Calgary Flames vs Columbus Blue Jackets Betting Picks

Calgary is 25-20 OVER this season, and it has allowed at least four goals in four of its past five games. The Flames are 5-1 OVER their past six after allowing two or fewer goals in their previous game. Rick Bowness is the new coach for Columbus after Dean Evason was fired on Monday. One of Bowness's priorities will be the defensive side, as the Blue Jackets rank 28th in the NHL, allowing 3.38 goals per game. Calgary allows 2.96 goals per game. Columbus has gone OVER four of five against Pacific Division opponents. Jet Greaves is expected to start for the Blue Jackets. He has allowed 15 goals in four games, and three have gone OVER. Take the OVER. 

Calgary looks to make it two wins in a row after defeating Philadelphia 2-1 on Sunday when Jonathan Huberdeau scored goals in the second and third periods and Dustin Wolf stopped 17 of 18 shots. The Flames got a needed two-day rest after playing four games in six days. They have gone OVER five of their past six games overall and five of seven against Eastern Conference opponents. Columbus is 4-8 in the past 12 meetings, including 1-5 on the road. The Blue Jackets are 1-7 in their past eight road games versus teams with less than a .400 home winning percentage. Calgary has won six straight against the Metropolitan Division dating to last season. The Flames are 5-1 OVER after allowing two or fewer goals in their previous game. The Blue Jackets come off a 3-2 loss to the New York Islanders, who scored twice in the final 67 seconds of regulation time. Take the Flames and the OVER.

Both teams come off overtime losses on Wednesday, and Calgary dropped a 2-1 decision at Detroit, although Dan Vladar did his part, stopping 25 of 27 shots for the Flames, who have won seven of 10 meetings with Columbus. Dustin Wolf is expected in net tonight for the Flames with an 8-3-1 record, 2.47 goals-against average, and a .921 save percentage. Calgary is 6-0 in its past six games after scoring two or fewer goals in its previous game. The Blue Jackets have lost 13 of 16 and five in a row against Western Conference opponents. Columbus has allowed 14 goals in its past three games and was fortunate to win two of them, but it won't be so lucky against Calgary, which has allowed only 2.0 goals per game in its past eight games. Take the Flames.

Calgary has won seven of the past nine meetings and the Flames will attempt to snap a three-game skid after winning four in a row. They have the right opponent to do it as Columbus has lost 52 of its past 66 road games and 15 of its past 20 Thursday games. The Blue Jackets currently have lost seven of nine and they come off two straight losses, which were both 4-1 scores against New Jersey and Edmonton. The Flames have gone OVER six of 10, including Tuesday's 4-3 loss to St. Louis. Jacob Markstrom is probable with a 13-12-2 record and 2.64 goals-against average for Calgary. Elvis Merzlikins is 8-10-6 with a 3.29 GAA on the season and just a .874 save percentage his past three games for Columbus, which allows 3.74 goals on the season. Play the Flames and the OVER.