Calgary Flames (13-12-6) vs. San Jose Sharks (10-16-5)
The 2022-23 NHL betting action continues Saturday with this Western Conference battle when the Calgary Flames travel to take on the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center in San Jose, California.
This Pacific Division battle pits two teams that are separated by seven points in the standings. Calgary is coming off a 5-2 loss to St. Louis on Friday. San Jose defeated Arizona on Tuesday, 3-2. The Sharks took on the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday, but that contest is not included in this analysis. These teams have not played this season, but San Jose took three of the four contests last year.
The Calgary Flames (13-12-6, 12-19 ATS) lost to the St. Louis Blues on Friday, 5-2. Calgary is winless in their last five contests, going 0-2-3. They have also struggled on the road in recent weeks, going 1-2-3 in their last six road contests and are 3-6-4 on the road overall. Connor Mackey scored both goals for the Flames, his first two goals of the season.
“No, it's not getting away from us,” Calgary forward Mikael Backlund said. “We know we can still do a really good thing here. But we've got to pull together here and be a lot better. Execution wasn't good enough tonight. Secondary efforts, digging in to score. Never gave up, gave up so me goals. But we haven't given up here. We know we're chasing it, for sure. We're behind in the standings. We know we've got to play better, win more games, and we're going to do it.”
“We got to pull it together here.”
Mikael Backlund speaks with the media after the loss to the Blues. pic.twitter.com/UoPdMVGs5r
— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) December 17, 2022
Calgary is struggling to light the lamp in December, producing 25 goals in nine contests, and 10 of those goals came in two games. That has the Flames 23rd in goals per game (2.94) but, unlike last season, goaltending is struggling this season as they are 15th overall in goals allowed per game (3.07). Jacob Markstrom has not dominated like last season, going 8-8-4 with a 2.92 goals-against average and has yet to record a shutout after leading the NHL with nine last season.