Anaheim Ducks @ Calgary Flames - January 30, 2025

Divisional bragging rights will be on the line Thursday night as the Anaheim Ducks visit the Calgary Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome. The Flames come into this matchup favored heavily, with oddsmakers setting their moneyline at -244, reflecting their home advantage and overall record.

The last time we saw Calgary, they suffered a disappointing 3-1 loss to the Capitals. Despite that setback, one must analyze deeper into their performance metrics to understand what went wrong. On average, Calgary has been scoring around 2.7 goals per game but they’ve struggled to convert opportunities lately – boasting just a 9.4% shooting percentage. This inefficiency can become problematic against any team in a competitive league like this.

In contrast, Anaheim has shown some resilience recently with a solid 6-4 victory over the Kraken. Their ability to rack up goals has fluctuated; currently averaging just over 2.5 goals per game with an even lower shooting percentage of around 8.8%. They’ve managed to score on roughly 13% of their power play chances which is well below league average—another indicator that if they want to take control of games consistently, improvement in special teams is essential.

Defensively, both teams have room for improvement as well. The Flames have demonstrated a strong save percentage at nearly 90%, but their penalty kill sits low at approximately 71%. If Anaheim can exploit this during power plays—which they often struggle with—they may find ways to keep it close despite being the underdog.

Both teams enter this game with different narratives: Calgary is looking for redemption after recent missteps while Anaheim rides high on momentum from their last win but still bears the weight of inconsistent performances throughout the season (18 wins compared to Calgary’s 21).

Looking ahead at Thursday’s faceoff, my prediction aligns closely with analytical trends I’ve observed throughout seasons past; I foresee Calgary taking home the victory given their superior record and playing style that typically flourishes against weaker defenses like Anaheim’s. However, do not be surprised if Anaheim manages to cover the spread due largely in part to their tenacity and spirit recently displayed – especially when underdogs tend to rise when expectations are low.

As for total goals scored in this contest? Given both clubs’ defensive capabilities and tendencies toward lower-scoring matches lately (Calgary going under in several previous contests), I’d lean towards expecting fewer than six goals altogether tonight.

Overall, expect an intriguing battle fueled by divisional pride where each squad strives not only for two points but also for momentum as we head further into this grueling NHL season schedule!