The Super Bowl odds are up and the big game is less than two weeks away. Put
those NFL picks aside for the time being while we take a look at a team that
is going in the wrong direction with plenty of sports betting implications.
Calgary Flames (26-20-6, tied for 8th in Western Conference)
The Calgary Flames have all but completely fallen apart. After getting shut
out by the St. Louis Blues 2-0 on Monday, they are now 1-8-1 in their last
ten games. Their only victory was in a shootout against Vancouver and the
Flames have not won in regulation since January 6th at Nashville.
Their leading scorer in the month is Captain Jerome Iginla at 1 goal and 5
assists. He has no goals since the first game of the month against lowly
Toronto. Iginla had 3 of his 6 total points for the month in that one. Tied
for the anemic team lead in points this month is Curtis Glencross (3g, 3a)
and Daymond Langkow (1g, 5a). As you would imagine, the Flames have been
drastically outscored over this streak by more than two to one (35 goals
against, 15 goals for) which includes a 9-1 drubbing by the league leading
San Jose Sharks, the team they would face in the 8 seed.
The Flames have been lucky to have chances to win these games as Goalie
Mikka Kiprusoff has been standing on his head, to no avail. In the month the
Flames net-minder is 3-5-1 with a, low considering the play of the team, 2.5
Goals Against Average and a .908 save percentage. Those are average numbers
for a goalie on a good team, but terrific numbers for one on a team that has
played so poorly. To demonstrate what a run of the mill goalie would do on
this team, look no further than backup goalie Curtis McElhinney with his
4.79 GAA, .817 save percentage and 0-2 record in 3 games with miserable play
coming in for Kiprusoff in that embarrassment in San Jose giving up 3 goals
in one period of work.
All of this failure hasn't sat well with the Flames faithful and the trade
rumors have been buzzing. Defenseman Dion Phaneuf has been an all-star in
Calgary before, but has been barking to get out of there and the Flames
would be wise to move him while he has value to get some playmaking forwards
if they want to make the playoffs. Even Iginla's name has been floated
around in trade talks, but that is unlikely to happen. Despite his
struggles, Iginla still has 21 goals and 23 assists this season and is still
a premier player in the game.
Outlook: The Flames will be playing some easier teams up until the break for
the Olympics in mid-February as only 3 of 10 currently hold playoff spots.
Keeping in mind that default hockey totals are 5.5 and spreads are 1.5 goals
either way, the Flames' games have been 5 goals or less in 11 of their 13
games in January and of the 11, nine were four goals or less.
BetOnline.com Betting Tips: Take the under in all of the Flames games. I would also bet
against the Flames any time you know McElhinney is starting.
those NFL picks aside for the time being while we take a look at a team that
is going in the wrong direction with plenty of sports betting implications.
Calgary Flames (26-20-6, tied for 8th in Western Conference)
The Calgary Flames have all but completely fallen apart. After getting shut
out by the St. Louis Blues 2-0 on Monday, they are now 1-8-1 in their last
ten games. Their only victory was in a shootout against Vancouver and the
Flames have not won in regulation since January 6th at Nashville.
Their leading scorer in the month is Captain Jerome Iginla at 1 goal and 5
assists. He has no goals since the first game of the month against lowly
Toronto. Iginla had 3 of his 6 total points for the month in that one. Tied
for the anemic team lead in points this month is Curtis Glencross (3g, 3a)
and Daymond Langkow (1g, 5a). As you would imagine, the Flames have been
drastically outscored over this streak by more than two to one (35 goals
against, 15 goals for) which includes a 9-1 drubbing by the league leading
San Jose Sharks, the team they would face in the 8 seed.
The Flames have been lucky to have chances to win these games as Goalie
Mikka Kiprusoff has been standing on his head, to no avail. In the month the
Flames net-minder is 3-5-1 with a, low considering the play of the team, 2.5
Goals Against Average and a .908 save percentage. Those are average numbers
for a goalie on a good team, but terrific numbers for one on a team that has
played so poorly. To demonstrate what a run of the mill goalie would do on
this team, look no further than backup goalie Curtis McElhinney with his
4.79 GAA, .817 save percentage and 0-2 record in 3 games with miserable play
coming in for Kiprusoff in that embarrassment in San Jose giving up 3 goals
in one period of work.
All of this failure hasn't sat well with the Flames faithful and the trade
rumors have been buzzing. Defenseman Dion Phaneuf has been an all-star in
Calgary before, but has been barking to get out of there and the Flames
would be wise to move him while he has value to get some playmaking forwards
if they want to make the playoffs. Even Iginla's name has been floated
around in trade talks, but that is unlikely to happen. Despite his
struggles, Iginla still has 21 goals and 23 assists this season and is still
a premier player in the game.
Outlook: The Flames will be playing some easier teams up until the break for
the Olympics in mid-February as only 3 of 10 currently hold playoff spots.
Keeping in mind that default hockey totals are 5.5 and spreads are 1.5 goals
either way, the Flames' games have been 5 goals or less in 11 of their 13
games in January and of the 11, nine were four goals or less.
BetOnline.com Betting Tips: Take the under in all of the Flames games. I would also bet
against the Flames any time you know McElhinney is starting.
