Flames vs Avalanche Prediction, Over/Under & Late NHL Picks (Oct. 31)

• The Flames visit the Avalanche late Saturday night at Ball Arena in Denver
• Calgary is on the second half of a back-to-back with its crease in flux
• See my Flames vs Avalanche prediction, over/under pick and the latest odds below

Calgary gets no breather this weekend. The Flames (6-7-0) hosted the Kraken on Friday night and skated away with a 6-2 victory, and now head to Denver for a late Saturday date with the Colorado Avalanche (7-5-1), who are looking to climb the NHL playoff standings.

Colorado is coming off a 5-2 win over the Devils, scoring four times in the third period with eleven different players hitting the scoresheet. The Avs are heavy home favorites, and Calgary’s goalie situation gives me two angles I like.

Keep reading for my Flames vs Avalanche prediction and over/under picks below.

Flames vs Avalanche Prediction

• Avalanche -1.5 (-154 at BetMGM)

I’m not laying -400 on the moneyline, which carries an 80% implied chance. My Flames vs Avalanche prediction is Colorado to win by two or more on the puck line, priced at -154 for about a 60.6% implied probability.

Nathan MacKinnon drives this offense. He has 22 points (eight goals, 14 assists) in 13 games and has fired 52 shots on goal, which keeps him near the top of any Hart Trophy odds discussion.

He’s got plenty of help. Artturi Lehkonen has ten snipes in 13 games, Martin Necas has 16 points, and Cale Makar has eleven points in twelve contests.

The bigger edge is the schedule. Calgary played Friday and in Denver Saturday, with Devin Cooley out with a lower-body injury, which might force Dustin Wolf to play in back-to-back nights. A team on no rest with a shaky crease is exactly who I want to lay goals against.

Flames vs Avalanche Over/Under

• Over 6.5 Goals (-105 at BetMGM)

My Flames vs Avalanche over/under pick is Over 6.5 goals at -105, which translates to a 51.2% implied chance. The Under is the pricier side at -115.

Dustin Wolf is a big reason why. He’s 2-4-0 in six starts with a 4.39 GAA and .847 save percentage. If Calgary goes back to him Saturday, he’s starting on consecutive nights. If not, the Flames dig deeper with Cooley sidelined with Arseni Sergeev, who has just one NHL game to his credit.

Calgary can hold up its end on offense. Joel Farabee has 14 points in 13 games, the same numbers for Matt Coronato. On the other side, Mackenzie Blackwood is 6-3 with a 2.81 GAA and .894 save percentage, not the kind of numbers that shut a game down.

Both of my Flames vs Avalanche picks point the same way: a comfortable Colorado win with plenty of goals on the board.

Flames vs Avalanche Odds

Odds as of Oct. 30 at BetMGM. New bettors can grab the BetMGM promo code before Saturday’s late slate.

The Flames vs Avalanche odds give Calgary a 25% implied shot at the upset on the +300 moneyline. Backing the Flames at +1.5 (+125) implies about a 44.4% chance, but I’ll stick with Colorado on the puck line.

The total is close to a coin flip, with the Over a touch cheaper than the Under. Check the latest NHL odds before puck drop, since Calgary’s goalie news could move this number.

Flames vs Avalanche Starting Goalies

Calgary’s crease is the story here. Cooley is out with a lower-body injury, Wolf may be going in back-to-back nights, which is key to know closer to puck drop.

Colorado hasn’t named a starter either. Blackwood made 20 saves on 22 shots against New Jersey, and the Avs closed that game with four third-period goals in front of him. Jonathan Huberdeau remains out for Calgary after hip surgery.

Flames vs Avalanche Game Info

Puck drop is set for 10 pm ET / 7 pm PT on Saturday from Ball Arena in Denver, with Altitude and Altitude+ carrying the broadcast. Calgary will be coming off Friday’s home game against Seattle, so watch for the Flames’ goalie news before you lock in a bet.