by Chuck Sommers
Wednesday, Nov 16, 2022
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: Amalie Arena, Tampa, FL
Where to watch: BSSUN, SNW
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Lightning -115, Flames -105
FanDuel: Lightning -120, Flames +100
BetMGM: Lightning -130, Flames +110
Caesars: Lightning -125, Flames +105
Season record
Flames: 7-6-2 (16 points)
Lightning: 9-6-1 (19 points)
What an electric start to the NHL season. So much parity, so many good teams through the first 10-plus games, you have every right to be excited! Of course the Vegas Golden Knights and Boston Bruins are heading the fun charge here as the top two teams in the league, because of course they are. But never count out the Avalanche, you know they're always going to be hanging around and will be eating worlds once they get everyone healthy. But this is a good time to be playing these hockey games, as well. Look no further than our own Doc's Sports on a 14-7-0 run over the first 30 days of the NHL season. There's also ASA, Inc. posting a 12-5-1 mark through the first month. You know you can trust our champion handicappers to get you across the finish line with your NHL bets. Check out our Best Bets page at bigal.com to see what we're throwing down!
Flames - Lightning preview, prediction and analysis
Recent results
Flames: won 6-5 vs. Kings on Monday
Lightning: won 5-4 (OT) vs. Stars on Tuesday
Is this where the Calgary Flames start turning things around and start winning? Two wins in a row after losing seven in a row is a small feat, but at least the stars are still playing like them. But we get to throw it back to 2004 for one night when the Flames visit the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday in what should be a fun matchup.
Is this where the Calgary Flames start turning things around and start winning? Two wins in a row after losing seven in a row is a small feat, but at least the stars are still playing like them. But we get to throw it back to 2004 for one night when the Flames visit the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday in what should be a fun matchup.
The Flames got a big return from Jonathan Huberdeau in a 6-5 win on Monday over the Los Angeles Kings. A four-goal first period helped pace Calgary in its second straight win, highlighted by Huberdeau scoring in his return and registering his 200th NHL goal. Huberdeau missed the prior three games with an upper-body injury.
"We found a way to win," Flames forward Tyler Toffoli said after scoring a goal with two assists. "I don't think it's the way we wanted it to happen, but at the end of the day we'll take the two points. Division rival, really good team playing really good hockey. It was a really good test for us tonight."
This is the kind of offensive firepower I think the masses expected from Calgary, especially in a division showdown. This is the kind of depth that Calgary has shown it can create. Guys like Andrew Mangiapane scoring to end a 10-game drought in this one needed to get something going. Calgary, even after losing Johnny Gaudreau and trading Matthew Tkachuk, have a lot to play for. It would also help the cause for Jacob Markstrom to get back on track. His save percentage is still hovering below .900.
"We need everybody going, rolling four lines and three sets of [defense]," Toffoli said. "When we play that way, we kind of come in waves. That's how we're kind of built and how we're successful. We're on the right path. We didn't complete the game, something for us to work on, but we'll take the two points."
The Lightning are also not getting the best goaltending in the world, but they’ve been finding ways to score goals as of late during this homestand. They’re coming off a 5-4 win in overtime against the Dallas Stars on Tuesday, a couple days after putting up six in a win over the Washington Capitals at home.
Five different players scored a goal, with Alex Killorn scoring the game-winner in overtime off a pass from Steven Stamkos for his 500th NHL assist. Think about how cool that is for a hot second.
"I think we're still finding ourselves, but with every game guys are getting more comfortable with each other," Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said. "We're making strides. I thought this was a really good test. Dallas has beaten a lot of good teams."
Prediction
Someone’s goaltending has to get back on the right track here. Whether it’s Markstrom or Andrei Vasilevskiy, we need a quality goaltending matchup in this one in order to feel happy about this Thursday night matchup. And until someone knocks him off, when it comes to a one-off epic goalie showdown, you take 88 in blue all day. Lightning win 3-2
Betting trends
Flames are 41-27 on the road off a 1-goal win at home since 1996.
Flames are 140-138 on the road after 2 straight home games since 1996.
Lightning are 20-22 after playing 2 straight games where 7 goals or more were scored in the last 3 seasons.
Flames are 2-7 after 5 straight games with 30 shots on goal or more this season.
Projected lines
Flames:
Adam Ruzicka -- Elias Lindholm -- Tyler Toffoli
Milan Lucic -- Nazem Kadri -- Andrew Mangiapane
Jonathan Huberdeau -- Mikael Backlund -- Trevor Lewis
Blake Coleman -- Dillon Dube -- Brett Ritchie
Noah Hanifin -- Rasmus Andersson
Chris Tanev -- MacKenzie Weegar
Nikita Zadorov -- Nick DeSimone
Jacob Markstrom
Adam Ruzicka -- Elias Lindholm -- Tyler Toffoli
Milan Lucic -- Nazem Kadri -- Andrew Mangiapane
Jonathan Huberdeau -- Mikael Backlund -- Trevor Lewis
Blake Coleman -- Dillon Dube -- Brett Ritchie
Noah Hanifin -- Rasmus Andersson
Chris Tanev -- MacKenzie Weegar
Nikita Zadorov -- Nick DeSimone
Jacob Markstrom
Lightning:
Brandon Hagel -- Brayden Point -- Nikita Kucherov
Steven Stamkos -- Nicholas Paul -- Alex Killorn
Cole Koepke -- Vladislav Namestnikov -- Ross Colton
Pat Maroon -- Pierre-Edouard Bellemare -- Corey Perry
Victor Hedman -- Ian Cole
Mikhail Sergachev -- Nick Perbix
Haydn Fleury -- Philippe Myers
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Brandon Hagel -- Brayden Point -- Nikita Kucherov
Steven Stamkos -- Nicholas Paul -- Alex Killorn
Cole Koepke -- Vladislav Namestnikov -- Ross Colton
Pat Maroon -- Pierre-Edouard Bellemare -- Corey Perry
Victor Hedman -- Ian Cole
Mikhail Sergachev -- Nick Perbix
Haydn Fleury -- Philippe Myers
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Statistical leaders
Flames:
Points: Nazem Kadri -- 14
Goals: Nazem Kadri -- 7
Assists: Rasmus Andersson -- 12
Goalie: Jacob Markstrom -- 6-3-2, 3.06 GAA, .889 SV%
Lightning:
Points: Nikita Kucherov -- 23
Goals: Steven Stamkos -- 8
Assists: Nikita Kucherov -- 16
Goalie: Andrei Vasilevskiy -- 5-5-1, 3.10 GAA, .898 SV%
Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert hockey picks today. And if you enjoyed this Calgary Flames - Tampa Bay Lightning prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our daily NHL projections and previews.
Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
