NHL Betting: Ottawa Senators vs. Calgary Flames Odds & Pick: March 11th 2010

Ottawa Senators vs. Calgary Flames
Free NHL Pick: Calgary -135 NHL odds
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Although I expect this game to be a tightly contested affair, for a number of different reasons I believe the decently valued Flames will do just enough in this one to escape with a home victory over the visiting Senators: Following the Olympic break, the Sens went 0-2-1, but skated away with a convincing 4-1 drubbing of the Oilers on Tuesday. Ottawa’s road-trip ends on Saturday in Vancouver, where the Canucks will be playing their first home game after a marathon 14-game road trip, sandwiched around the Olympics; the Sens could be caught “looking ahead” to that tough game. Ottawa will also have to deal with the “revenge factor”, as they won at home against the Flames on Feb 9th; note though that Ottawa has lost three straight at the Saddledome. Brian Elliot will be back in net and faces a resurgent Calgary team thats averaged 4.7 goals during its three-game win streak. Keep in mind that Ottawa is just 2-4 its last six overall; also just 1-5 its last six vs. Calgary. On the other side of the rink: With their 4-2 road victory over the Wings (a game in which I recommended Calgary), the Flames moved a point ahead of Detroit for the eighth and final playoff spot. Jarome Iginla has been on fire of late; four goals and three assists during the current win streak. Miikka Kiprusoff was sharp in Detroit, will be back in net tonight, and needs just one victory to reach 30 for the fifth consecutive season No doubt Calgary has looked sharp of late; 4-1 its last five.

Bottom line: The Flames have also reserved their best play for non-conference tilts; 9-5 (+3.6 units) when playing against teams from the Eastern conference. Although Ottawa is great in many ATS statistical categories, this is in fact one spot that its struggled in mightily all year; a poor 8-12 (-5.6 units) after scoring 4 goals or more in its previous contest; which of course means this team is highly susceptible to a letdown after a decent performance. Sweeping in Alberta is a tough order for any team, and like I said off the top, I expect this to be a close game, but in the end I expect CALGARY to prevail.