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On By Littum

So far, so good for the Rangers on their four-game West Coast road swing, picking up regular-season wins over the Kraken and Canucks.

They look to keep their unbeaten run going on Thursday when they face the overachieving Calgary Flames.

The Flames entered the year heavily favored to miss the playoffs for the third consecutive season with a total of 81.5 points.

They have clearly exceeded oddsmakers’ expectations with a 10-6-3 record, which has them holding the third playoff spot in the Pacific Division.

Rangers vs. Flames odds

Team Odds Puck line Total
Rangers -155 -1.5 (+160) o6 (-105)
Flames +130 +1.5 (-192) u6 (-115)
Odds via DraftKings

It’s hard to say whether Calgary’s current process will continue to produce such strong results.

The goaltending tandem of Dan Vladar and Dustin Wolf has been surprisingly excellent so far, posting the league’s fourth-best save percentage.

Unlike the Rangers, who rank first in team save percentage, no one expected the Flames tandem to be a force this season.


Calgary Flames goaltender Dan Vladar makes a save against the Vancouver Canucks during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024.
Calgary Flames goaltender Dan Vladar makes a save against the Vancouver Canucks during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. AP

Over the last 15 games, Calgary has been outshot by 3.13 shots per 60 and has an expected field goal percentage of 46.01 percent.

If the Flames’ goaltending starts to falter, it should expose their subpar defensive play and lead to significantly worse results.

Led by aging veterans Nazem Kadri and Jonathan Huberdeau, the Flames’ offensive core lacks dynamic offensive talent.

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The Rangers, meanwhile, continue to achieve tremendous results in the regular season with their combination of elite goaltending and clinical finishing talent year after year.

Their offensive upside could get a significant boost going forward if Mika Zibanejad can find his game, and the former 39-goal scorer was outstanding in Tuesday’s win in Vancouver.

The Rangers are priced at +105 to win in regulation Thursday, offering punters an excellent price to fade a Flames team that should return to Earth.

THE GAME: Rangers win in regulation (+105, DraftKings)

Why Trust New York Post Bets

Nicholas Martin handicaps the NHL, MLB and NFL for the New York Post. He strives to include relevant game notes in articles to help players come to their own conclusions, but he’s also up 180 units himself on verified picks in a sports betting app. You can find Nick on X @nickm_hockey.