PREMIUM
Rogers' Big Juice BEATDOWN **$25 SPECIAL!** >> 5-0-2 Last 2 Days!
(NHL) Calgary vs. St. Louis,
Money Line: -154.00 St. Louis (Home)
Result: Win
Money Line: -154.00 St. Louis (Home)
Result: Win
The set-up: The Calgary Flames are 5-4- to open the new season but after last night's 3-2 shootout win in Nashville, Calgary has won four straight road games, since opening this season win a 3-0 loss in Edmonton. There is no rest for the weary, as the Flames will be back on the ice again tonight, when they visit the 6-2-1 St. Louis Blues at Scottrade Center, whose 13 points lead the seven-team Central Division. The Blues are coming off an overtime loss at Vegas on Saturday in which they earned a point by scoring late in the third period.
Calgary: Matthew Tkachuk and Micheal Ferland scored 2:20 apart midway through the third period last night for the Flames, a game which eventually went to a shootout. Tkachuk scored 13 goals as a rookie last season, ended a four-game drought with last night's tally, giving him three goals in nine games this season. Johnny Gaudreau has collected a goal and four assists during his four-game point streak and has landed on the scoresheet in seven of his last eight contests. Calgary goalie Mike Smith has started every game this season (2.49 GAA & .928 SP) but word is that he will get tonight off.
St. Louis: Jaden Schwartz leads the team with 13 points and has been kept off the scoresheet just once this season. He has four goals and two assists during a current four-game point streak, the second such streak this season. Schwartz finally appears to be living up to his offensive potential,in his seventh full season. He owns the tools to be one of the NHL's best all-around forwards but injuries have impeded his progress. However, his 13 points rank third in the NHL and he owns a plus-8 rating in nine games. No. 1 goalie Jake Allen is 4-2-1 with a 2.80 GAA and .912 SP. His backup, Hutton, is 2-0-0 with a 2.00 GAA and .956 SP.
The pick: Allen is expected to be in goal tonight (I wouldn't mind Hutton, either), against Calgary's Eddie Lack, who has played just 12 minutes so far, allowing one goal on six shots. Advantage St. Louis, as is the venue (Scottrade Center), where the Blues went 24-12-5 last season and have opened 2-0-0 this year. Make the Blues a 6*
Calgary: Matthew Tkachuk and Micheal Ferland scored 2:20 apart midway through the third period last night for the Flames, a game which eventually went to a shootout. Tkachuk scored 13 goals as a rookie last season, ended a four-game drought with last night's tally, giving him three goals in nine games this season. Johnny Gaudreau has collected a goal and four assists during his four-game point streak and has landed on the scoresheet in seven of his last eight contests. Calgary goalie Mike Smith has started every game this season (2.49 GAA & .928 SP) but word is that he will get tonight off.
St. Louis: Jaden Schwartz leads the team with 13 points and has been kept off the scoresheet just once this season. He has four goals and two assists during a current four-game point streak, the second such streak this season. Schwartz finally appears to be living up to his offensive potential,in his seventh full season. He owns the tools to be one of the NHL's best all-around forwards but injuries have impeded his progress. However, his 13 points rank third in the NHL and he owns a plus-8 rating in nine games. No. 1 goalie Jake Allen is 4-2-1 with a 2.80 GAA and .912 SP. His backup, Hutton, is 2-0-0 with a 2.00 GAA and .956 SP.
The pick: Allen is expected to be in goal tonight (I wouldn't mind Hutton, either), against Calgary's Eddie Lack, who has played just 12 minutes so far, allowing one goal on six shots. Advantage St. Louis, as is the venue (Scottrade Center), where the Blues went 24-12-5 last season and have opened 2-0-0 this year. Make the Blues a 6*
