong goaltending tandem is probably the best path to victory.

With two teams following the same formula, fireworks are unlikely in this game.

Flames vs. Blues – Match Game Parlay (SGP)

Under 6

Robert Thomas Under 2.5 shots on goal

Mikael Backlund Over 2.5 shots on goal

Robert Thomas is not a great shooter. He is averaging just 2.1 shots on 4.4 attempts this season and has cleared 2.5 shots just 36% of the time.

The Flames are far from an ideal opponent for a center looking to increase his shooting volume. They’ve done a great job of protecting the middle of the ice lately and limiting shots to the middle. In fact, only the Edmonton Oilers have allowed fewer shots per game at the position over the last ten games.

On the other hand, Mikael Backlund’s volume is trending in the right direction – especially at home. He has cleared 2.5 shots in five of his last six home games. In his last unders in Calgary, three of the four came against playoff teams in Winnipeg, Edmonton and New Jersey.

Learn how to place a bet in the same game with these helpful tips and strategies.

Flames vs Blues odds

Flames vs Blues live odds

Flames vs. Blues opening odds

• Puck line: Calgary -1.5 | St. Louis +1.5
• Money line: Calgary -127 | St Louis +113
• Over/Under: Over 5.5 | Below 5.5

Odds courtesy of BET99

Flames vs. Blues trend

Only nine of Calgary’s last 26 games have gone over the total. Find more NHL betting trends for Flames vs. Blues.

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