Ice Hockey | Monday, January 23, 2023 11:13 AM

Calgary Flames vs Columbus Blue Jackets Best Bet: A Lopsided Affair Expected

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US Sports Expert

Calgary Flames vs Columbus Blue Jackets Best Bet: Monday, January 23rd

The Calgary Flames will play host to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday night at the Saddledome, and the line setters are pointing toward a lopsided contest. Le Flame is strongly favoured at home, but that won’t convince our resident Hocket expert Ej Garr to think that will be the case.

In this article:

Calgary Flames vs Columbus Blue Jackets Preview

January 24, 02:30 (UK time)

Well, you know me well by now, and seeing this obnoxious line on Le Flame only gives me a reason to believe that they will choke at home against a bad team…Again!

It didn’t happen at home last time, but when Le Flame took on Chicago on January 8 the line setters offered the same 1.28 odds as they are today. The Blackhawks ended up winning in overtime because one thing Calgary can’t do is get up for bad teams. Some organizations know how to step on a bad team’s face, but Calgary flops in these spots too often.

I will admit that I first thought of posting the Calgary Over 1.5 team total in the first period because the line is a beautiful 2.73. Then it hit me that when they are strongly favoured to win they come out flat and let bad teams play their best hockey.

We all know that Columbus is quite literally the worst team in the NHL with only 30 points to show for the campaign. However, do you remember the last time these two teams met back in December? Calgary was listed at 1.41 with no chance to lose against these Blue Jackets, right? Wrong!

Columbus handed Calgary a 3 – 1 defeat that snapped the Flames’ 6-game win streak over the Jackets, but we don’t even need that to happen tonight. Pinnacle is showing me a flat even offer of 2.00 for the +2 handicap with the Jackets, and I am not about to let that just sit there without my attention. Everyone in the Jackets’ locker room knows what happened then, and that should give them a semblance of confidence tonight.

We just need to avoid a loss by 3 goals for the Jackets to cover, and you also know I am never afraid to push my action. Give me my money back if Calgary wins 4 – 2, no problem with me! I think the Jackets will come out as the fired-up squad, and I think their Over 0.5 team total in the first period is worthy of a play as well.

I am seeing 1.87 for Columbus to score 1 goal in the opening frame, and I think they will be able to pull that off with ease. Obviously, I will be upset if Calgary goes on to score twice early leaving that Over 1.5 off the board, but I digress. I think I see another option that is full of value with realistic expectations to happen.

Both Teams to score in the first period are being offered at 2.50, and now you have my attention. You know I sniff out the value where I can find it, and I have been perusing my options back and forth as I have been writing this preview.