The Calgary Flames red-hot offense will be the key to them taking Game 1 from the Dallas Stars. Photo by StatsCentre (Twitter).
- The Calgary Flames and Dallas Stars will face-off in the first round of the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs
- Dallas went 1-2-0 in the Western Conference round robin; Calgary beat Winnipeg in four games.
- Game 1 goes Tuesday at 5:40 pm ET; Bryan Thiel breaks down the match-up and makes his pick
After the Dallas Stars stumbled through the Western Conference round robin and the Flames sent the Jets packing, they’re set to face each other in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Following a different look over the first two weeks of action, things are back to normal: a seven-game series to see who moves on.
The puck drops for Game 1 on Tuesday at 5:40pm.
Flames vs Stars: Game 1 Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Puckline | Over/Under at DraftKings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calgary Flames | -105 | +1.5 (-286) | Over 5 (-139) |
| Dallas Stars | -110 | -1.5 (+115) | Under 5 (+115) |
Odds as of Aug. 10.
The regular season was fairly tight between these two teams, and it’s reflected in the playoff odds. The Flames and Stars were separated by three points in the regular season, and Dallas had one more regular season win.
The odds for Flames/Stars is closer than any other in the first round. While the Calgary/Dallas series price opened with the Stars favored, many sportsbooks have made Flames vs Stars odds a pick’em in Game 1.
Stars Searching for Healthy Bodies Against Flames
There is one lingering concern for the Stars as things kick off, and that’s health.
Tyler Seguin has been battling an undisclosed injury since training camp. He played against Vegas and Colorado but wasn’t terribly effective. He was a minus-four with no points in two games. Seguin didn’t play in the Stars’ 2-1 OT win against the Blues.
Unfit to play for the Stars today:
– Ben Bishop
– Tyler Seguin
– Their power play— Darren Haynes (@DarrenWHaynes) August 9, 2020
The other key injury may be a bit more palatable.
Ben Bishop, like Seguin, didn’t play against the Blues. Rick Bowness says both are day-to-day, but Anton Khudobin may be able to hold the fort in Bishop’s absence.
Ben Bishop, Anton Khudobin 2019/20
| 43 | Games Started | 26 |
| 21-16-4 | Record | 16-8-4 |
| 2.50 | Goals-Against Average | 2.22 |
| .920 | Save Percentage | .930 |
| .628 | Quality Start Percentage | .731 |
| 13.29 | GSAA | 17.75 |
While Khudobin doesn’t have Bishop’s pedigree, he is among the better back-ups in the league.
The Dallas Morning News seems to be more concerned about Bishop’s status than Seguin’s. An available Bishop is a better long-term prospect for the series, but Khudobin should perform well in Game 1.
Calgary Hoping Offensive Balance Remains
The biggest reason the Flames were able to get past the Jets in the first round, was their balanced offense. Seven Calgary forwards finished with three or more points, victimizing a short-handed Jets team.
Calgary’s Offensive Production
| Player | Goals | Assists | PPP | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sean Monahan | 2 | 4 | 3 | +4 |
| Milan Lucic | 1 | 3 | 2 | +1 |
| Andrew Mangiapane | 1 | 3 | 1 | +3 |
| Mikael Backlund | 2 | 1 | 1 | +2 |
| Elias Lindholm | 2 | 1 | 2 | +2 |
| Johnny Gaudreau | 2 | 1 | 2 | +2 |
| Sam Bennett | 2 | 1 | 0 | +3 |
The bonus in all of this was the production from Milan Lucic. Lucic’s regular season saw him perform at a 0.29 point-per-game pace. That helped off-set Johnny Gaudreau getting back up to speed, as Gaudreau had a rough start to camp.
One issue however, may be the fact that it’ll be four days between games for the Flames. A needed rest, yes, but is that a tough layoff after an interrupted season?
Stars, Jets Defensive Comparison
| 116.08 (4) | xGA | 151.48 (31) |
| 555 (7) | High-Danger Chances Against | 756 (31) |
| 0.999 (18) | PDO | 1.005 (12) |
| 49.48% (18) | Corsi % | 48.55% (21) |
| 49.4% (19) | Fenwick % | 47.59% (27) |
(NHL Rank)
While they are similar in some categories, there is no doubt the Stars have a better defense than the Jets.
Esa Lindell, John Klingberg and Miro Heiskanen are a formidable trio at the depth chart. They present a far greater challenge to Calgary’s potent forward group.
Flames, Stars Should Be Tight-Checking in Game 1
These two played three times in the regular season. One game was decided by one goal, while another featured a late empty-netter.
If there’s no Tyler Seguin, we expect a similar outcome. The Flames will be trying to get their legs under them once again, and the Stars will pull out a one-goal win in Game 1.
The Pick: Dallas Stars (-110), Under 5 (+115)
Bryan has spent the last decade working in the sports industry. He can be found conducting sideline interviews for SKY Sports and gathering post-match reactions for BBC. The sportcaster’s broadcasts stream on CBC Sports, Game TV, and Premier TV in the UK.
source https://casinonewsblogger.com/flames-vs-stars-game-1-odds-pick/
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